You’ve probably heard of several places in the world that share almost the same names. For example, there is Bedford in England and the United States. There is also a city called Paris in Texas, A name surprisingly similar to the famous city of love. Many places in the world are also named after saints such as San Juan, San Pedro, etc., which can sometimes lead to confusion if you do not clearly indicate to yourself the exact place to which you are referring.
In Africa, some places have almost the same names, but are completely different from each other. Niger and Nigeria have almost the same spelling, with only 2 letters as the difference. The same applies to the two Congos– the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Kinshasa, is a country located on the southern bank of the famous Congo River. It is also known as the largest country in Central Africa.
It should not be confused with the Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, which is located on the other side of the Congo River, on the other side of the DRC.
Congo-Kinshasa is known as one of the least underdeveloped countries in Africa, because much of the lush tropical forest remains as it was then. It has also gained its fame as a primate tourism oasis for those looking for such adventures in nature.
If you are one of them and would like to know more about obtaining a visa to the DRC with your British passport, keep reading.
Tourist visa requirements for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Visa application form, completed and signed by the applicant
- Your current passport valid for a minimum of 6 months upon arrival in the country
- 2 passport photos
- Proof of address, such as utility bills
- Copy of your return tickets or confirmed itinerary
- Hotel reservation (if you are traveling alone) or a letter of invitation to the DRC if you are visiting someone in the country
- A copy of your yellow fever vaccination certificate
- A copy of your Care Commitment issued by the General Directorate of Migration in DR Congo attesting that your visit has been approved
Step-by-step procedure when applying for a tourist visa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1. Collect all the necessary documents for the application and fill out the form
2. Go to this website and make an appointment with the embassy so that you can submit your documents and pay the fees
3. Let the government process the tourist visa application for a certain period of time
4. Once approved, you can pick up your passport at the embassy