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How to obtain a visa
With the exception of nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, CAR, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Togo, all foreign nationals wishing to travel to Congo Brazzaville must be in possession of a visa. You can apply for a residence visa at any Congolese embassy. Visas are issued for a maximum period of fifteen (15) days.
Once they have arrived in the Congo, foreign nationals may negotiate a residence visa with the Direction Départementale de la Surveillance du Territoire for a period of one (1), three (3) or five (5) years.
The costs of issuing visas are as follows :
One (1) year visa : CFAF 106,000 (€161.60);
3-year visa : FCFA 206,000 (€314.04) ;
5-year visa : 106,000 FCFA (€161.60).
- Documents required for a residence visa
All travellers wishing to visit the Republic of Congo must take the following steps obtain a visa from the Embassy of the Republic of Congo in their country, with the following documents:
- An original, signed passport valid for at least 6 months;
- A complete visa application form ;
- 2 recent passport photos ;
- A letter of invitation (a copy of which must be carried with you when you disembark in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire);
- A return ticket;
- A copy of the international vaccination certificate (yellow fever vaccine compulsory).
N.B.: It should be noted that there is an "Express Visa" option , at an additional cost, which allows the visa to be issued the same day..
- Obtaining a residence permit
- A valid passport or equivalent document with an entry visa if the foreign national is a national of a country with which the Congo has not concluded a specific agreement on immigration ;
- A criminal record less than three months old issued by the competent judicial authority in the country of origin ;
- A consular card ;
- A valid vaccination certificate ;
- A receipt for payment of the repatriation guarantee deposit for nationals of countries other than those which have those who have signed agreements with the Congo on the free movement of persons ;
- An employment contract or a signed certificate from an approved employer, if the foreign national is an employee ;
- Proof of enrolment at a school or university in the Republic of the Congo if the foreign national is a pupil or student ;
- A certificate of appointment issued by the religious leader in the Republic of the Congo, if the foreign national is a minister of religion ;
- A certificate of appointment issued by the highest Congolese official of a duly authorised initiatory order, if the foreign national is a follower. ;
- Approval from the Congolese ministry responsible for the foreign national carrying out any professional activity ;
- A certificate of accommodation countersigned by the nearest mayor, if the foreign national is living with a third party ;
- Four (04) photographic identity cards ;
- Stamps and taxes according to the category of card requested ;
- An invitation or authorisation to teach and/or carry out research issued by an authorised Congolese institution or body, if the foreign national is an academic and/or researcher. authorised Congolese body, if the foreign national is an academic or researcher
In order to obtain the privileged resident's card, the foreign national or stateless person, in addition to the conditions required for the ordinary resident's card, must prove uninterrupted residence of at least ten (10) years in the Republic of the Congo.
Foreign nationals married to Congolese nationals who have not acquired Congolese nationality must, in order to obtain a residence permit present supporting civil status documents and a receipt for payment of the repatriation bond, for those required to do so.
Residence permits are issued automatically:
- Foreign nationals who have been married for at least two (2) years to a person of Congolese nationality, who is not of Congolese nationality and who has legal residence in the Congo;
- Economic investors;
- Leaders of religious denominations duly installed and recognised by the Congolese StateThe resident's card must be renewed in the month before it expires, the renewal fee is set by regulation.
Failure to renew the residence permit will result in the application of measures relating to deportation.
It is compulsory to carry a resident's card, which must be produced at the request of the competent authorities at any time and in any place.
- Recruiting staff
1. National managers
- Four (4) copies of employment contracts signed by both parties
- One (1) police record
- One (1) certificate of nationality
- One (1) certified copy of diploma or work certificate
- One (1) birth certificate
- One (1) medical certificate (see ACPE) CFAF 5,000
- One (1) work card 500 FCFA
- Two (2) passport-size photographs
- One (1) CFA francs 200 tax stamp (see Taxes)
- A receipt for the purchase of a work card
- A curriculum vitae
- Receipt for payment of the single payroll tax (see tax).
2. Subordinate Agents
- Three (3) copies of employment contracts signed by both parties
- One (1) birth certificate
- One (1) medical certificate (see ACPE) FCFA 5,000
- One (1) work card CFA francs 500
- One (1) CFA francs 200 tax stamp (see taxes)
- Two (2) passport-size photographs
- One (1) work card purchase receipt
- Receipt for payment of the single payroll tax (see tax)
3.Foreign staff
3.1 Employment contract for a foreign national hired outside Congolese territory- A typed employment contract in (04) copies (authentic signatures on each copy) ;
- A job analysis sheet ;
- An information sheet on the worker concerned ;
- Criminal record from the country of origin (at least three (03) months old);
- A medical certificate (less than three (03) months old);
- Certified copies of diplomas and/or work certificates;
- A receipt for payment of the single payroll tax;
- A receipt for payment of the contract visa fee of one hundred thousand (100,000) FCFA in cash or by cheque made payable to the ACPE ;
- A receipt for payment of the sum of ten thousand (10,000) CFA francs for the acquisition of a work permit.
3.2 Employment contract for foreign nationals working in the Congo
- The same documents are required as for foreign workers employed outside the Congo, with the exception of the criminal record, which must be drawn up in the Congo, and a Certificate of Residence in the Congo.
3.3. Addendum to the employment contract
- Four (04) typed copies of the endorsement submitted for approval;
- A photocopy of the initial employment contract ;
- A photocopy of the previous amendment to the Employment Contract ;
- A receipt for payment of the contract amendment visa fee of one hundred thousand (100,000) FCFA in cash and by crossed cheque made payable to the ACPE.3.4. Temporary employment authorisation
- A request for provisional authorisation addressed to the General Manager of the ACPE under cover of the Departmental Management of the ACPE in the jurisdiction ;
- A job analysis sheet ;
- An information sheet on the person concerned ;
- A receipt for payment of the Authorisation visa fee of one hundred thousand (100,000) FCFA in cash or by crossed cheque made payable to the ACPE;
- A receipt for payment of the sum of ten thousand (100,000) CFA francs for the acquisition of a work permit;
- A receipt proving payment of the visa fee for the person's employment contract.
3.5. Temporary employment authorisation
- An application for Temporary Employment Authorisation addressed to the General Manager of the ACPE under cover of the ACPE Departmental Management in the area of jurisdiction;
- A job analysis sheet ;
- An information sheet on the worker concerned ;
- A receipt for payment of the Authorisation visa fee of one hundred thousand (100,000) FCFA in cash or by crossed cheque made payable to the ACPE ;
- A receipt for payment of the sum of ten thousand (100,000) CFA francs for the acquisition of a work permit;
- Photocopy of Congo entry visa or resident's card.
N.B : No Work Card may be signed unless it is accompanied by the employment contract, including any renewals..
- Documents required for a residence visa