VISA FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO

A valid passport is required for all U.S. citizens and foreign nationals entering the Republic of Congo. Visitors must have ready evidence of the purpose of the visit, means of support for the duration of the stay and accommodation arrangements at border controls.

 Please be aware that no Congolese visa will be issued at any port of entry in the Republic of Congo. All visa applications should be submitted prior to the date of departure at the Consulate Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Congo to the United States of America ( Washington, D.C.)

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Congo to the United Nations in New York and the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Congo in Chicago do NOT issue visas for the Republic of Congo.

PROCESSING TIME FOR VISA APPLICATIONS

The processing time for all consular services requests take up to 7-10 business days from the day a visa application or a consular service request is received. The Consulate of the Republic of Congo in Washington, D.C does not offer any rush or expedited services. We highly recommend and kindly advise our visa applicants to submit their visa application one month ( 30 days) prior to their date of departure and no more than a month and half (45 days) before their date of departure for the Republic of Congo.

PROCESSING CENTER

Visa applications for the Republic of Congo should be sent to:

Embassy of the Republic of Congo
Consulate Section
1720 16th street, NW
Washington D.C 20009
Email: consulate@ambacongo-us.org
Tel: 202 726 5500/ 202 986 5740

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Friday: 

Drop Off Hours: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Pick Up Hours: 01:30 pm - 03:00 pm

TYPES OF VISAS

Tourist Visa: This visa is issued at any accredited Congolese Consulate. It grants tourists/ visitors the authorization to enter the country through designated ports of entry such as airports and harbor stations. The tourist visa is delivered for a period of 3 months ( 90 days) and allows for multiples entries for non-U.S citizens. For U.S citizens traveling to the Republic of Congo for touristic purposes, a visa of 6 months ( 180 days) multiple entries shall be granted.

Business Visa: The business visa is issued for various reasons such as making feasibility studies, establishing professional and business contacts, and making arrangements for investments in the Republic of Congo. A business visa is delivered for only one month ( 30 days) and allows for multiple entries for Non-US Citizens. It cannot exceed 30 days. If a business applicant plans on staying in the Republic of Congo for more than 30 days, he should extend his visa at the nearest Office of Immigration. For U.S citizens traveling to the Republic of Congo for business purposes, a visa of Six Months ( 180 days) multiple entries shall be granted.

Official/Diplomatic Visa: Diplomatic/Official visas are granted to Diplomatic passport bearers, Official passport bearers or United Nations Laissez-Passer bearers who intend to travel to the Republic of Congo on official business matters. These Diplomatic passports bearers usually include employees from the U.S State Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Canada and Mexico, the World Bank, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, or Diplomats from other Embassies accredited to the United States of America and Mexico.
A 12 months visa (one year) with multiple entries is issued for Diplomatic passports if the visa application is accompanied by a diplomatic note. Furthermore, diplomatic visa applications are exempt from any visa fees.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

• Two fully completed visa application forms

  Submit two copies of the visa application form. Print, fill out completely and sign. Leaving any portions of the visa application blank will result in the delay of your visa approval process. Note that all listed documents are required. Failure to provide all the required documents may result in the rejection of your application.

• Two passport color photographs

  Photos must be 2inches×2inches (51 *51 mm in size), colored, have a white background, and show a full front view of the face. These photos must have been taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.

• A valid passport

  Your passport should remain valid for the next 6 months prior to your date of departure.

• An invitation letter or hotel reservation (For the tourist visa)

  A typewritten and notarized invitation letter ( the invitation letter should be notarized at the City council or Prefecture/Mairie) stating the nature of the trip, the name and address of a reference to be visited in the Republic of Congo. The invitation letter must be addressed to the Embassy of the Republic of Congo, Visa section and should be at least 3 months ( 90 Days) valid. It is important to note that for parents traveling with their children or legal guardians traveling with their dependents, a proof of parenthood or legal custody such as court order or birth certificate of the child may be required before a visa can be issued. Furthermore, the person planning on traveling with the minor should submit a photocopy of a valid passport.For all visa applicants ( including former Congolese citizens), a letter of invitation from your host in the Republic of Congo or a Hotel Reservation and a form of Identity card of your host ( Passport, Congolese Legal residence Permit or Visa and National Congolese ID) will be MANDATORY in order to apply for a visa. It is important to note that the city of residence mentioned in the invitation letter of the visa applicant should match the city of residence mentioned on the Congolese visa application. For those traveling to regroup as a family (regroupement familial), a proof of family affiliation such as birth certificate, adoption documents, and legal marriage certificate should be included in the visa application package. Furthermore, visa applicants traveling for funeral purposes should submit a death certificate or for wedding purposes, an invitation card of the wedding ceremony in their visa application package as well.

• For Minors applying for visa

  A copy of adult parent or legal guardian's passport and flight itinerary, traveling with the minor should be provided in the visa application package.

• A copy of U.S Green Card or a copy of your USA/Mexican visa (for non U.S and non-Mexicans Citizens) as proof of legal residence in the United States of America and Mexico

• A business letter (For the business visa )

  A typewritten and notarized business letter ( the business letter should be notarized at the City Council or at the Prefecture/Mairie) on company letterhead stating the nature of business to be performed, the name and address of a reference to be contacted in the Republic of Congo. The invitation letter must be addressed to the Embassy of the Republic of Congo, Visa section. No business visa will be granted without an official business letter and please be aware that the business invitation letter should be only for  3 months from the date of its issuance.

• Copy of airline tickets or itinerary

  A copy of your airline ticket or airline reservation showing arrival and departure dates in the Republic of Congo is mandatory.

• A prepaid envelope

  A prepaid USPS, UPS or Fedex envelope with a TRACKING NUMBER to allow for the return of your passport. Unfortunately, the Embassy is no longer able to accept any prepaid envelopes without any tracking number. Canadian Postal Prepaid Envelopes or Mexican Postal Prepaid envelopes are not accepted under any circumstances.

• Visa Fees

  Due to some undisclosed reasons, the Embassy of the Republic of Congo to the United States of America is no longer accepting Business checks. The visa fees will still remain at 200 U.S Dollars. As of August 20th, 2014, only cash (if physically present at the moment of drop off) and money orders will be accepted as the only form of payment for visa fees. Furthermore, the money order should be paid to the order of "Embassy of the Republic of Congo" and its issuance should be within 90 days. Be aware that the Embassy of the Republic of Congo to the USA does NOT accept Canadian or Mexican Postal checks under any circumstances. All visa fees are non-refundable once your visa application has been submitted.

Notice for student exchanges, researchers and individuals seeking to settle permanently in the Republic of Congo

For students going on an exchange program, they will need to apply for a tourist visa and later change their status at the nearest Immigration Office in the Republic of Congo. The same rule applies for researchers, families or individuals seeking to settle permanently in the Republic of Congo.

All change of immigration status should be done in the Republic of Congo and is granted by the Office of Immigration.