PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: DR Congo

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

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

Permitted stay

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

Before you go

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months; GSA says 4 blank pages.

  • 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.

  • Where South Africans apply

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

  • 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.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Research sources

  1. 1. Direction Générale de Migration (DGM), DR Congo – e-Visa (Official, evisa.gouv.cd) https://evisa.gouv.cd/
  2. 2. UK FCDO (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/entry-requirements
  3. 3. National Department of Health, South Africa (Other government, health.gov.za) https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Protocols-for-Travellers.pdf
  4. 4. DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  5. 5. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo
  6. 6. The GSA (South African visa agency) (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2578-democratic-republic-of-congo-drc-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/dr-congo. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.