Reality Brief: Kinshasa

Current alerts

• Tourist travel advised against

  France advises against tourist travel throughout the country and places all non-red areas in orange (advised against except for essential travel).

  Published on March 12, 2026 · France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safety

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

• France advises against tourist travel throughout the country.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• A visa is compulsory. Apply before departure through the DRC embassy in your country of residence (or online for some nationalities); it is not issued on arrival. Processing can be slow: allow at least 2 to 3 weeks.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the CongoSPF Affaires étrangères (Belgium), Democratic Republic of the Congo: practical informationGuide: Entry and residence

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months (after arrival according to France and the UK, after exit according to Canada) and have at least two blank pages.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the CongoSPF Affaires étrangères (Belgium), Democratic Republic of the Congo: practical informationGuide: Entry and residence

• Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory: certificates are checked on every flight and a traveller without one is sent back. The UK notes that a polio vaccination certificate may also be required.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, healthGOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: entry requirementsCDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Travelers' Health: Democratic Republic of the CongoGuide: Entry and residence

• Insurance covering care, hospitalisation and repatriation is essential. Public hospitals are very run-down and often lack medicines.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, healthSPF Affaires étrangères (Belgium), Democratic Republic of the Congo: practical informationGuide: Health

• Malaria is present throughout the country. Protect against bites and take preventive treatment prescribed by a doctor; any fever requires prompt medical attention.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, healthCDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Travelers' Health: Democratic Republic of the CongoGuide: Health

• An Ebola outbreak, declared a public health emergency of international concern, affects several provinces (Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, South Kivu, Bas-Uélé, Sud-Ubangi). Do not handle or eat bushmeat, wash your hands often and seek care immediately for any fever up to three weeks after leaving the area.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, latest news and alertsGuide: Health

• The currency is the Congolese franc (CDF), unavailable abroad. The economy is cash-based and US dollars are widely used: bring recent notes (printed after 2009) in perfect condition or they will be refused; 1-dollar notes are hardly accepted anywhere.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful informationGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the CongoSPF Affaires étrangères (Belgium), Democratic Republic of the Congo: practical informationGuide: Money and banking

• There is no central medical emergency number: call a hospital directly for an ambulance. In Kinshasa, fire 118 and police 112 according to the UK.

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: getting helpGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the CongoGuide: Health

Living in Kinshasa

• Insecurity is high in Kinshasa and rising in Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani, Matadi and Lubumbashi: armed robbery, burglary, carjacking, fake police checks. Do not walk alone; if attacked, do not resist.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• In Kinshasa, robberies are committed by fake taxi drivers or passengers. Use a pre-booked private taxi, by day, with a known driver; do not hail taxis in the street.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• In Kinshasa traffic jams, keep doors locked and windows closed and do not get out; France recommends using Congolese drivers. Two-wheelers are strongly advised against.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Kidnapping is a risk in parts of Kinshasa, including Limete.

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Avoid demonstrations, frequent before commemorations and national holidays; do not photograph them and be ready to observe a curfew.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Blackmail based on false accusations mainly targets foreigners alone in nightlife venues.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• At home, permanent guarding (private or by a security company) is strongly advised.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, safetyGuide: Housing

• Shuttles link Kinshasa and Brazzaville daily except Sunday, until late afternoon. Barges on the Congo river are strongly advised against.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful informationGuide: Getting around

• It remains illegal to photograph official buildings, police and military personnel, borders and military installations. What counts as sensitive is unpredictable: always ask people's consent.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful informationGOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: safety and securityGuide: Daily life and local laws

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (334), clinics (196), hospitals (195). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

• Tip

  Where to shop for food

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (57), supermarkets (88). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

• Tip

  Banks, cash machines and exchange

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (137), cash machines (28), currency exchange (7), money transfer (11). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

• Tip

  A shop for your SIM card

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (60). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  A furnished flat for the first weeks

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (16). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

• Tip

  A coworking space as a fallback

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): coworking (1). Useful for remote work when the connection or power fails at home.

• Embassy of France in Democratic Republic of the Congo

  Passport: France

  French embassy in Kinshasa.

  1, avenue du Colonel Mondjiba, Kinshasa+33 5 16 44 00 67

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residence· Oct 2, 2026

• Centre médical de Kinshasa (CMK)

  Private medical and surgical clinic, referring doctor of the French embassy.

  168 avenue Wagenia et rue du Commerce, Kinshasa+243 89 89 50 300+243 810 516 565

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Centre privé d'urgence (CPU)

  Emergency department of the CMK, by subscription; the best equipped in the city.

  Rue du Commerce (locaux du CMK), Kinshasa+243 89 89 50 302

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Clinique du Dr Lelo

  Private clinic.

  15 avenue Kasaï, Barumbu, Kinshasa+243 99 82 45 339+243 99 97 62 900

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• Centre médical de Monkole

  Medical centre run by a French NGO.

  4804 avenue Ngafani, Mont Ngafula, Kinshasa

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026

• CONADEP (Commission nationale de délivrance des permis)

  Issues Congolese driving licences.

  Près de la Régie des voies aériennes, aéroport de Ndolo, Kinshasa+243 816 233 271

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful information· Oct 2, 2026

• Embassy of Canada in RDC

  Passport: Canada

  Consular assistance for Canadians (also covers Congo-Brazzaville).

  17, avenue Pumbu, commune de la Gombe, Kinshasa+243 996 021 500knsha@international.gc.ca

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo· Oct 2, 2026