Congo, Republic of the
Country Specific Information
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June 25, 2010

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) is a developing nation in central Africa. The official language is French. The largest cities are the capital, Brazzaville, located on the Congo River, and Pointe Noire on the coast. Civil conflict in 1997 and again in 1998-99 damaged parts of the capital and large areas in the south of the country. The last rebel group signed a cease-fire accord with the government in March 2003. Facilities for tourism are very limited. Read the Department of State’s Background Notes on the Republic of the Congo for additional information.

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SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: U.S. citizens living or traveling in the Republic of the Congo are encouraged to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, in order to obtain updated information on local travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may sign-up directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrollment is important; it allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency.

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.

U.S. Embassy Brazzaville
Boulevard Maya-Maya (in front of Blanche Gomez Materinity Hospital)
Brazzaville
Republic of the Congo
Telephone: +242 612-2000
Emergency after-hours telephone: +242 444-0013
e-Mail: BrazzavilleACS@state.gov

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ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport, visa, and evidence of yellow fever vaccination are required for entry. Visitors to the Republic of the Congo should also have a letter of invitation and/or written proof of a hotel reservation for presentation to Immigration officials upon arrival. In some cases, invitation letters must be endorsed by local immigration authorities prior to the bearer’s arrival in the country. Posession of a valid visa is not sufficient for admission to Congo; immigration requirements are unclear and arbitrarily enforced.

Until January 2010, every Congolese Embassy or Consulate issued its own unique visas for entry to the Republic of Congo. Now, the visas are supposed to be identical no matter where they are issued. However, some Embassies and Consulates, including the Congolese Consulate in New York, have not started issuing the new universal visas. The new Congolese visas are a passport-page-size sticker with the outline of the Republic of the Congo map in the background. Travellers who attempt to enter Congo with one of the old visas may be denied entry.

Additional information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo, 4891 Colorado Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011, telephone (202) 726-5500, or from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Congo to the United Nations, 14 E. 65th St., New York, NY, 10021, telephone (212) 744-7840. Overseas, inquiries should be made at the nearest Congolese embassy or consulate. Neither the Congolese Embassy in Washington, nor the Mission in New York, maintain a web site.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of the Republic of the Congo.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

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SAFETY AND SECURITY: Although the Republic of the Congo is still recovering from the Civil War, there have been no serious episodes of unrest or violence since the March 2003 peace accord. Continued security awareness, however, remains a key consideration for all visitors.

Avoid travel in the Pool region south of Brazzaville should be avoided. The Embassy continues to receive reports of roadblocks and armed robberies from travelers to this region. The passenger train connecting Brazzaville and Point Noire passes through this region and train travelers have also been robbed. For this reason the Embassy advises against travel by road or rail between Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.

Visitors should also pay close attention to events in the Democratic Republic of Congo as unrest in Kinshasa can also affect Brazzaville. In 2007, stray small arms fire originating in Kinshasa landed in Brazzaville. For the most up to date security and safety information on the Democratic Republic of Congo, please refer to the Department of State's Travel Warning and Country Specific Information Sheet for the Republic of the Congo.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs web site, which contains current the Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s extensive tips and advice on traveling safely abroad.

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CRIME: In the Republic of the Congo, petty street crime targeting foreigners is rare. However, incidents of mugging and pick-pocketing have been reported near the ports in Pointe Noire and Brazzaville, as well as in the Congolese neighborhoods surrounding Brazzaville's city center.

Criminal elements are known to target middle-class and affluent residences without 24-hour guards for burglary.

Travelers should note that in the case of theft and robbery, legal recourse is limited; therefore, travelers may wish to leave all valuable items at home.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.

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INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you are the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). This includes the loss or theft of a U.S. passport. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds may be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in the Republic of the Congo is 665-4804. However, police resources are limited and response to emergency calls is often slow (15 minutes or longer). In general, response or recourse for victims of crime is extremely limited, if not non-existent in the Republic of the Congo.

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

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CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
CURRENCY: The Republic of the Congo is primarily a cash economy and uses the Central African Franc (CFA), a common currency with Gabon, Chad, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea. U.S. dollars may be exchanged for local currency. Traveler’s checks are generally not accepted and cannot be cashed at local banks. Two hotels in Brazzaville and several in Pointe Noire now accept major credit cards but cash remains the preferred method of payment. Most businesses accept cash only. Personal checks drawn on foreign accounts are not accepted. Western Union has offices in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. There is one ATM in Brazzaville that accepts foreign debit cards at the Credit du Congo Bank. ATMs at several of Credit du Congo’s branches in Pt. Noire also accept foreign debit cards. CFA are not available outside the CFA zone and there are tight restrictions on travelling with currency. If you are caught attempting to leave the country in possession of CFA, airport authorities may confiscate all of your local currency. For this reason, the U.S. Embassy recommends that you not travel via air with CFA, even if you are travelling directly to another county in the CFA zone.

CUSTOMS: Airport police and customs officials routinely inspect incoming and outgoing luggage, even for internal travel. For a complete list of prohibited items, please contact the nearest Congolese embassy or consulate. Visitors who seek to export arts and crafts at the airports are frequently subject to an export tax/solicitations for bribes from customs agents.

DETENTION: Local security forces, especially traffic police, routinely detain foreigners to solicit bribes. Detention of U.S. citizens, particularly in remote areas, may not always be promptly reported to the U.S. Government by Congolese authorities. U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their passport and valid visa for the Congo with them at all times so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship is readily available. If detained or arrested, U.S. citizens should always ask to be allowed to contact the U.S. Embassy.

PHOTOGRAPHY: In general there are no restrictions on photography; however, photographs of government buildings or military installations, port facilities, train stations, or airports should not be taken. It is best to request permission before photographing people in remote areas where populations adhere to traditional beliefs. If permission is refused, the photo should not be taken.

FERRY SERVICE TO KINSHASA: Ferry service between Brazzaville and Kinshasa normally operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday, but it may close completely with minimal notice. A special exit permit from the Republic of the Congo’s Immigration Service and a visa for the Democratic Republic of the Congo are required to cross the Congo River from Brazzaville to Kinshasa.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities are extremely limited. Some medicines are in short supply, particularly in rural areas. Travelers should carry their own supply of properly labeled medications.

The Consular Section maintains a list of clinics in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. This list is provided as a service for Americans residing or visiting the Republic of the Congo and in no way constitutes an endorsement or recommendation of any particular facility. The list is available both on the Embassy’s web site and in person in the Consular Section.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the type that predominates in the Congo, is resistant to the antimalarial drug chloroquine. Because travelers to the Republic of the Congo are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that travelers should take one of the following antimalarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariamt™), doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone™). Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what antimalarials they have been taking. The CDC provides additional information on malaria protective measures.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC web site. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) web site. The WHO web site also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in the Republic of the Congo. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB.

Good Information on vaccinations and other health precautions can be found via the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

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MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:

  • Does my policy apply when I’m out of the U.S.?
  • Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?

In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.

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TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.The information below concerning the Republic of the Congo is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Road conditions are generally poor and deteriorate significantly during the rainy season between November-May. The National Highway 2 which links Brazzaville to Pointe Noire is largely unpaved and often impassable in the rainy season. Fuel, both unleaded and diesel, is frequently unavailable in the major cities and especially in the more isolated regions of the country. Maintenance of the few paved roads is limited. Overland travel off the main roads requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Poorly marked checkpoints, sometimes manned by undisciplined soldiers, exist in many areas of the countryside.

The U.S. Embassy in Brazzaville does not recommend or endorse the use of taxi cabs or other forms of public transportation in the Republic of the Congo. Most of these vehicles are not equipped with seatbelts or other standard safety features required in the United States. Please keep this risk in mind if you choose to use this form of transportation.

Traffic safety in general is hazardous due to high speeds, aggressive driving, poorly maintained vehicles and general apathy for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

Emergency services are limited within Brazzaville and Pointe Noire and virtually inexistent elsewhere in the Republic of the Congo. Please refer to the medical section above.

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AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in the Republic of the Congo, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of the Republic of the Congo’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

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CHILDREN'S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.

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This replaces the Country Specific Information for the Republic of the Congo dated April 29, 2009, to update sections on Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)/Embassy Location, Entry/Exit Requirements, and Special Circumstances.

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Worldwide Caution

Travel Warnings

Travel Alerts

Country Information

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