Democratic Republic of the Congo

The DRC authorities rarely meet their international obligations to notify embassies when foreign nationals have been detained. Even if requested, adequate consular access is not always granted. Keep in close touch with family or friends and ask them to notify the British Embassy in Kinshasa immediately if you are arrested in DRC.

Taking photographs of some government and military buildings is illegal, particularly borders or military installations. You risk being arrested and detained. Journalists should not conduct interviews or film without the necessary local permits.

Same-sex sexual activity is not illegal in DRC but is frowned upon by many. There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples or same-sex marriage, and there are no specific anti-discrimination laws protecting LBGT+ people. Members of the LGBT+ community are known to be harassed. Individuals may be charged under DRC’s Penal Code for ‘crimes against family life’.   

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

FCDO advises against adopting from DRC. The UK does not recognise adoptions made in DRC as DRC is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

The DRC government has not issued exit permits for children adopted by foreign nationals in DRC since 2013 and many are still unable to leave the country. It is illegal for same-sex or trans-sexual couples to adopt Congolese children.

If you wear any military-style clothing you could be misidentified as military personnel and be vulnerable to attack or detention.

Credit cards are only accepted in a limited number of places in Kinshasa and other cities. US dollars are widely used alongside the local currency and a number of ATMs dispense US dollars in Kinshasa. Notes should be in good condition and issued after 2001. Elsewhere in DRC, cash is needed for transactions.

Make sure you have access to money, or have arrangements in place for it to be sent to you in an emergency, before leaving the UK.

During the wet season (approximately September to May), heavy rainfall often causes severe flooding in parts of DRC. Check for news of flooding before travelling.

Earthquakes are a risk in DRC, but they are infrequent. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.

Mount Nyiragongo volcano, close to the city of Goma and near the border with Rwanda, erupted in 2002 and 2021, resulting in loss of lives and damage to infrastructure in and around Goma. Further volcanic activity is possible at any time.