Africa · Arrival Guide
Just Landed in Congo (DRC)? Your First 7 Days
Kinshasa is a sprawling, cash-driven megacity where French gets you through most official interactions and Lingala rules the street. Public services are thin, so most expats arrive through an employer, NGO or church network and lean heavily on private drivers, private clinics and US-dollar cash. Register with your embassy early and keep security awareness high, especially outside the Gombe business district.
112 / No reliable national number; call a private clinic directly
Police 112 · Ambulance No reliable national number; call a private clinic directly · Fire 118
Kinshasa
Congolese Franc (CDF)
French (official); Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo and Tshiluba widely spoken
+243
Getting your bearings in Congo (DRC)
Landing in Kinshasa is a shock even for people who have lived elsewhere in Africa. It is one of the largest cities on the continent, home to well over fifteen million people, and it moves at a relentless, improvised pace. Your first weeks will feel like a crash course in reading situations: which street is fine and which is not, which official is genuine and which is fishing for a bribe, when to pay in dollars and when to pay in francs. Almost nothing runs on a fixed timetable, power comes and goes, and the traffic on Boulevard du 30 Juin can turn a five-kilometre trip into a two-hour ordeal. People who arrive expecting the systems of Nairobi or Johannesburg are quickly humbled; those who arrive expecting to lean on their network and improvise tend to thrive.
Most newcomers live in Gombe, the central business and diplomatic commune, or in the leafier hillside neighbourhoods of Ngaliema, Binza and Ma Campagne. Beyond Kinshasa, the mining hub of Lubumbashi in the south-east draws a large expatriate community tied to copper and cobalt, while Goma in the east is dominated by humanitarian and UN staff and carries a very different, conflict-adjacent risk profile. French is the language of paperwork, business and schooling, but you will get far more warmth from people if you learn a handful of Lingala greetings; in the east, Swahili takes over.
What surprises people most is the gap between the country's staggering natural wealth and the thinness of everyday services, and how completely you come to depend on informal arrangements, personal trust and cash. There is no functioning postal system to speak of, no reliable public transport a newcomer should use, and card payments barely exist outside a few hotels. At the same time, the warmth, humour, music and sheer energy of Kinshasa are genuinely unforgettable, and most expats who give it a fair chance end up unexpectedly fond of the place. The trick is to arrive humble, well-briefed and well-connected, and to treat your first month as orientation rather than productivity.
Your first 48 hours
The essentials to sort out the moment you land in Congo (DRC).
- 1
Change money and hold onto crisp US dollars
Both US dollars and Congolese francs circulate, and you need both from day one. Dollars are used for rent, flights, school fees and large purchases, but must be clean, post-2009 notes with no tears, ink stains or writing. Change a modest amount to francs at a licensed bureau de change in Gombe for taxis, water, airtime and food, since small vendors cannot break large bills. Never assume a card will work outside a top hotel.
- 2
Buy a registered SIM at an official operator shop
Skip the airport touts and go to a Vodacom, Orange or Airtel shop, several of which sit along Boulevard du 30 Juin in Gombe. Bring your passport, because SIM registration against ID is legally required and street-bought SIMs are often unregistered or resold. Staff will activate the line and load a data bundle on the spot. Buy a second SIM on a different network, as coverage and outages vary.
- 3
Register with your embassy
Enrol with your home embassy or consulate in Kinshasa as soon as you can. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, South Africa and several others maintain missions here. Registration means they can reach you during unrest, curfews, evacuations or a medical emergency, and it speeds up help if you lose your passport. Save the consular after-hours hotline in your phone before you need it.
- 4
Arrange a trusted driver, not a random taxi
Have your employer, hotel or host confirm a named driver to meet you before you land at N'djili (FIH). Agree the fare to Gombe in advance, typically around USD 40 to 60, and confirm the vehicle and plate. Keep the doors locked and windows up, keep bags out of sight, and avoid arriving after dark on your first trip when the airport road is at its most stressful.
- 5
Stock cash, water and a power backup
Withdraw or carry enough US dollars to cover your first few weeks, because ATMs are unreliable and frequently out of cash or offline. Buy bottled or properly filtered water and do not drink from the tap. Secure a power bank, and ideally an inverter or access to a generator, since the grid supplied by the utility SNEL cuts out often and buildings without backup go dark for hours.
- 6
Start malaria prevention immediately
Kinshasa is a high-transmission malaria zone all year round, and malaria is the single biggest health risk you face here. Confirm you started your prophylaxis before arrival and keep taking it exactly as prescribed. Sleep under a treated net or in an air-conditioned, screened room, use repellent at dusk, and know the nearest clinic that can run a rapid malaria test if you develop a fever.
- 7
Save key contacts and share your location
Build a short offline list of the numbers that matter: your driver, employer or security focal point, embassy hotline, preferred private clinic and your insurer's evacuation line. Add your landlord or building guard. Share your live location with a trusted colleague when you move around the city, and agree a simple check-in routine for your first weeks.
Your first week checklist
- Confirm your onward immigration steps with your employer or an immigration agent, and hand over your passport copies so the residence-permit process with the DGM can begin before your entry visa lapses.
- Open or activate mobile money on your new SIM (M-Pesa on Vodacom, Airtel Money or Orange Money), because it will handle far more of your daily payments than any card.
- Register in person with your embassy or consulate and store the after-hours emergency number in your phone.
- Do a daylight orientation drive of your area with your driver, noting the nearest pharmacy, private clinic, supermarket, fuel station and licensed bureau de change.
- Identify and save the details of a private clinic you would actually use in an emergency, such as CMK or Clinique Ngaliema, and confirm your insurer's 24-hour assistance line.
- Buy a stock of clean, small-denomination US dollars and a float of Congolese francs, and check that any older or marked dollar notes will be accepted before you rely on them.
- Sort reliable power and water for your accommodation: confirm the generator schedule, water tank and, if renting, get the building guard and caretaker contacts.
- Join the WhatsApp groups your employer, compound or expat community use, since this is where housing leads, security alerts and practical tips actually circulate.
- Photograph and back up your passport, visa, vaccination card and any residence paperwork to secure cloud storage in case an original is lost or demanded at a checkpoint.
Getting connected
Vodacom Congo, Orange RDC and Airtel are the three networks that cover Kinshasa meaningfully, and it is worth carrying two SIMs since outages and dead spots are common. Vodacom has the strongest footprint in central Kinshasa and along the road to N'djili airport, while Orange is competitive on data pricing in Gombe and the inner communes. Registration against a passport or residence ID is mandatory, so buy from an official shop rather than a street seller. Fixed home internet exists through providers like Vodacom and Canalbox but is patchy, and many expats rely on mobile data or Starlink for a stable connection.
Typical cost: US$5–15/month for a mobile data bundle
Money & banking
This is a dual-currency, cash-first economy, and getting comfortable with it early saves a lot of friction. US dollars handle rent, school fees and big-ticket items, while Congolese francs cover daily small purchases like taxis, water and street food. Card acceptance is limited to upmarket hotels and a handful of Gombe restaurants, and ATMs are unreliable and often out of cash, so never let yourself run down to nothing. Keep a working float of both currencies at all times.
Opening an account: Opening a local account is realistic mainly for those with residency and an employer behind them. Rawbank, Equity BCDC, Ecobank and TMB are the banks foreigners most commonly use, and several offer USD as well as CDF accounts. Expect to provide a passport, visa or residence permit, passport photographs, proof of address and usually an employer letter, and to make several visits before the account is live.
Cash: Cash dominates every layer of daily life. Carry small, clean US-dollar notes and a stash of francs, since damaged, marked or pre-2009 dollar bills are routinely refused and large notes are hard to break. Mobile money is the practical workaround: M-Pesa (Vodacom), Airtel Money and Orange Money are widely used for transfers, top-ups and paying many merchants directly from your phone.
Tipping: Tipping is not obligatory but is genuinely appreciated in a low-wage economy. Round up taxi fares, leave roughly 5 to 10 percent at sit-down restaurants, and keep small notes for guards, drivers, porters and fuel attendants, where modest tips keep relationships smooth and service reliable.
Registration & residency
Foreigners staying beyond a short visit must regularise their presence with the immigration authority, the Direction Générale de Migration (DGM), and for longer stays obtain a residence permit (carte de résident or the relevant work-linked permit). In practice your employer, sponsor or an immigration agent drives this process, submitting your passport, visa, work permit and photographs on your behalf. Getting it wrong exposes you to fines, difficulty leaving the country and pressure at checkpoints, so treat it as a priority rather than an afterthought. This is entirely separate from registering with your own embassy, which you should also do for safety.
Deadline: Typically within the validity window of your entry visa; you must convert to the appropriate residence or work permit before that visa expires. Timelines shift, so confirm the exact deadline with the DGM or your employer and start early.
Where: Direction Générale de Migration (DGM) offices in Kinshasa, almost always handled through your employer or a trusted immigration agent rather than in person alone.
Documents to keep handy:
- A passport valid for at least six months with the correct entry visa, plus several printed and digital copies stored separately from the original.
- Your yellow fever vaccination certificate, which is required for entry and can be checked on arrival and at internal checkpoints.
- An employer or sponsor letter and your work permit or residence-permit paperwork, which the DGM and your employer will need to regularise your stay.
- International health insurance documents showing evacuation cover, with the policy number and 24-hour assistance line saved offline.
- Passport-sized photographs, which are needed repeatedly for permits, SIM registration and various local formalities.
- Proof of address or a landlord letter, plus an employer reference, if you intend to open a local bank account.
Getting around
There is no metro, tram or organised public transport a newcomer should rely on; Kinshasa moves on shared minibuses (esprit de mort), battered taxi-buses, motorbike taxis (wewa) and blue-and-yellow shared taxis, all of which carry real safety, security and accident risks. Most expats use a private driver, a vetted company car or, for shorter hops, the Yango ride-hailing app, and simply avoid moving around after dark. Traffic is severe, so build long buffers into any journey and expect a short distance to eat an hour.
From the airport: N'djili International Airport (FIH) sits roughly 25 km east of Gombe, and the road in can be slow and chaotic. Arrange a named driver in advance through your employer or hotel; expect USD 40 to 60 and heavy traffic, more in rush hour. Avoid unmarked taxis, decline the touts and fixers inside the terminal, and keep bags with you and doors locked.
Finding a home
Most expats rent furnished apartments or houses in secured compounds in Gombe, Ma Campagne, or the Binza and Ngaliema hillside areas, prioritising a generator, water tank and 24-hour security over size or finish. Formal online listings are scarce and unreliable, so leasing usually happens through employers, relocation agents, other expats and word of mouth via WhatsApp groups. View a place in person, and confirm backup power and water before signing anything.
Typical rent: A secure furnished expat apartment in Gombe commonly runs USD 1,500 to 3,500 or more per month, with standalone compounds and larger family houses costing considerably more; hillside neighbourhoods can be a little cheaper for more space.
Deposit norm: Landlords typically want a large chunk upfront, and it is common to be asked for 6 to 12 months' rent in advance plus a deposit, paid in US dollars. Negotiate, get every term written down, and be cautious about handing over cash before you have keys and a signed lease.
Healthcare
Public healthcare is severely under-resourced, and expats rely on a small number of private clinics in Kinshasa such as Centre Médical de Kinshasa (CMK) and Clinique Ngaliema for routine and urgent care. Standards are limited even at the best facilities, ambulance services are effectively non-existent, and serious conditions frequently require medical evacuation to Johannesburg or Europe. Know in advance where you would go and how you would get there.
How to access it: Expect to pay upfront in cash or through your insurer's direct-billing arrangement, and always keep itemised receipts for reimbursement. Confirm before arrival that your provider covers Kinshasa, that your malaria prophylaxis is sorted, and that your yellow fever vaccination is current. If you develop a fever, get a rapid malaria test quickly rather than waiting it out.
Insurance: International health insurance with guaranteed medical evacuation cover is essential, not optional. Choose a plan with a genuine 24-hour assistance line and confirmed evacuation to a regional hub such as Johannesburg, and carry the policy number and hotline offline so you can reach them even without data.
Culture & etiquette
- Greet people warmly before getting to business; a handshake and a few words of French or Lingala, such as 'mbote', go a long way and skipping the greeting reads as rude.
- Dress smartly for offices, banks and official meetings; Congolese put real weight on appearance, and shabby dress undermines you in a country that gave the world the sapeurs.
- Ask before photographing people, and never photograph soldiers, police, government buildings, bridges, the airport or the presidential palace.
- Show visible respect to elders, officials and uniformed personnel; use titles, be patient, and let courtesy defuse friction rather than confrontation.
- Use your right hand for giving, receiving and eating, and accept offered food or drink graciously as a gesture of hospitality.
- Build relationships before pushing for outcomes; trust, personal connection and a little small talk matter more than efficiency, and rushing people backfires.
- Learn a few Lingala pleasantries even if you work in French; the effort earns disproportionate goodwill on the street and with staff.
Things to watch out for
- Avoid public discussion of politics, ethnicity, the president or the conflict in the east; these are genuinely sensitive and can attract unwelcome attention.
- Do not photograph or film anything official, military or infrastructural; cameras out at the wrong moment get people detained or shaken down.
- Keep your situational awareness high after dark, in traffic and in crowds, where petty crime, carjacking risk and opportunistic theft rise sharply.
- Do not hand over your passport to anyone unofficial, and be wary of anyone who invents an urgent fee or fine on the spot.
- Be discreet with visible wealth: flashy phones, jewellery, laptops and large cash withdrawals make you a target.
Apps to download before you land
Yango
Ride-hailing with app-set fares in Kinshasa, safer and more predictable than flagging a street taxi.
M-Pesa
Vodacom mobile money for transfers, top-ups and paying many merchants directly.
The default channel for business, drivers, landlords, employers and community and security groups.
Orange Money
Mobile money, airtime and bill payments on the Orange network.
Airtel Money
Mobile money and top-ups on the Airtel network, useful as a second option.
XE Currency
Track the live CDF-to-USD rate so you can spot a bad exchange offer instantly.
Google Maps / Maps.me
Navigation and offline maps for a city with few clear signs and unpredictable routes.
Where newcomers live
Where you live in Kinshasa is largely a function of employer, budget and security posture. Expats and diplomats cluster in central Gombe and the hillside communes to its west, prioritising 24-hour guards, backup power and water storage over size or charm. Outside the capital, Lubumbashi and Goma host their own distinct expatriate scenes tied to mining and the humanitarian sector respectively.
Gombe (Kinshasa)
The central business and diplomatic commune, home to embassies, banks, ministries and most decent hotels and restaurants. Convenient and comparatively secure by day, but busy, expensive and the focus of any political tension.
Ngaliema (Kinshasa)
A large, hilly, residential commune west of Gombe with secured villas, compounds and international schools. Popular with families and long-term expats who want space and greenery within reach of the centre.
Ma Campagne (Kinshasa)
An upmarket residential pocket in the Ngaliema hills favoured by diplomats and senior staff. Quieter and greener than Gombe, with gated houses, though you rely entirely on a car to get around.
Binza (Kinshasa)
A set of elevated neighbourhoods (Binza Ozone, Binza Pigeon) offering cooler air, views and more house for your money. Well established with expats, but journeys into Gombe can be slow in traffic.
Lubumbashi (Haut-Katanga)
The mining capital in the south-east, drawing engineers and contractors tied to copper and cobalt. Smaller and easier to navigate than Kinshasa, with a settled expat community and its own clinics and schools.
Goma (North Kivu)
A lakeside eastern city dominated by UN and humanitarian staff. Striking scenery beside Lake Kivu, but a volatile, conflict-affected region where movement is tightly managed and security rules are strict.
What things cost
Kinshasa is deceptively expensive for the quality on offer. Anything meeting expat expectations for security, imported goods or backup power carries a steep premium and is usually priced in US dollars, while local street food, transport and francs-denominated basics are cheap. Budget generously for rent, generator fuel, bottled water and private healthcare, and expect prices to swing with the exchange rate.
Staying safe & avoiding scams
Treat security as a daily discipline rather than a one-off briefing. Petty crime, opportunistic theft and shakedowns at improvised checkpoints are the everyday risks in Kinshasa; keep valuables out of sight, carry only small notes, stay off the streets after dark and use a vetted driver rather than flagging transport. Avoid crowds, demonstrations and anything political, since protests can turn tense quickly and foreigners photographing them attract trouble. The eastern provinces around Goma, Bukavu and Bunia are genuinely dangerous and subject to active conflict, so follow your embassy's travel advice, register with your mission, and never travel there without a security plan and up-to-date guidance.
Newcomers are common targets. Know these before you arrive — and read our guide to avoiding immigration scams.
Fake or 'facilitation' checkpoint fees
Police, immigration and traffic agents may stop you and invent a fine, an expired-document problem or a vague fee to pocket cash, targeting foreigners in particular. Stay calm and polite, ask for identification and a written notice, and keep only small notes visible so you cannot be pressured into handing over a large sum. Having your papers genuinely in order removes most of their leverage, and a firm, patient refusal often ends it.
Airport hustlers and 'helpers'
Inside and around N'djili, self-appointed porters, fixers and taxi touts attach themselves to arrivals, grab bags off the belt, then demand inflated fees or steer you toward unsafe cars. Some pose as officials to 'assist' with formalities. Decline firmly, keep your luggage in hand at all times, do not follow anyone you did not arrange, and walk straight to your pre-booked driver.
Damaged-dollar and exchange tricks
Money changers and shops may reject your perfectly clean dollars as 'damaged' to force a worse rate, palm you old or torn notes in change, or short-change you on the franc conversion using sleight of hand. Count every note before and after, insist on clean post-2009 bills, and use licensed bureaux de change in Gombe rather than street changers who work the pavement.
Advance-fee and rental deposit scams
Fraudulent 'landlords' or agents advertise attractive apartments, then demand several months' rent or a deposit in cash before you have seen the property, signed a lease or received keys. Never transfer money for a place you have not physically viewed, verify the agent through your employer or a known relocation firm, and treat any pressure to pay immediately as a warning sign.
Frequently asked questions
Should I carry US dollars or Congolese francs?
Both, always. Use crisp, post-2009 US dollars for rent, flights, school fees and large purchases, and francs for taxis, food, water and small daily spending. Keep small denominations of each, and expect damaged, marked or old dollar notes to be flatly refused.
Is it safe to use taxis and minibuses in Kinshasa?
Shared minibuses, taxi-buses and motorbike taxis carry real safety and security risks and are not advisable for newcomers. Use a vetted private driver or the Yango app instead, keep the doors locked and valuables hidden, and avoid travelling alone or after dark until you know the city.
Do I need to register with the authorities after arriving?
Yes. Longer stays must be regularised with the immigration authority (DGM) and usually converted to a residence or work permit before your entry visa expires, a process your employer or an immigration agent normally handles. Separately, register with your own embassy for safety and emergency contact.
What healthcare should I arrange before I settle in?
Secure international health insurance that includes guaranteed medical evacuation, start your malaria prophylaxis and confirm a current yellow fever vaccination. Note the private clinics such as CMK and Clinique Ngaliema, and understand that serious cases are often evacuated to Johannesburg or Europe rather than treated locally.
What is the emergency number in Kinshasa?
In Kinshasa you can reach the police on 112 and the fire service on 118. There is no reliable national ambulance number, so for a medical emergency you contact a private clinic directly or call your insurer's 24-hour assistance line, which is why saving those numbers offline in advance matters.
Do I really need private power and water?
In practice, yes. Grid power from the utility SNEL is unreliable and outages are frequent, so any decent accommodation runs a generator, and you should keep a power bank or inverter. Do not drink tap water; use bottled or properly filtered water for drinking and brushing your teeth.
Can I get by with English, or do I need French?
You need French for anything official, professional or bureaucratic, and life is far harder without it. On the street, Lingala dominates in Kinshasa and Swahili in the east, and learning even a few phrases earns real goodwill. English alone will leave you dependent on colleagues, drivers and translators.
How do I open a local bank account?
You generally need residency and an employer behind you. Banks such as Rawbank, Equity BCDC, Ecobank and TMB will typically ask for your passport, visa or residence permit, photographs, proof of address and an employer letter. Many people run largely on cash and mobile money and open an account only once settled.
Is it safe to travel to the east of the country?
The eastern provinces around Goma, Bukavu and Bunia are affected by active armed conflict and are genuinely dangerous. Do not travel there casually; follow your embassy's current travel advice, register with your mission, and only go with a solid security plan and up-to-date guidance, usually through an employer or humanitarian organisation.
How should I handle bribe requests and checkpoints?
Keep your documents genuinely in order, carry only small notes, and stay calm and polite. If an official invents a fee, ask for identification and a written notice, and avoid handing over your passport to anyone unofficial. Most attempts fade with patience and a firm, courteous refusal, especially when your paperwork is clean.
Planning the move, not just the landing?
This guide covers your first days on the ground. If you’re still weighing visas and pathways to Congo (DRC), start with a free eligibility assessment.
