Entry and residence

Visa

• 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.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  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 information
• Passport: France

  French nationals can obtain a tourist visa for under 6 months, online or at the DRC embassy in Paris. Beyond 6 months, a residence permit is needed, applied for locally at the Directorate General of Migration or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residence
• Passport: Belgium

  Belgians living in Belgium must apply at the DRC embassy in Brussels or the consulate general in Antwerp, or the visa may be cancelled and entry refused. The visa must be used within 3 months; a multiple-entry visa runs from the first entry.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  SPF Affaires étrangères (Belgium), Democratic Republic of the Congo: practical information
• Passport: United States

  Get your visa before departure, generally from the DRC Embassy in Washington; allow two to three weeks. Passport valid for 6 months after entry and a yellow fever vaccination card.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  U.S. Department of State, Democratic Republic of the Congo International Travel Information
• Passport: Germany

  A visa is required and must be requested before departure from the DRC Embassy in Berlin; it is not issued at the border. Minimum processing time is ten days and a certified invitation is required. An online visa exists for stays of up to seven days, at a higher cost.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  Auswärtiges Amt, Demokratische Republik Kongo: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise
• Passport: Spain

  A visa is required before departure, from the DRC Embassy in Madrid or in your country of residence; the DRC Embassy in Brazzaville does not issue visas to non-residents. A valid visa does not guarantee entry. Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores (España), Recomendaciones de viaje: República Democrática del Congo

Passport and documents

• 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.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  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 information

• Without the required documents you may be turned back on arrival, and your embassy cannot intervene.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residence

• A Rwandan or Ugandan immigration stamp may complicate arrival but should not prevent entry.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26Medium confidence

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: entry requirements
• People who also hold Congolese nationality

  Dual citizenship is not recognised in the DRC: if the authorities consider you Congolese, your other country may be unable to help you.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26Medium confidence

  Government of Canada, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Vaccination required at entry

• 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.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  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 Congo

Customs and currency

• Every flight is taxed: a 50 USD "Go Pass" and a 5 USD statistics tax for international flights, 10 USD and 5 USD for domestic flights. Keep the receipts: they are checked on departure.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice: entry requirements

Consular assistance

• The main entry points are Kinshasa-N'Djili airport, Lubumbashi airport and Kinshasa river port (Beach Ngobila), opposite Brazzaville.

  Verified fact·Verified on 10/2/26High confidence

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Democratic Republic of the Congo, entry and residence

• 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

• 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