The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing to introduce an e-visa (E-VISA), announced for release in early 2025.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing to launch an e-VISA (E-VISA), a major step towards digitalizing the Immigration Agency.
The initiative, which was announced in October 2023 and is scheduled to be launched in early 2025, is led by Thérès Kayikwamba Wagner, aims to simplify and ensure entry into the country, following the examples of many other countries.
At DRC, it soon began to “e-visa, as many other countries have.”
In a recent clear and ambitious statement, Thérès semester Wagner confirmed that DRC is preparing to switch to e-visa (E-VISA). Many destinations in Africa, particularly Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar and more recently Nigeria, Namibia and Mauritania, already offer e-Visa.
For her, the project embodies a clear desire for modernization and simplification.
For me the next step is to switch to a digital visa, which is an e-Visa, although very ambitious about this, as many other countries have.
Therèse Kayikwamba Wagner – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Future E-VISA systems offer a completely paperless procedure with secure bank payments, reducing the risk of corruption and human interference. This reform is part of the willingness to streamline procedures in line with the contemporary, open image that DRC wants to convey.
E-Visa, Passports, Embassy: Congolese diplomacy undergoes major reforms
According to the Minister, the introduction of e-visa “meaning it will be much easier to come to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once again, there is a digitalised, secure process that allows you to pay much easier even with supervised secure banking transactions.”
The E-VISA project is part of a broader programme to modernize consular services. After reforming the passport issuance process, DRC is now strengthening its embassies overseas after it is no longer being paid online or at bank counters without human intervention.
Diplomatic infrastructure is no longer a place of control. It is becoming an international national showcase, ensuring optimal working conditions for diplomats. The Minister argues that the embassy must be “a positive, shining showcase for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (…) and must be attractive.
Similarly, standardized consul cards have been developed to promote the identification of Congolese citizens living abroad. This card will provide easy access to local services in the host country without systematically presenting your passport.
“We recognize that by digitizing certain things, we can speed up these processes (…),” explains Wagner.
DRC already has an online visa system installed as upgrades to e-visa is pending
Currently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo already has a partial digital platform for issuing visas accessible through the portal evisa.gouv.cd.
This site allows eligible travelers to apply for a 7-day single entry VAP (Visa Aéroportuaire) issued at the airport and extended on-site. It's extremely expensive (paid online and USD 90 when you arrive at DRC), but this short-term visa is the first step towards digitizing the transition process.
With a limited period and in the category of eligible travelers, this system allows Congolese managers to experiment with digital tools and could serve as the functional foundation for future E-VISAs to enter the DRC. The transition to a broader solution builds on these outcomes to maintain state sovereignty over entry control, while creating a more comprehensive, automated, and secure system.
