PassportSouth Africa

DR Congo: do South Africans need a visa?

South Africans need to apply for a visa before travel to DR Congo.

Consular multiple-entry visas of 90 or 180 days; e-Visa up to 7 days.

Visa required. An e-Visa (evisa.gouv.cd, introduced in 2025) covers only stays up to 7 days; the usual route for SA travellers remains a consular visa from the embassy in Pretoria.1423

Before you travel

Length of stay

Consular multiple-entry visas of 90 or 180 days; e-Visa up to 7 days.23

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Purpose of visit

Not published by official sources

Passport validity

At least 6 months; GSA says 4 blank pages.43

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

How to apply

Consular route: application form, 2 photos, financial proof and a purpose document. 90 days R2,625; 180 days R5,250; transit R350/R500. Payment by bank deposit only; 10 working days. e-Visa route: evisa.gouv.cd, USD 300 online plus USD 90 at entry, about 72 h, stays up to 7 days.23

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Where South Africans apply

Embassy of the DRC, 832 Jan Shoba St, Brooklyn, Pretoria (012 344 6475).3

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Not published by official sources

Proof of funds

Not published by official sources

Accommodation or invitation

Not published by official sources

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

DRC: yellow fever certificate REQUIRED for entry; polio vaccination is required in some circumstances. RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA: the DRC is on South Africa's yellow fever risk-country list. South African Department of Health / DIRCO rules require every traveller over 1 year old (South Africans included) arriving from a risk country, or transiting a risk-country airport for more than 12 hours, to show a valid yellow fever certificate (vaccine at least 10 days before departure; certificates are valid for life). Without one you may be refused entry or quarantined for up to 6 days.4673

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

Not published by official sources

Extending your stay and overstaying

Not published by official sources

Transit

Not published by official sources

Travelling with children

Not published by official sources

What changed

1 January 2025e-Visa for short stays (up to 7 days) introduced in early 2025 (announced in November 2024).

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Direction Générale de Migration (DGM), DR Congo – e-Visa evisa.gouv.cd

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 4UK FCDO gov.uk
  2. 6National Department of Health, South Africa health.gov.za
  3. 7DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) dirco.gov.za

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 2Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Commercial

Visa agencies, law firms and travel companies

  1. 3The GSA (South African visa agency) thegsa.co.za

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book. Spotted something out of date? Report a change.