Congo - Kinshasa visa options for Spain passport holders
Tourist / short stay
e-Visa
Apply for a visa online before travelling.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Congo - Kinshasa
Rules are written for ordinary-passport foreign nationals who require a visa to enter the DRC; nationals of a few exempt states and diplomatic/official travellers follow separate rules.
- Most nomadsTourist
Short-stay eVisa / Airport Visa (VAP)
Visa valid 90 days; single entry; stay up to approx 7 days per the official airport-visa (VAP) scheme
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required for entry, but strongly recommended — comprehensive travel medical cover with emergency evacuation is widely advised as Western-standard care is scarce outside Kinshasa.
- Good for
- Short-stay travellers (tourism, family visit or business) from eligible nationalities applying online before arrival
- Requirement
- Online application at the official DGM e-visa portal with passport scan, photo, accommodation/host details and yellow fever certificate; an arrival fee (approx USD 90) is reported on top of the online fee. Must be obtained before arrival.
- Most nomadsTourist
Tourist Visa (Embassy)
Typically 1, 2 or 6 months; single or multiple entry (varies by option)
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required for entry; comprehensive travel medical and evacuation cover strongly recommended.
- Good for
- Leisure/family travellers, and nationals of countries not eligible for the eVisa (e.g. some applying via a DRC embassy/consulate)
- Requirement
- Notarized letter of invitation from a host or tour operator (or notarized statement of purpose with hotel booking and itinerary), valid passport (6+ months) and yellow fever vaccination card; fees reported approx USD 100-450 by duration/entry type.
- Business
Business Visa
Typically 1, 2 or 6 months; single or multiple entry (varies by option)
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required for entry; travel medical cover with evacuation recommended.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals travelling for meetings, negotiations, conferences or short business assignments (not local employment)
- Requirement
- Letter of invitation from the DRC company/partner on company letterhead, valid passport (6+ months) and yellow fever certificate; fees reported approx USD 100-450 by duration/entry type.
- Work
Work Establishment Visa (Visa d'établissement de travail, VET)
Approx 12-24 months, tied to the work permit / employment contract validity (a non-renewable 1-year VETS variant exists for temporary/project assignments)
- Insurance
- RequiredNot specified as mandatory for the visa; private/expat health insurance strongly recommended given limited local medical infrastructure.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals taking up long-term employment with a registered DRC employer (assignments exceeding ~180 days)
- Requirement
- Employer-sponsored: requires a Carte de Travail pour Étranger (foreigner work permit) filed with the labour office, employment contract, proof of qualifications, clean criminal record and medical fitness certificate; a residence permit follows.
- Study
Student Visa
Generally aligned to the academic programme (often multi-year)
- Insurance
- RequiredNot specified as mandatory; health insurance strongly recommended.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals admitted to a registered DRC university or educational institution
- Requirement
- Proof of admission/enrolment at a registered institution, proof of accommodation, proof of sufficient funds (bank statements), valid passport (6+ months) and yellow fever certificate.
- Residence
Permanent Establishment Visa / Permanent Residence (Visa d'Établissement Permanent)
Indefinite (permanent); reportedly available after approx 5 years of residence, or approx 15 years for frequent visitors — verify current thresholds
- Insurance
- RequiredNot specified as mandatory; comprehensive health insurance strongly recommended.
- Good for
- Long-term foreign residents seeking to settle in the DRC permanently
- Requirement
- Established lawful residence in the DRC over the qualifying period; processed through immigration (DGM) with supporting residence history — exact criteria should be confirmed with authorities/local counsel.
- Transit
Airport Transit Visa
Short transit only (one-way or round-trip transit)
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required for transit; travel insurance optional/recommended.
- Good for
- Travellers transiting through a DRC airport en route to a third country
- Requirement
- Valid passport, onward travel evidence and yellow fever certificate; fees reported approx USD 45 (one-way) / USD 75 (round-trip).
Indicative summary from official DRC embassy/DGM and immigration-law sources; durations, fees and entry rules change frequently and the DRC enforces them strictly, so verify with a DRC embassy or the official portal before travel. Last checked: 2026-06.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Congo - Kinshasa, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Spain → Congo - Kinshasa: frequently asked
- Do Spain passport holders need a visa to visit Congo - Kinshasa?
- e-Visa. Apply for a visa online before travelling. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a Spain passport holder live or work long-term in Congo - Kinshasa?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Congo - Kinshasa has 7 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Congo - Kinshasa?
- Entry to Congo - Kinshasa never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Congo - Kinshasa visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.