Skip the visa application. Prepare for your trip.
Start with your passport and entry documents, then check the arrival formalities.
Before you travel
Check the passport and supporting documents listed below. Keep copies accessible during your journey.
When you arrive
Have your travel documents ready for the destination’s entry checks.
During your visit
Check the permission you receive and leave before your authorised stay ends.
What to prepare for your trip
Check each item as you prepare it. Labels show which documents are required, conditional, or recommended.
Your circumstances may require additional documents. Ticks track preparation, not eligibility or admission.
Details that can change your plans
Prepare vaccination certificates
The French and UK governments say yellow-fever vaccination proof is checked or required at DRC entry; the UK also flags polio proof in some circumstances. Ask a travel-health professional about medical eligibility and certificate rules.
Official guidancePractical tips for Democratic Republic of the Congo
Small preparation steps to keep your travel information within reach.
Allow time for entry checks
The DRC National Tourism Office says short-stay visitors are photographed and fingerprinted at arrival. Keep your passport available for inspection.
Keep your passport with you
The DRC National Tourism Office says short-stay visitors must carry their passports during the visit.
Budget for the international flight exit charge
For an international departure flight, current French and UK guidance together list USD 55 in DRC exit charges (USD 50 Go Pass plus USD 5 statistics charge). Get an official receipt; domestic-flight charges differ.
Democratic Republic of the Congo at a glance
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Currency
- CDF
- Calling code
- +243
Questions for this route
Do travelers with an ordinary passport from Rwanda need a visa for Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Travelers visiting Democratic Republic of the Congo for tourism with an ordinary passport from Rwanda do not need a visa. Entry conditions still apply.
What if I’m going to work, study or stay longer?
This guide is for a short tourist visit on an ordinary passport. It does not establish eligibility for employment, study or residence. Use the destination’s official guidance for your actual purpose.
Does my country of residence change the answer?
Passport nationality and legal residence are different. This page starts with your passport. Residence can change where you apply and which application channel is available; an existing visa or residence permit may also create an exception. Check the official eligibility guidance for your circumstances.
Official websites
Use these government websites to confirm requirements and complete any application.
About this guide
This guide covers short tourist visits on an ordinary passport. Your nationality, residence, travel document and purpose can affect the entry conditions. Check the linked official guidance before travel; the border authority decides admission and your permitted stay.
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