Practical info for the Republic of the Congo
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British Embassy KinshasaEmbassy
- Address
- 83, Avenue Roi Baudouin, Gombe, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/british-embassy-kinshasa
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 02/06/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country.
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
FCDO advises against all travel to within 50km of the Republic of Congo-Central African Republic border in Likouala Region.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: CFA franc (BEAC) (XAF).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for XAF.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+01:00, +1 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the Republic of Congo. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Airtel (Sirocco, Airalo); Airtel SA (Sirocco); Warid (Sirocco).
eSIM prices for the Republic of the Congo
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in the Republic of the Congo?
Police: 117 ; Fire brigade: 118
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in the Republic of the Congo?
British Embassy Kinshasa, 83, Avenue Roi Baudouin, Gombe, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for the Republic of the Congo?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 02/06/2026.
What is the travel advice for the Republic of the Congo?
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country. Areas where FCDO advises against travel FCDO advises against all travel to within 50km of the Republic of Congo-Central African Republic border in Likouala Region. Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
What currency is used in the Republic of the Congo?
Currency: CFA franc (BEAC) (XAF). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for XAF.
What is the time difference in the Republic of the Congo?
Local time: UTC+01:00, +1 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in the Republic of the Congo?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the Republic of Congo. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.”
Which mobile networks operate in the Republic of the Congo?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Airtel (Sirocco, Airalo); Airtel SA (Sirocco); Warid (Sirocco).