How to Get a DRC Visa: Comparing the E-Visa and Embassy Routes
Understanding how to get a DRC visa begins with choosing the appropriate application route. Most travellers now apply through the Democratic Republic of Congo's official e-visa portal, run directly by the Direction Générale de Migration, rather than visiting an embassy in person. The online system suits any foreign national from a country without DRC diplomatic representation, along with business travellers and tourists applying to visit.
Embassy or consulate applicants can still apply in person, though the online route generally moves faster for everyone else. Either path leads to the same outcome: an approved e-visa that converts into a 7-day single-entry permit on arrival.
Processing Time: Applications are reviewed within 72 hours of submission, per the Direction Générale de Migration's own published timeline.
E-visa Cost: USD 300 paid online, made up of a USD 50 non-refundable administrative charge and a USD 250 visa fee
Airport Visa Fee: An additional USD 90 is payable at the border on arrival, since the e-visa converts into a 7-day single-entry permit known locally as the VAP.
Validity Window: An approved e-visa must be used within 3 months of issuance, after which a fresh application is required.
The e-visa itself is not a single product. The Direction Générale de Migration issues 3 variants: a specific flying visa, an ordinary flying visa, and a third reserved for family visits, with the application form directing each applicant toward the correct type based on their reason for travel.
Added together, the online charge and the airport permit fee bring the realistic total cost to approximately USD 390 per applicant.
Before submitting your application, keep the following DRC Visa requirements ready:
Passport Validity: Valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel dates, with 2 blank visa pages side by side
Yellow Fever Certificate: Proof of vaccination against this mosquito-borne disease is required for every arriving traveller aged 9 months and older. An International Certificate of Vaccination remains valid for life once issued, though getting vaccinated at least 10 days before arrival is recommended for it to be accepted at the border.
Passport Photo: A recent photograph, 2 x 2 inches, taken within the last 6 months.
Hotel Reservation Confirmation: A copy of the confirmed booking, required for tourists and business travellers who are not entering DRC through a private host or registered tour operator
KertelSuites, Kinshasa, sits on Avenue de la Mongala in the heart of the city, close enough to embassies and government offices that most visa-related errands stay a short drive away. Our booking system sends a confirmation email the moment a room is booked, offering guests the hotel reservation document most tourist and business e-visa applications ask for, without a separate request or waiting period.
For travellers working around a 72-hour review window, having the booking confirmation ready keeps an important accommodation document in place as the rest of the visa paperwork comes together. Once your visa is approved and you arrive in Kinshasa, our well-appointed suites provide a convenient stay, with 24-hour room service fitting easily around embassy appointments, document submissions, and a busy city schedule.
Book directly through our reservation system to receive your confirmation email with the exact stay dates stated on your visa application, where matching dates are required.