Importing Personal Effects into DR Congo: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2026 · Download the DR Congo Import Guide (PDF)

Household Goods/PE

• Corporate clients
• Copy of valid passport (including pages displaying the shipper’s name, the DGM (Congolese Immigration Service) entry stamp)
• Detailed inventory, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper
• Work card
• First settlement certificate (supplied by the DGM in the DRC)
• Service certificate (supplied by the employer)
• Settlement and work permit visa (supplied by the DGM in the DRC)
• Tax number (obtained from the Finance Ministry)
• NGO
• Copy of valid passport (including pages displaying the shipper’s name, the DGM’s entry stamp)
• Detailed inventory, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper
• Framework contract (agreement signed between the government and the NGO establishing the various responsibilities). This contract must specify that the NGO can import personal effects or
• Ministerial agreement (agreement signed between the relevant Ministry and the NGO, renewable every two years). This ministerial agreement must specify that the NGO can import personal effects or
• Ordinary settlement visa
• 1st settlement attestation (supplied by the DGM in the DRC)
• Service certificate (supplied by the employer)
• Tax number (obtained from the Finance Ministry)
• Diplomats
• Copy of valid passport,
• Detailed inventory, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper.
• Diplomatic card (supplied by the employer)
• Tax number of the Embassy.
• VAT number of the Embassy
• Returning Congolese citizens
• Copy of valid passport (including pages displaying the shipper’s name, the visa and the DGM’s entry stamp). Important: the original passport will need to be presented at customs during the customs clearance process
• Detailed inventory, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper
• Original certificate of change of residence issued by the DRC embassy in the country of origin
• End of service certificate issued by the employer at origin

• All original documents should reach your agent at destination at least 15 days before the shipment’s arrival (7 days for air shipments)
• Customs clearance will take between 3 to 5 weeks for sea shipments, and 2 to 3 weeks for air shipments.
• For all imports import insurance will be required and mandatory by the government amount between (50-500$) depend on the CIF value
• For All import air and sea FERI will be required.
• For air shipment less than-300kg =250$ and +300kg=350$
• For corporate clients, NGOs and returning Congolese citizens, customs will exempt them from duties and taxes on their personal effects, and one vehicle should those arrive within 6 months of the shipper’s arrival in the DRC. Should they arrive after that time, both the personal effects and the vehicle will be considered as commercial items and will be subjected to import duties and taxes.
• Note that a single vehicle (without personal effects) will not be exempted from duties and taxes.
• Corporate clients and NGOs can be exempted for a small air shipment (less than 4m2) and a sea shipment; but not for 2 air shipments or 2 sea shipments.
• Congolese citizens are only allowed one sea or one air shipment.
• Food, alcohol, cleaning products etc. cannot be exempted from duties and taxes and will be viewed as merchandise. They will be subjected to import duties and taxes. Diplomats are the only ones to be exempted on these product categories.
• Import taxes are 1% of the CIF value for corporate clients, NGOs and returning Congolese citizens. Diplomats will pay 0.1%.
• Should the personal effects not be exempted, or should the customer be unable to submit the necessary documents, customs duties and taxes come to approximately 48% of the FOB value.
• Should the value of the items exceed 2500 USD, a request for import and a VERITAS check will need to be requested. Should a BIVAC certificate not be presented, a fine of 100% of the customs duties will be applicable, on top of the customs duties and taxes to be paid.
• Air and sea shipments are generally subject to a customs inspection.

Prohibited items

• Firearms and ammunition
• Unlawful drugs

• Any alcohol imported will be subject to import duties and taxes

DR Congo Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the DR Congo Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• Copy of valid passport (including pages showing name, visa, and DGM entry stamp)
• Detailed inventory in French, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper
• Original certificate of change of residence
• Work card
• First settlement certificate (Attestation de Première Installation, issued by DGM in the DRC)
• Service certificate or employment contract (supplied by the employer)
• Settlement visa (supplied by DGM in the DRC)
• Tax number (obtained from the Finance Ministry)

• Copy of valid passport (including visa and DGM entry stamp)
• Detailed inventory in French, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper
• Framework contract (agreement between the government and the NGO specifying that the NGO can import personal effects)
• Ministerial agreement (between the relevant Ministry and the NGO, renewable every two years, specifying that the NGO can import personal effects)
• Ordinary settlement visa
• First settlement attestation (issued by DGM)
• Service certificate or employment contract
• Tax number (from Finance Ministry)

• Copy of valid passport (including visa and DGM entry stamp)
• Detailed inventory in French, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper
• Service certificate or employment contract
• Diplomatic visa
• Tax number of the Embassy
• VAT number of the Embassy

• Copy of valid passport (including visa and DGM entry stamp). The original passport must be presented at Customs during clearance.
• Detailed inventory in French, dated, valued, and signed by the shipper
• Original certificate of change of residence issued by the DRC embassy in the country of origin
• End of service certificate issued by the employer at origin

Specific Information

BIVAC pre-shipment inspection: If the declared value of items exceeds USD 2,500, a BIVAC (Bureau Veritas) inspection request is required. Without a BIVAC certificate, a fine of 100% of customs duties is imposed on top of the duties and taxes.

Personal property (including motor vehicles) imported by returning DRC residents is exempt from pre-shipment inspections per Trade.gov.

Document lead time: All original documents must reach the destination agent at least 15 days before the shipment's arrival for sea shipments, and 7 days for air shipments.

All shipments (air and sea) are generally subject to customs inspection.

DRC tariff structure: Three bands apply: 5% for equipment/raw materials; 10% for consumer food/industrial inputs/spare parts; 20% for clothing, furniture, cigarettes, finished products. Additional levies include: administrative fee (2% CIF), OCC fee (1.5% CIF), OGEFREM (0.58% CIF), FPI (2% CIF), BIVAC inspection fee (1.5% FOB). VAT is 16%.

GUICE electronic platform: All pre-customs clearances for imports, exports, and transit of goods at pilot sites in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Matadi, Goma, Boma, and Kisangani must be performed electronically via https://segucerdc.com/.

Sydonia World: The customs software system covers most customs offices and has reduced clearance times, though implementation remains incomplete across the country.

Currency: Congolese Franc (CDF). The U.S. dollar is widely used in parallel.

Language: French is the official language. All customs documentation must be in French.

Duties & Taxes

Duty exemption for corporate clients, NGOs, and returning Congolese citizens: Personal effects and one vehicle may be imported exempt from duties and taxes if they arrive within 6 months of the shipper's arrival in the DRC. After 6 months, both personal effects and vehicle are treated as commercial imports subject to full duties and taxes.

Import tax on exempt shipments: Even when exempt from duties, a 1% tax on CIF value applies for corporate clients, NGOs, and returning Congolese citizens. Diplomats pay 0.1%.

Non-exempt shipments: If the shipment does not qualify for exemption, or if the required documents cannot be provided, customs duties and taxes total approximately 48% of FOB value.

Shipment limits:

• Corporate clients and NGOs: one small air shipment (less than 4 cbm) and one sea shipment may be exempted. Two air shipments or two sea shipments will not both be exempted.
• Returning Congolese citizens: only one sea OR one air shipment is allowed.

Food, alcohol, cleaning products: Cannot be exempted from duties and taxes and will be treated as merchandise. Only diplomats are exempted on these categories.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

• Firearms and ammunition PERMIT REQUIRED
• Unlawful drugs
• Counterfeit goods
• Products from endangered species without CITES documentation CITES

Items always subject to duties within household goods (even for exempt shipments):

• Food
• Alcohol (all alcohol is subject to import duties and taxes; only diplomats are exempt)
• Cleaning products
• Any items deemed commercial in nature

Traveler's duty-free allowances: Contact the destination agent for current personal baggage allowances.

Pre-shipment inspection required: For all imports valued at USD 2,500 FOB or more (via BIVAC). Without a BIVAC certificate, a 100% fine on customs duties applies.

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially regarding the 6-month exemption window and BIVAC requirements.

6-month exemption window is critical. If the shipment does not arrive within 6 months of the shipper's arrival, it loses exempt status entirely and is treated as a commercial import at approximately 48% FOB. This is the single most important deadline.

Vehicle must accompany personal effects. A vehicle shipped alone will not receive the duty exemption. It must be part of the same import as the household goods.

Document lead time: 15 days for sea, 7 days for air. Late documents mean late clearance and additional storage charges.

French-language inventory required: Detailed, valued, dated, and signed by the shipper in French.

Ports of entry: The primary sea port is Matadi (on the Congo River, approximately 350 km from Kinshasa). Air freight arrives at N'djili International Airport (FIH) in Kinshasa. Other major entry points include Lubumbashi (for shipments from southern Africa via Zambia), Goma, and Kisangani.

Transit from Matadi to Kinshasa: Overland road transport, approximately 350 km. Road conditions vary; allow additional time.

Security environment: The U.S. State Department issues a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory for the DRC, with Level 4 (Do Not Travel) for North and South Kivu provinces due to armed conflict, terrorism, and kidnapping. Security conditions directly affect logistics in eastern DRC.

Airport departure fees: All departing international travelers must pay official fees when checking in (approximately $55 for international flights, $10 for domestic). Unofficial "fee" demands from immigration and security personnel have been reported.

Corruption risk: The DRC remains a challenging customs environment. Unofficial demands for payments, delays, and arbitrary interpretations of regulations are documented risks. The destination agent's local relationships and experience are essential.