GoCongo Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

Congo (Brazzaville) does not issue visas on arrival or electronic visas. Chinese citizens who travel from China to visit relatives and friends, invest and do business, or engage in leisure tourism in Congo (Brazzaville) can apply for visas at the Embassy of Congo (Brazzaville) in China (hotline: 010-65321417) or the Consulate General of Congo (Brazzaville) in Guangzhou (hotline: 020-8574005). According to the current regulations in Congo, applicants can apply for a single or multiple entry ordinary visa with a validity period of 3 months or 1 year. For personal visa applications, the following documents must be provided: application form (filled out in English or French), invitation letter or relevant certificate issued by the customs department (not required for tourist visas), copy of the inviter's passport (not required for tourist visas), flight and hotel reservation, business license (not mandatory), savings voucher of at least 3000 US dollars or equivalent total amount (bank statement), original passport with a validity period of more than 6 months, and one passport size color recent photo. The usual time for visa application is 4 working days, and expedited visas can be obtained the next day depending on the situation. After the parties arrive, if they need to extend their stay, they can apply for a 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year long-term residence visa. Starting from August 7, 2014, Chinese citizens holding diplomatic passports, official passports, or ordinary official passports are eligible for visa free entry, with a stay period not exceeding 30 days (in practice, for those holding official passports, the border inspection department in Congo will require them to present a business travel order, an invitation letter issued by the official department or the Chinese Embassy in Congo, or other documents proving that the trip is for official business purposes). For specific matters, please consult the Embassy of the Republic of Congo in China at 010-65321658, 65321387.

According to the Regulations on the Entry and Exit Administration of Foreigners, the entry of foreigners can be divided into three forms: visiting entry, short-term residence and long-term residence. The first type of entry does not require the consent of the immigration bureau, and entry can be made with a visa issued by the embassy of the relevant country. The second and third types of visas must be stamped with a confirmation seal by the immigration bureau on the relevant documents before they can take effect. At present, the border inspection department of Congo requires foreigners to show the invitation letter with the permission seal of the Immigration Bureau before they are allowed to enter the country. Therefore, I would like to remind citizens to bring an invitation letter when handling entry procedures to avoid difficulties during entry.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Customs imposes tariffs on different imported goods depending on the situation, and additionally charges various handling fees such as customs clearance fees, information fees, inspection fees, invoice surcharges, etc. It is strictly prohibited to import or transit toxic, contaminated, or radioactive waste products. Prohibit the import of goods that pose a threat to public health and domestic flora and fauna. We have just implemented an export declaration system for all exported and re exported goods. The restricted and prohibited products for export include protected animals and plants, art, rare items, and all other items that involve national and international interests.

According to the recent Import and Export Law, different penalties will be imposed for violations of the law depending on the severity of the circumstances.

The main local diseases include malaria, AIDS, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, monkeypox, tuberculosis, filariasis, encephalitis, leprosy, venereal diseases, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, sickle cell anemia, etc. When entering Congo (Brazzaville), a valid international vaccination certificate with a record of yellow fever vaccination (with a minimum interval of 10 days between vaccination date and entry date) and an international travel health check certificate must be presented. The epidemic prevention department of Congo also recommended that inbound passengers be injected with conventional vaccines such as DTCP, hepatitis B vaccine, and typhoid, hepatitis A, and meningitis vaccines.

For specific matters, please consult the General Administration of Customs: 00242-055560073; Brazzaville Customs: 00242-055581174; Black Horn Customs: 00242-066666069.

Residency and Naturalization

Foreigners who need to apply for long-term residence shall apply for residence visas within 15 days from the date of entry. After the applicant arrives, they can apply for a 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year long-term residence visa, and pay the following fees: 1-year visa, 106000 francs; 3-year visa, 206000 francs; The fee for a 5-year visa, first-time application, varies depending on the applicant's situation and the materials provided. The non first-time application fee is 106000 CFA francs.

The risk level of Congo (Brazzaville) is blue (low risk)

public security

Since its independence in 1960, Congo (Brazzaville) has experienced multiple disturbances. Since 2000, the national political situation has been relatively stable, the society has been basically stable, and the public security situation is good. After the 2016 presidential election, there was a fierce exchange of fire between government forces and anti-government armed groups in the capital city of Brazzaville. In 2017, the Congolese government signed a ceasefire agreement with the anti-government armed group "Ninja Militia" in Pur province, who promised to surrender their weapons. In 2018, the Congolese government signed a "disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration agreement" with the United Nations. However, due to financial constraints in recent years, funding was not allocated and the project was not launched. In June 2023, the project was indefinitely postponed due to political reasons, and there is still a need to prevent theft or robbery along Highway 1. The epidemic has caused significant damage to the economy of Congo, coupled with the Ukrainian crisis leading to rising food prices and a significant increase in oil prices by the government. As a result, people in Congo are facing difficulties, juvenile delinquency is on the rise, and social security incidents occur from time to time. Chinese funded enterprises and overseas Chinese in Congo should be vigilant and strengthen safety precautions.

Preventive measures

Try to avoid going out alone at night. If traveling long distances or to remote areas at night, you can apply for police protection from the Congolese side. Please do not carry or store large amounts of cash at home.

natural disaster

Flood disasters are the main natural disasters in the local area. In recent years, several provinces in northern Congo, including Likouala, have experienced severe floods and waterlogging disasters year after year, affecting tens of thousands of people.

FDA

Food cannot be self-sufficient. Rice, flour, edible oil, eggs, dairy products, seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits, etc. rely on imports.

Urgent Help

Fire alarm and firefighting: 118

Alarm hotline: 117

Electric power emergency repair hotline: 4242

Emergency hotline: 3434

National Laboratory of the Ministry of Health:+242-066950816 (Chinese citizens make appointments for nucleic acid detection and serum detection of COVID-19)

air traffic

International flights, domestic flights

In terms of international aviation, including Air France, Ethiopian Airlines, Moroccan Airlines, Kenya Airlines, Ivory Coast Airlines, TAC Airlines, ASKY Airlines, TAAG Angola Airlines, Kapok Intercontinental Airlines, African Jet Airlines, Rwanda Airlines, Mauritania Airlines, Türkiye Airlines and other companies have just opened international routes.

In terms of domestic aviation, except for regular flights between Blackhorn and Brazzaville every day, other cities have irregular flights every week.

At present, there are no direct flights between China and Congo (Brazzaville), and transfers can be made through Paris, France, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and other places.

major airports

At present, Congo (Brazzaville) has a total of 10 secondary and above airports, including international airports in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, Olombo, and Veso. The runway of the capital Maya Maya Airport is capable of taking off and landing Airbus A380 aircraft. Before the COVID-19, the annual passenger flow of Maya Maya Airport was about 1.4 million person times, and the annual passenger flow of airports nationwide was about 3 million person times.

Round-trip airport transportation

There is no airport bus for commuting to and from the airport, and taxis or self driving are the main methods.

land transport

The total length of highways in China is about 23000 kilometers, of which over 3200 kilometers are paved with asphalt. There are two main roads in China: National Highway 1 runs westward from Brazzaville to Blackhorn, parallel to the Great Ocean Railway, with a length of 570 kilometers; The National Highway No. 2 runs 856 kilometers from Brazzaville to the north, passing through Owando and reaching Veso. There is also the construction of National Highway 3 (a regional integration project) connecting the border areas of Gabon.

There are three main highways connecting neighboring countries: the Congo (Brazzaville) Cape Hei to Angola Cabinda Highway, the Congo (Brazzaville) Cape Hei to Gabon Border Highway, and the Congo (Brazzaville) Veso to Cameroon Sammelma Highway (also known as the Keta Highway). There are currently several land projects under construction: the Dusala Congo (Brazzaville) Doligi Highway in Gabon, the second phase of the Congo (Brazzaville) Veso Cameroon Sammelma Highway, and the Congo (Brazzaville) Veso Central African Republic Bangui Chad N'Djamena Highway project.

The Great Ocean Railway from Pointe Noire to Brazzaville, founded in 1921, crosses the southern part of Congo (Brazzaville) and is the only railway in Congo. It is an important sea route in Central Africa, but due to years of disrepair, the overall condition of the line is poor and the transportation capacity is seriously insufficient. In 2017, some sections of the Great Ocean Railway were destroyed by rebel forces. In November 2018, the railway resumed operation.

Public transportation such as cars and trains

The transportation in various cities is mainly dominated by minibuses and taxis. In 2015, the capital Brazzaville opened bus routes. EUROCAR provides car rental services.

water communication

There are numerous rivers in Ganghe, and the conditions for inland waterway transportation are superior. The upper reaches of the Congo River are navigable for ships of a certain tonnage. From Brazzaville or other midstream regions, it can be traced back to areas such as Bangui in the Central African Republic, with a voyage of over 1000 kilometers. From Brazzaville to neighboring Congo (Kinshasa), you can cross the Congo River by speedboat (10 minutes) or large ferry (30 minutes).

In terms of maritime transportation, Congo (Brazzaville) has a deep-water port in Pointe Noire, with a cargo terminal for mineral sands, oil and timber, as well as mixed loading ships, with an annual throughput of 10 million tons. However, due to the constraints of inland transportation, incoming goods are often passively detained at the port, seriously affecting the loading and unloading capacity of the port. Since 2009, Black Point Port has initiated the renovation and expansion project of its old container terminal and plans to build a new container terminal. The renovation and expansion project was completed in 2012, and the new construction project was completed in 2015.

Urban transportation

The central urban area of the capital Brazzaville has a small area and narrow roads. You can take taxis or minibuses for city travel. Taxis and minibuses are mostly second-hand cars and are uniformly green. Taxis can be shared with others or rented separately, and the starting price in urban areas is generally 1000 African francs. In 2015, Brazzaville opened multiple bus routes connecting the city center and urban-rural areas.

major city

1、 Brazzaville

The capital of the Republic of Congo, the largest city in the country, and the center of politics, economy, culture, transportation, and energy. Located on the north bank of the lower reaches of the Congo River, facing the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, across the river. The population is approximately 2.47 million (2021). Established in 1880, it was once the capital of French Central Congo and French Equatorial Africa. The urban area extends upwards along the Congo River for more than 10 kilometers from the mouth of the Zhu é River. The eastern part is a commercial area, and the western highlands are the location of administrative agencies. The main industrial sectors include textiles, food, beer, sugar production, oil extraction, cigarettes, wood processing, metal processing, chemical industry, cement, electricity, etc. After the opening of the Congo Atlantic Railway in 1934, it became a hub for water and land transportation. Brazzaville Port has a specialized terminal where transit goods from countries such as Chad, the Central African Republic, and Gabon are transported by railway to Cape Black Port. The city is connected to Kinshasa by ferry. Factories are often arranged along the river. There is Maya Maya International Airport in the northwest suburbs.

2、 Pointe Noire

The largest seaport and second largest city in Congo, transliterated as Puente Nouvelle, is an important industrial center in the country and is known as the economic capital. Located at the western end of the country, along the Atlantic coast. The population is approximately 1.16 million (as of 2017), and European settlements were established here in the late 19th century. After the completion of the Congo Atlantic railway in 1934, it quickly rose to prominence. After the construction of the artificial port, the port facilities gradually improved. With over 10 deep-water berths capable of accommodating large vessels weighing tens of thousands of tons, it serves as a gateway for the import and export of certain goods from countries such as Congo (Brazzaville), Chad, Central Africa, and Gabon. The port area exports petroleum, manganese ore, potassium salt, logs and timber, sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, etc. There are industries such as oil refining, cement, shipbuilding, sugar manufacturing, food processing, and metal processing in the local area. Blackhorn is a major oil producing area and also an important potassium salt production area. The railway leads to Brazzaville, and there is an international airport in the south of the city.

Commodity prices

Main products

Congo (Brazzaville) is rich in natural resources such as mining, energy, hydropower, and agricultural land. The total arable land area in China is 10 million hectares. The main grain crops include cassava, corn, rice, potatoes, peanuts, bananas, etc. The economic crops include sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, etc.

The economic structure of Congo is relatively single, with uneven development. The main source of fiscal revenue comes from oil, and oil production and export are the lifeblood and "barometer" of Congo's economy.

Price situation

According to data from the United Nations agency in Congo, over 60% of residents consume less than $1 per day. Most of the products in the local supermarket are shipped by air from France, resulting in higher prices.

Currency and exchange rate

Local currency: Central African Franc (currency code XAF, abbreviated as FCFA).

The exchange rate between the Central African Franc and the Euro is fixed, with 1 Euro equal to 655.957 Central African Francs; The Central African Franc is subject to a floating exchange rate with the US dollar. As of June 30, 2023, the reference exchange rate is approximately 603.58 Central African Francs per US dollar.

Payment method

Cash payment is the main method, and VISA international credit card can be used in local hotels and a few restaurants. The National Bank has just issued small payment debit cards, mainly used for the salary payment of government civil servants and public institutions. Except for a few international institutions stationed in Congo that use checks, corporate checks must be signed and confirmed by the bank before they can be accepted.

Banking and Financial Services

The main commercial banks in Congo include BGFIBank Congo, EcoBank, CDC, UBA, LCB, BSCA, BCI, BPC, BCH, and others.

Insurance Medical

Before 1985, the national free medical system was implemented, but due to financial difficulties, the system existed in name only, and patients were basically responsible for their own treatment expenses. Since June 1987, the government has allowed private individuals to open clinics and pharmacies. Common diseases mainly include malaria, typhoid, yellow fever, cholera, tuberculosis, filariasis, encephalitis, leprosy, venereal diseases, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, sickle cell anemia, diabetes and AIDS. In recent years, AIDS has spread rapidly. In addition, there have been cases of Ebola virus transmission in Congo (Brazzaville), and there are still dozens of cholera cases every year. In March 2017, the Congolese Ministry of Health announced an outbreak of monkeypox in the northern province of Likouala. On May 1, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of 6149 suspected cases of chikungunya fever in Congo from January 1 to April 14, 2019, involving 8 out of 12 health districts in the country, including Kouilou, Bouenza, Pointe Noire, Plateaux, Pool, Niari, L é koumou, and Brazzaville, with 47% of the cases coming from Kouilou; At present, there have been no deaths, but the actual scale of the epidemic may be underestimated. On March 14, 2020, the Congolese (Brazzaville) government announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19, an imported case from France. In October 2022, the government announced the cancellation of all epidemic prevention policies.

Medical institutions include public hospitals and private clinics. There were originally six comprehensive hospitals in the country, namely Brazzaville General Hospital, Pointe Noire Jiji Hospital, Doliji Hospital, the "July 31st" Hospital in Owando, Luwangkiri Hospital in Pointe Noire, and Brazzaville China Congo Friendship Hospital, which were built with Chinese aid. In July 2016, Oyo General Hospital was put into operation. The hospital is a newly built comprehensive hospital with advanced medical equipment. The Chinese government has sent aid medical teams to Congo (Brazzaville), working at the China Congo Friendship Hospital in Mufilu District of Brazzaville and the Luwangkiri Hospital in Pointe Noire, which were built with Chinese assistance.

The Medical School of Ngowabi University is the only higher medical institution in Congo (Brazzaville). In addition, there are 8 medical colleges located in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, Doligi, Kinkala, Owando and other places. The national laboratory located in the capital is the only P2 level laboratory in the country.

At present, Chinese citizens mainly rely on the Brazzaville and Blackhorn medical teams of the Chinese aid team to seek medical treatment in Congo, and there are also a small number of overseas Chinese who have opened clinics in Congo.

Customs taboos

Local Customs

36% of the residents in Congo (Brazzaville) believe in Catholicism and Christianity, over 50% believe in primitive religions, and 3% are Muslims. In China, enterprises and overseas Chinese should respect the religious customs of the local people, such as avoiding holding celebrations, parties, and other activities on the 13th of each month. Furthermore, please do not joke about the religious customs of the local people. When talking or working with them, respect and politeness should be given.

Due to long-term French colonial rule, the living habits of the Congolese people have been deeply influenced by the West. When having a dinner and drinking with the Gang, it is generally not forced to drink; Do not inquire about personal privacy, such as age, income, family members, religious beliefs, etc; Dress appropriately according to different occasions such as work, meetings, and leisure; Do not smoke in non-smoking areas; Even in situations where smoking is allowed, if a woman is present, her consent should be sought in advance. Do not smoke while walking on the street.

Congo (Brazzaville) allows polygamy, where a man can marry 3-4 wives. Women are the primary labor force and a symbol of wealth; The locals receive two grand ceremonies in their lifetime, one at weddings and the other at funerals. People attach great importance to funerals, and the scene is solemn and grand. During the procession of hearses, any other vehicle, including the procession of state guests, must give way. In China, enterprises and overseas Chinese should respect local wedding and funeral customs, give way to wedding and funeral vehicles in a timely manner, and adopt a more tolerant attitude towards local ceremonies that last longer and have a greater impact around their residence.

Local festivals

Public holidays: January 1st, New Year's Day; May 1st is International Labor Day.

Religious holidays: Easter, the first Monday of April; Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter; Pentecost, the first Monday after May 20th; Halloween, November 1st; Christmas, December 25th.

National holiday: National Reconciliation Day, June 10th; National Day, August 15th; Republic Day, November 28th.

Communications Power

supply voltage

1. Power interface type: European standard.

2. Voltage: 220V, but the local municipal power supply is not guaranteed and the voltage is unstable, resulting in frequent power outages.

communication network

（1） Fixed telephones: Fixed telephones in Congo (Brazzaville) are only available in the cities of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. With the development and evolution of communication technology, the number of traditional fixed telephones is currently relatively small.

（2） Mobile phone: In recent years, mobile communication has developed rapidly. As of June 2019, the number of mobile users in China has exceeded 5 million, with a population coverage rate of 100%. There are three main operators, including private MTN, Airtel, and state-owned Congo Telecom. Local mobile phone reference prices (using Airtel as an example): Local network calls at 100 francs per minute, inter network calls at 120 francs per minute, and international long-distance (China) calls at 150 francs per minute.

（3） Internet: Congo (Brazzaville) has no independent international Internet access port, and needs to transit to London through Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. In the past three years, Internet access speed has developed rapidly. Mobile Internet operators are mainly MTN and Airtel, both of which have built 2G/3G/4G networks. Fixed network operators are mainly Congo Telecom and Canal+. At present, Congo Telecom has about 4000 fixed network FTTX users and 5000 Canal+users. The Internet export link is mainly WACS (West Africa Cable System) submarine optical cable, which is connected to the international Internet provider (ISP) in Europe via the Port of Pointe Noire. In addition, the backbone of Congo Gabon Central Africa optical cable was deployed and connected by the end of 2017. The backbone of Congo Cameroon optical cable is planned to be connected by the end of 2021. The Internet speed has been greatly improved, but there is still a significant gap with the international level. The network speed is slow, the network is unstable, and the service awareness and level are poor.

contact information

Local major websites

Congo News Agency: https://www.aci.cg/   

Brazzaville Express: http://www.adiac-congo.com

African Weekly: http://www.lasemaineafricaine.net

Congo Media Times: https://congomediatime.com/   

Overview of Congo: https://www.portail242.info

Brazzaville Maya Maya International Airport: https://www.brazzaville-aeroport.com

customs: https://douanes.gouv.cg

treasury department: https://www.finances.gouv.cg   

Ministry of Economy: https://economie.gouv.cg   

Trade Department: https://commerce.gouv.cg/

Ministry of Health: http://www.sante.gouv.cg

Ministry of Environment: http://www.tourisme-environnement.gouv.cg

National Institute of Statistics of Congo: https://ins-congo.org/

Local emergency phone number

Alarm hotline: 117

Fire alarm and firefighting: 118

Electric power emergency repair hotline: 4242