Immigration to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Ukrainians
Permanent residence permit in DR Congo for Ukrainian citizens
A permanent residence permit (Visa d'Établissement Permanent) is a document for foreigners who want to live in the DR Congo on a permanent basis.
What are the conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit?
- Permanent residence in the DRC for at least 15 years.
- A legal source of income (job, business, investment).
- No criminal record.
- Compliance with tax and migration rules.
- Carry out agricultural, liberal, commercial or industrial activities.
What documents are required to obtain a residence permit in the DR Congo?
- 4 passport photos
- A copy of a valid passport
- Certificates of no criminal record (from the country of origin and DRC)
- International vaccination card
- Proof of residence in the DRC for 15 years
- Proof of financial stability
- Tax documents or certificates of investment/employment
How to apply for a permanent residence permit?
- Send a letter of request to the Director General of the Department of Migration with the full package of documents.
- Pass a security check and financial assessment.
For how long is a permanent permit issued?
A permanent residence visa is valid indefinitely.
What are the benefits of a permanent residence permit?
- Permanent residence in the country.
- Full freedom of employment and business.
- Possibility to apply for citizenship in the future.
- The right to invite family.
- Access to social and public services.
A residence permit for family members (VET - for spouses and children) is issued to relatives of a foreigner who already has a work permit (Visa d'Établissement de Travail - VET).
What is the validity period of this permit?
It is valid for the same period as the applicant's main permit - up to 2 years, with the possibility of extension.
What are the conditions for obtaining the permit?
- The main applicant must have a valid VET visa.
- Family relations must be officially confirmed.
What documents do spouses need?
- A copy of the main applicant's VET visa
- Marriage certificate (legalized, translated into French if necessary)
- Copy of the foreign passport
- Passport size photo
- Medical certificate and international vaccination card
- Proof of residence in the DR Congo
What documents are needed for children?
- Birth certificate (legalized)
- Copy of the parents' VET visa
- Parental consent for the child's stay
- Medical certificate, passport, photo
How to apply for this permit?
- Submit the documents to the Directorate of Migration (DGM) in the DRC or to a consulate abroad.
- Pay the application fee.
How long does it take to process the application?
From 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the completeness of the documents.
Who can apply for DR Congo citizenship by naturalization?
Foreigners can apply for citizenship if they
- Reside in the DR Congo for at least 7 years without interruption;
- Have reached the age of majority (18 years or older);
- Are well integrated into Congolese society;
- Respect the laws of the country and have no serious criminal offenses;
- Have a stable income or source of livelihood;
- Have a good command of at least one of the official languages of the country (French or national languages);
- Can prove loyalty to the state.
What documents are required?
- Application for citizenship (written to the Minister of Justice or the President);
- Passport or residence permit;
- Birth certificate;
- Certificate of no criminal record;
- Documents confirming continuous residence in the DR Congo for 7 years;
- Proof of employment, income or other means of livelihood;
- French language certificate (not always required, but recommended);
- Additionally: marriage certificate (if married to a DRC citizen), birth certificates of children, etc.
How does the naturalization procedure work?
- Preparation of documents.
- Submission of an application to the Ministry of Justice or to the relevant migration authorities (through provincial authorities).
- Security check: the applicant is checked for criminal history and problems with the law.
- Application processing: takes several months or more.
- Presidential decree. Citizenship is granted on the basis of a special decree of the President of the DR Congo.
How long does the process take?
The process can take from several months to more than a year, depending on the completeness of the documents, the workload of the authorities and the specifics of the case.