Our Congo Visa Guide will teach you everything you need to know about Congo’s visa policy for people from all over the world, including different types of visas, particular requirements, visa sponsorships, visa fees, and more. It is critical to have a scheduled flight ticket in hand before applying for a visa to Congo.
Who needs a visa to visit Congo?
All travellers are required to obtain a visa before entering Congo. There are no exceptions around this. Failure to produce a visa will result in you being deported.
Entry into Congo
Regardless of vaccination status, all overseas travellers aged 11 and older are obliged to produce documentation of a negative coronavirus test to enter and exit the DRC.
Travelers who are fully immunised must produce proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated travellers will be subjected to an extra PCR test upon arrival.
Proof of a negative coronavirus test must be dated within three days of the departure date and provided by the INRB (Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale – National Institute of Biomedical Research) or an accredited medical facility.
At the time of entry, all visitors to the DRC are required to produce proof of yellow fever vaccination.
Eligibility to apply for a Congo visa
Entrance into the DRC requires only a few things. Please ensure you have all relevant documentation with you before travelling. The requirements for a Congo visa are listed below.
Valid passport.
visa.
vaccination certificate indicating a current yellow fever vaccination.
Processing time for Congo visas
Visa applications and requests for consular assistance are processed within seven to ten business days of receipt. The Republic of Congo Consulate in Washington, D.C. does not offer rush or expedited services.
Appointment waiting times
The current waiting times for a visa appointment depend on what kind of visa you are applying for. A visitor visa can take up to 90 days for an appointment. A student visa application appointment can take around two weeks to come through and all other non-immigrant visas will take around 90 days for an appointment.
Who can visit Congo without a visa?
Holders of diplomatic or service passports issued to nationals of Angola (on duty), Iran and South Africa do not require a visa for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Citizens of Kenya, Mauritius and Tanzania can visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo by obtaining a visa on arrival valid for up to seven days.
Congo visa types
There are six different types of visas available to travellers entering Congo. The type of trip you are taking will depend on what visa you will need to apply for. You must ensure you have your visa with you at all times during your stay. The six types of visas available are:
- Flying visa (visa on arrival): Permission provided by the Director General to a foreign national from a country where Congo has no diplomatic or consular representation.
- Airport visa
- Tourist visa
- Establishment Visas
- Passport and visa
- Transit visa
What to do if your Congo visa is refused?
To reapply, you are required to submit a new application, pay the application cost, and schedule a new interview. People regularly ask us how we can “guarantee” the issuance of a visa. Because all final decisions are made by embassies, there is no way to obtain a 100 percent guarantee. All you can do is ensure that your application is as strong as possible. Please reach out with us if your visa application has been rejected.
People also asked...
The visa upon arrival provides for a seven-day maximum stay in the country. The visa policy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo also mentions the consular visa. To enter the Democratic Republic of the Congo, most nations must apply for a visa at an embassy.
Goma, Virunga National Park, and Bukavu in the east, and Kinshasa in the west, are the safest and most popular tourist destinations in the country. Given that there are still significant security risks for tourists in the DRC, it is better to travel with a tour company that knows how to keep you safe.
Weak governance and the proliferation of numerous armed groups have led Congolese residents to pervasive rape and sexual violence, vast abuses of human rights, and great poverty.