VISAS & EMBASSIES

sasha@tcid.on.ca

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Congolese Embassies

The Congo has embassies in Bangui (the CAR), Conakry (Guinea), Kinshasa (Zaire) Libreville (Gabon), Luanda (Angola) Yaounde (Cameroun), Bonn, Brussels, Paris, Rome and Washington.

Congolese Visas

Only French citizens are not legally required to have visas, but even they are strongly advised to get them because there have been many instances where French visitors without visas were refused entry. Written proof of exemption, even a notice on the wall at customs confirming it, won't help. In addition, German nationals are apparently routinely admitted at Brazzaville airport without visas for stays of up to 15 days. However, this is not official policy and the Congolese Embassy in Germany advises Germans to get visas.

In Washington, the Congolese Embassy (Tel: (202) 726-5500/1) charges US$15/20 for single/double-entry visas valid for two months from the date of intended entry. It requires three photos and proof of an onward airline ticket. In London, there is no Congolese embassy, so you'll have to try the French Embassy or the Congolese Embassy in Brussels, Bonn, Paris or Rome.

If you'll be travelling overland, you can wait until you arrive in Africa as visas are easy to obtain in neighbouring Gabon Cameroun and Zaire. However, they are much more expensive than in Europe or North America (eg CPA 25,000 in Cameroun) and those issued in Gabon are only valid for 15 days from the date of entry. The Congolese Embassy there gives same-day service if you bring CFA 20,000 and one photo. In Kinshasa the Congolese Embassy issues visas in 48 hours and requires CFA 10,000, two photos and a note verbale from your embassy (ie a letter of introduction requesting that you be issued a visa)- the visas are valid for at least one month or longer if you ask Immigration is very close to the US Embassy in Brazzaville and is responsible for issuing visa extensions. In the past, obtaining them was next to impossible; however, with the new, more open governunent, they may be loosening up a bit.

A visa is not required if you are merely in transit at Brazzaville to catch another flight and have a ticket with a confirmed seat on the next flight to your destination. In that case, you will be allowed to leave the airport. If you will be coming to Brazzaville via the ferry from Kinshasa, you no longer need a laissez-passer in addition to a visa. Similarly, exit visas are no longer required.

Other African Visas

The French Consulate issues visas to Burkina Faso, the Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. The visa section, which is open to the public on weekdays from 8 to 10.30 am, requires CFA 10,000 and two photos and gives 24 hour service.

Angola

The embassy is open to the public Monday to Thursday from 9 to 11.30 am, receives visa applications on Mondays and Wednesdays and returns them the next day. It charges CFA 12,000/24,000 for visas valid for stays of 15/30 days; you must also pay CFA 5000 for the telex they send to immigration in Luanda requesting permission, and this process can easily take seven days or more. If you're not going on business, the application will probably be rejected.

Cameroun

Single-entry visas good for one/two/three-month stays cost CFA 7000/12,000/16,000 (about double for multiple-entry visas of the same duration). The Camerounian Embassy, which is open weekdays from 7 am to 2 pm, issues visas in 48 hours and requires two photos. If you are not a resident of the Congo, you will need a note verbale from your embassy.

The CAR

Brazzaville is not a good place to get a visa to the CAR because the embassy which is open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm (to noon on Friday), must first send a telex to Bangui, a process that takes five to 10 days. This requirement applies to all nationalities. You must bring two photos and CFA 10,000/24,000 for multiple-entry visas valid for one/three-month stays.

Chad

With CFA 5000 and two photos in hand, you can get visas to Chad the same day from the Chadian Embassy, which is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30 to 2 pm (to noon on Fridays).

Gabon

Brazzaville is not a good place to get visas to Gabon either because, as with the CAR, the embassy (open weekdays from 8 am to 2 pm), must first telex Libreville, a process which takes one to two weeks. If you can wait, bring CFA 10,000, an additional CFA 2500 for the telex and two photos- visas are valid for three months.

Nigeria

Nigerian visas cost anywhere from CFA 850 for Americans to approximately CFA 10,000 for Britons. Visas are issued in 24 hours by the Nigerian Embassy (open from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm Monday to Friday) and are good for stays of one or two months depending on what you request. You must bring two photos and, if you are not a resident of the Congo, a note verbals from your embassy.

Zaire

The Zairian Embassy generally issues visas only to residents of the Congo. If you have been travelling for a long time and obviously couldn't have obtained a visa in your home country and you also have a note verbale from your embassy, officials there say that they may be willing to consider issuing you a visa but I definitely do not recommend taking the chance, as it's easy to get Zairian visas from any other country in Africa. The embassy, which is open weekdays from 8.30 to 11 am, requires two photos and lots of money (CFA 23,500 for a one-month single-entry visa to CFA 71,000 for a three-month multiple-entry visa). It issues visas on the same day to residents of the Congo.

Congo Embassy in the U.S. 1994

CONGO, REPUBLIC OF - Embassy of the Republic of Congo
Chancery: 4891 Colorado Ave. NW. 20011 (TEL 726-0825) ; (FAX 726-1860)
National Holiday: Congolese National Day, August 15.
His Excellency Pierre Damien BOUSSOUKOU-BOUMBA;
Mrs. Julienne Boussoukou-Boumba Appointed Ambassador (October 12, 1993)
Mr. IKOUROU-YOKA; Mrs. Pauline Ikourou-Yoh Counselor (Economic)
Mr. Guilbume OWASSA; Mrs. Alice Owassa First Secretary (Cultural)
Mr. Jean-Christophe ACKONDJO;
Mrs. Brigitte Ackondjo Second Secretary (Financial)