Reality Brief: Lubumbashi

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 Lubumbashi

• 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

• The rest of the country is advised against except for essential travel, especially the three Kasai provinces, Mai-Ndombe and parts of Kongo Central.

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

• Illegal checkpoints are common: be very careful at checks. Avoid night journeys, vary your routes and tell someone your plans.

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

• Very few roads are paved (Kinshasa-Matadi, Kinshasa-Kikwit, Lubumbashi-Likasi, Kisangani-Lubutu). On long journeys, travel in a convoy of at least two vehicles, by day, and check whether a travel permit is needed.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, useful informationGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the CongoGuide: Getting around

• Cards are mostly accepted in large hotels, restaurants and supermarkets in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. ATMs remain rare and not always working; have your card enabled for withdrawals outside the EU.

  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

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (22), clinics (21), hospitals (15). 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 (19), supermarkets (11). 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 (20), money transfer (1). 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 (6). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  A furnished flat for the first weeks

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (2). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

• Tip

  Consulates in the city

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (3). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.

• Consular agency of France in Lubumbashi

  Passport: France

  Honorary consulate of France.

  +243 99 701 21 67+243 99 704 18 00donatkiboko@yahoo.fr

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