Democratic Republic of the Congo customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• Personal effects for your own use are duty-free. Customs decides whether other goods are taxable based on your status and whether the goods look commercial; there is no fixed value limit, and duty on taxable goods is paid on a simplified import declaration.
• For adult travelers: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco (or a mix of these up to 250 g).
• For adult travelers: 1 L of spirits, 2 L of wine, 3 L of beer or 3 L of soft drinks.
• 1/4 L of eau de toilette and 50 g of perfume.
• All allowances apply only to goods for personal use carried in your accompanied or hand baggage. Excess baggage arriving separately is cleared under the normal customs procedure.
Currency
• Foreign currency may be brought in freely.
• Cash in foreign currencies of USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared to customs, or to immigration if customs is not present, on arrival, and you must be able to prove where the money comes from and what it is for. Under the Central Bank exchange regulation, amounts at or above this limit should be moved by bank transfer rather than carried in cash.
• The declaration also covers bearer and traveler's cheques, money orders, bearer securities and gold (coins, bars, nuggets of at least 99.5% gold).
• Not declaring, or making a false declaration, can lead to a fine of up to 50% of the amount and seizure of all the funds.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs
• Specimens of CITES Appendix I species (the most endangered wildlife and plants), unless imported for scientific research under a special permit
Restricted
• Weapons and ammunition need an import licence.
• Wildlife and plant species listed in CITES Appendices II and III, and products made from them, need CITES permits from the country of origin, plus veterinary or phytosanitary certificates where applicable.
• Cultural goods (works of art, antiques, archaeological objects) must be declared in detail on arrival. Objects exported from a country that requires an export permit must be accompanied by that permit.
• Satellite phones, GPS receivers and military clothing may cause difficulties at entry; declare them.
• Pets need a veterinary health certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate.
• Declare any goods that may be prohibited or liable to duty.
• Personal effects for your own use are duty-free. Customs decides whether other goods are taxable based on your status and whether the goods look commercial; there is no fixed value limit, and duty on taxable goods is paid on a simplified import declaration.
• For adult travelers: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco (or a mix of these up to 250 g).
• For adult travelers: 1 L of spirits, 2 L of wine, 3 L of beer or 3 L of soft drinks.
• 1/4 L of eau de toilette and 50 g of perfume.
• All allowances apply only to goods for personal use carried in your accompanied or hand baggage. Excess baggage arriving separately is cleared under the normal customs procedure.
Currency
• Foreign currency may be brought in freely.
• Cash in foreign currencies of USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared to customs, or to immigration if customs is not present, on arrival, and you must be able to prove where the money comes from and what it is for. Under the Central Bank exchange regulation, amounts at or above this limit should be moved by bank transfer rather than carried in cash.
• The declaration also covers bearer and traveler's cheques, money orders, bearer securities and gold (coins, bars, nuggets of at least 99.5% gold).
• Not declaring, or making a false declaration, can lead to a fine of up to 50% of the amount and seizure of all the funds.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs
• Specimens of CITES Appendix I species (the most endangered wildlife and plants), unless imported for scientific research under a special permit
Restricted
• Weapons and ammunition need an import licence.
• Wildlife and plant species listed in CITES Appendices II and III, and products made from them, need CITES permits from the country of origin, plus veterinary or phytosanitary certificates where applicable.
• Cultural goods (works of art, antiques, archaeological objects) must be declared in detail on arrival. Objects exported from a country that requires an export permit must be accompanied by that permit.
• Satellite phones, GPS receivers and military clothing may cause difficulties at entry; declare them.
• Pets need a veterinary health certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate.
• Declare any goods that may be prohibited or liable to duty.