Democratic Republic of the Congo: Travel Info
How do you get into the country?
Due to the ongoing military conflicts in some parts of the country, tourist trips to the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not recommended. We expressly warn against traveling to the east and north-east of the country. If you still have to or want to go to the country, you can do this in different ways:
Airplane
There are flight connections from Frankfurt, Vienna and Zurich to Kinshasa. The only international airport in the country is located in Kinshasa.
Ship
There is an international port in Matadi on the Congo River. There are irregular ferry services to the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.
Railway Railway
connections lead to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania as well as to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The route to Lobito in Angola should be avoided because of the uncertain political situation.
Car
The roads connecting with neighboring countries are in a very bad condition and often impassable in the rainy season. The borders are usually closed and also dangerous.
Travel in the country
Travel within the country is limited and extremely dangerous for foreigners. Outside the province of Kinshasa, a permit from the “Direction Générale de Migration” (DGM) is always required. Public transport or vehicles with foreign license plates may not be used.
Air connections
There are many domestic air connections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Small planes can also be chartered.
Bus
A bus network connects all major cities. However, the buses are overcrowded and unpunctual.
Railways
The country’s rail network covers around 5,000 km. Railway connections exist between Lubumbashi and Ilebo, as well as to Kalemie and Kindu and between Kinshasa and Matadi.
Roads, rental cars
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo around 5,600 km of paved roads have been built. The roads are generally in poor condition and only passable in the vicinity of larger cities. 4×4 vehicles are required inland. Roadblocks, car thefts, and robberies can be expected. Many roads are impassable during the rainy season. An international driver’s license is required.
Ferry Connections
There are approximately 1,500 km of navigable waterways in the country. Ferries operate in the Congo between Kinshasa, Kisangani and Ilebo.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is:
| CD |
Currency, shopping
The national currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the Congo Franc (Franc Congolais)
1 Franc Congolais = 100 Centimes
Due to the domestic political situation, the approved banknotes are constantly changing. In the country, however, US dollars and euros are also permitted as means of payment and are very popular.
Country-specific goods, souvenirs
Popular souvenirs are hand-made bracelets and other jewelry, wooden sculptures (especially made of ebony), local paintings and wickerwork.
Import and export
Local currency
The import and export of the local currency is prohibited.
Foreign currencies
For the import of foreign currencies from an amount of 10,000, – US dollars (or the corresponding equivalent) there is a declaration obligation. The export of foreign currencies is only permitted up to an amount of USD 10,000 (or the equivalent), there is an obligation to declare.
Valuables
Little is known about the customs regulations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The export of works of art, especially those made of ivory and malachite, is prohibited. The export of precious metals such as gold and silver as well as diamonds mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo requires authorization.
Entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
Tourists from EU countries require a valid passport and a visa to enter the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A valid yellow fever vaccination must be proven when entering from a yellow fever infection area.
Visa department of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Im Meisengarten 133
53179 Bonn
Tel: 0049 – (0) 228 – 85 81 60
Fax: 0049 – (0) 228 – 934 92 37
Email: tukalakiese@aol.com
Issuing of visas in Austria and Switzerland
See under Representations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Austria and Representations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Switzerland.
Travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings
Infectious Diseases
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany and Central and Northern Europe:
- Malaria: There is a risk of malaria infection nationwide and all year round, including in cities. Over 90% of the infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana.
- Schistosomiasis, nationwide
- cholera
- dengue fever
- Intestinal infections caused by contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Ebola, outbreaks of this extremely dangerous viral infectious disease occur again and again, albeit mostly locally
- Filariasis
- Yellow fever – especially in the region north of a south latitude of about 10 °
- Hepatitis A and B
- Kala-Azar
- Leishmaniasis
- Lambliasis
- Polio, polio
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Plague, pulmonary plague, but only regionally limited
- Sleeping sickness
- tetanus
- rabies
- Tick bite fever
Vaccination recommendations
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Yellow fever
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
- Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Compulsory vaccination
For all persons older than one year and arriving from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory.
Yellow fever vaccination for children
In most of the countries where a yellow fever vaccination is required, this also applies to children over one year of age, in some countries even from six months. It should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever had a number of side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two-thirds of those affected were children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling in the country, it is strongly advised to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Diplomatic missions
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Democratic Republic of the Congo embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Germany
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The embassy building is located in a rather simple one-story villa in the Westend in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The next underground station is on Theodor-Heuss-Platz and is served by the U 2 line, which runs between Pankow and Ruhleben.
The embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been in the building since 2003.
Ulmenallee 42a
14050 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 3011 1693
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 8149 0494
Consulates
| Region | Contact |
| Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein | Honorary Consul General of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in BremenBornstrasse 16/17
28195 Bremen Tel. 0049 – (0) 421 – 15 820 Fax: 0049 – (0) 421 – 304 2209 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in DüsseldorfKönigsallee 14
40212 Düsseldorf Te: 0049 – (0) 211 – 1386 6410 Fax: 0049 – (0) 211 – 138 6677 |
| Hesse | Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in FrankfurtHochstrasse 15
60313 Frankfurt am Main Tel.: 0049 – (0) 69 – 2972 3599 Fax: 0049 – (0) 69 – 2097 3656 E-Mail info@hk-drkongo.de |
German representations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kinshasa
82, Avenue Roi-Baudouin
BP 8400
Kinshasa – Gombe
Tel: 00243 – (0) 815 – 561 380
Fax: 00243 – (0) 813 – 464 461
Email: info@kinshasa.diplo.de
www. kinshasa.diplo.de
The German embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is also responsible for:
- Republic of the Congo
Austrian representations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Federal Republic of Austria does not have an embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but is represented by an honorary consulate. The embassy is responsible for:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Austria in Kenya
2nd floor, City House, Corner Wabera Street/Standard Street
Nairobi
:
POBox 30560
00100 Nairobi
Tel: 00254 – (0) 20 – 319 076
00254 – (0) 20 – 319 077
00254 – (0) 20 – 319 078
Fax: 00254 – (0) 20 – 342 290
Email: nairobi-ob@bmeia.gv.at
www.aussenministerium.at/nairobi
The Austrian embassy in Kenya is still responsible for:
- Burundi
- Comoros
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- Tanzania
- Uganda
Honorary consulate in Kinshasa (without passport authorization)
8, Chemin Riviera, C/Ngaliema
Kinshasa
:
BP 12646
Kinshasa I
Tel: 00243 – 998 180 163
Sat-Fax: 870 76 114 6569
Email: consautval.kin@cumet.de
Representations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Austria
Honorary Consulate General of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Neusiedlerstrasse 52
2340 Mödling
Tel: 0043 – (0) 2236 – 892 172
Fax: 0043 – (0) 2236 – 892 172
Email: rdc.konsulat@aon.at
Swiss representations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Swiss Embassy in the Democatic Republic of the Congo
654, Blvd Colonel Tshatshi
Commune de Gombe
Kinshasa
:
Ambassade de Suisse
BP 8724
Kinshasa
Democatic Republic of the Congo
Tel: 00243 – (0) 89 – 894 6800
00243 – (0) 89 – 894 6801
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 324 1804
Email: kin.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
www.eda.admin.ch/kinshasa
The Swiss embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still responsible for:
- Gabon
- Republic of the Congo
- Sao Tome and Principe
Representations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Switzerland
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chancellerie
Sulgenheimweg 21
Case postale 5261
3001 Bern
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 371 3538
0041 – (0) 79 – 628 5553
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 372 7466
Email: rdcambassy @ bluewin.ch
Consular section of the embassy
Section consulaire de l’Ambassade
Sulgenheimweg 21
Case postale 5261
3001 Bern
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 371 3538
0041 – (0) 79 – 628 5553
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 372 7466
Email: rdcambassy @ bluewin.ch
