Kinshasa N'djili International Airport is the primary international gateway, located 25 kilometers east of Kinshasa's city center. Brussels Airlines operates the most frequent long-haul service from Brussels. Ethiopian Airlines connects through Addis Ababa. Kenya Airways routes through Nairobi. Turkish Airlines added Kinshasa to its network in 2019. The airport underwent partial renovations in 2015 but infrastructure remains limited compared to regional standards. A smaller international terminal handles most commercial traffic. Domestic carriers use separate facilities. Congolese border officials process arrivals in a single-file system that typically requires one to three hours depending on aircraft load and staffing levels that day.
Lubumbashi Luano International Airport in the southeast handles regional flights from Johannesburg via South African Airlink, from Addis Ababa via Ethiopian Airlines, and charter operations serving mining companies. The airport sits 10 kilometers from Lubumbashi city center. Goma International Airport near the Rwandan border receives RwandAir flights from Kigali, a 45-minute flight, and serves as a staging point for Virunga National Park access. Kisangani Bangoka International Airport operates limited regional service primarily for humanitarian organizations and domestic connections. Matadi does not maintain scheduled international passenger service.
Visas are required for most nationalities. The Democratic Republic of the Congo does not operate a reliable electronic visa system as of 2024. Applications typically occur at embassies or consulates before travel. Visa on arrival exists in theory at N'djili but approval depends on pre-arranged authorization letters from Congolese entities, usually facilitated by hosting organizations or tour operators. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website lists requirements but processing standards vary. Standard tourist visas cost approximately 185 USD for single entry when issued at embassies. Validity periods typically span 30 days. Extensions require appearing at the Direction Générale de Migration offices in person with passport photos, sponsorship letters, and fees between 50 and 100 USD depending on duration requested.
Yellow fever vaccination certificates are mandatory. Border officials check vaccination cards before allowing entry. The Congolese government adopted this requirement in 2016 following outbreaks in Angola that spread to Kinshasa. Officials confiscate passports lacking proof and deny entry or demand on-site vaccination at airport clinics, though vaccine availability at ports of entry is inconsistent. Travelers should carry physical yellow WHO vaccination cards. Digital records are not universally accepted.
The Congolese franc is the official currency, abbreviated CDF or FC. Notes circulate in denominations of 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 francs. The Central Bank of Congo issues currency. Exchange rates fluctuate significantly. As of late 2023, one USD equaled approximately 2,400 to 2,600 Congolese francs on the street market. Official bank rates often differ from street rates by 5 to 15 percent. United States dollars circulate widely in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Goma. Vendors accept dollars for large purchases. Hotels quote prices in dollars. Currency exchange bureaus operate in city centers. Banks exchange money but require documentation and time. Street exchangers offer better rates than banks but authentication of bills matters. Counterfeit dollars circulate. Only crisp bills printed after 2013 gain wide acceptance. Torn notes or bills with marks face rejection.
ATMs exist in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi but work intermittently. Visa and Mastercard function at some machines affiliated with Rawbank, Equity BCDC, and Procrédit Bank. Daily withdrawal limits typically range from 200 to 500 USD equivalent. Machines run out of cash frequently. Power cuts disable machines. International card transactions incur fees from 3 to 7 percent. Outside major cities, ATMs do not exist or do not function. Goma has a few working ATMs near the border. Kisangani has limited banking infrastructure. Carrying sufficient cash for entire trips outside Kinshasa or Lubumbashi is necessary.
Credit cards see limited acceptance. Upscale hotels in Kinshasa accept Visa and Mastercard. The Memling Hotel, Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel, and Fleuve Congo Hotel process cards. Most restaurants operate cash-only. Domestic flights typically require cash payment or bank transfers. Mobile money systems like M-Pesa and Orange Money dominate retail transactions among Congolese residents but linking foreign accounts to these platforms requires local SIM cards and bank accounts. Visitors effectively operate in a cash economy.