Arrival in Congo

Before booking travel, confirm the entry requirements for your nationality and visa type with the responsible embassy or consulate of the Democratic Republic of Congo and, where necessary, with the DGM. Personal attendance may be required. A passport normally needs at least six months of remaining validity and two blank pages; some official missions require one year. Depending on the mission and visa type, you may need an invitation or hotel or host confirmation, the host's complete address, a legalized invitation, a return ticket and proof of funds. Visa fees depend on the visa type and mission, are generally non-refundable, and an official mission may indicate about ten working days for processing. Requirements can differ, so confirm them before making non-refundable bookings. Health preparation is part of arrival planning. Every traveller aged nine months or older needs proof of yellow-fever vaccination for entry. A polio certificate or vaccination may also be requested. Malaria prevention and routine, MMR, hepatitis and typhoid vaccinations depend on individual medical advice and the destination. Travel, medical and evacuation insurance reduce the consequences of illness or an emergency. Check the current outbreak situation before departure. At the border, keep your passport, visa, vaccination certificate, invitation or accommodation proof, photocopies and official correspondence readily available. The DGM acts as the border and foreigner police authority and carries out visa and migration controls. There is no established nationwide entitlement to state-provided first accommodation. Arrange a hotel or host before arrival, especially outside Kinshasa and larger cities, where accommodation and transport can be limited. Kinshasa is a city-province; the country otherwise has 25 additional provinces, and service access can differ sharply between provinces, cities and territories. After arrival, ordinary entrants usually use the DGM or consular channel for status and residence questions. A mairie or territorial authority, an employer, a school or a host may be the practical local contact for first administrative and settlement needs, but no reliable nationwide registration, welcome-centre or general arrival-advice system is established. Do not assume that foreign nationals automatically receive the same documents, benefits or public services as citizens. There are also no general nationwide claims for free accommodation or social assistance. People seeking protection have a separate documented pathway. A person requesting asylum should report to the nearest Commission Nationale pour les Réfugiés (CNR) within 30 days of arrival. If no CNR office is available locally, the person can approach UNHCR, also called HCR, or a local authority for referral to the CNR. Bring identity, birth, marriage and other relevant documents, including copies, and name every family member who needs protection. Registration and the asylum request are free. The CNR can issue a récépissé valant titre de séjour temporaire for three months, renewable. UNHCR may issue an APC and then an attestation de demandeur d’asile valid for six months; the exact procedural stage should be confirmed locally and each document should be renewed before expiry. Two unjustified missed appointments can lead to closure of the case. The récépissé, APC or attestation supports lawful stay during the procedure according to the applicable HCR information. Refugees, asylum seekers, returnees and internally displaced people may receive registration, documentation, protection, legal assistance, accommodation, cash or food support, health care, education and community services through HCR and partner organizations. These services are free, but availability is not nationwide and access can be restricted in conflict areas or camps. HCR and partner presence is documented in places including Kinshasa, Goma, Beni, Bukavu, Uvira, Kalemie, Bunia and Faradje. PAM can be contacted through 491111 for relevant assistance information. Prepare for uneven access to basic services. National 2024 indicators show electricity access of 22.5 percent, internet access of 20 percent and safely managed sanitation of 13 percent, but these figures do not predict conditions at a specific address. Carry a water reserve, charging or power backup and mobile-data backup for the first days, identify a local health facility and keep an emergency contact plan. Check current security and outbreak information before travelling within the country. CDC guidance advises avoiding all travel to Ituri and North Kivu and avoiding non-essential travel to Haut-Uélé and Tshopo. FCDO warnings also cover parts of eastern Congo, border areas and certain areas of Kinshasa and Mai-Ndombe. Protests and interruptions to networks, borders or flights can affect movement. Recheck accommodation, contacts, documents and travel plans before each significant journey. The police emergency number is 112 according to the Ministry of the Interior.