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DR Congo

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
22,667
Top destination, 2023
United States
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
4,973
UK visas issued, 2025
2,646
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
28.9%
NationalityCDISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<CDDR<CONGO<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CD3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of DR Congo need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from DR Congo move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. United States7,630
  2. Canada5,320
  3. France4,164
  4. Belgium2,295
  5. Norway730
  6. Sweden379
  7. Italy282
  8. Germany261
  9. Finland242
  10. Switzerland228
  11. Japan210
  12. Netherlands191
  13. Türkiye187
  14. Denmark170
  15. New Zealand135

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

13k26k200020032006200920122015201820212023
13k26k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20003,969
20015,055
20025,509
20035,278
20045,562
20056,336
20068,651
20079,267
20088,879
20098,815
20109,622
201110,492
201212,905
201312,597
201414,659
201516,137
201618,992
201721,968
201826,436
201925,459
202019,187
202117,385
202219,750
202322,667
Share going to the top destination
33.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

United States

Visas issued to citizens of DR Congo by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B23,305
  2. F1421
  3. G2369
  4. A2298
  5. G4127
  6. J170
  7. K164
  8. A162
  9. G148
  10. P346

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

6,04812k201720182019202020212022202320242025
6,04812k20172019202120232025
Data table
20175,369
20189,230
20199,166
20203,220
20212,450
20226,412
202311,858
202412,095
20254,973
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV560
  2. IR5354
  3. IR1336
  4. FX317
  5. IR2132
  6. F2A67
  7. F447
  8. F136
Immigrant visas, FY2025
1,916
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
60
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in DR Congo who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of DR Congo with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

4,9709,9402015201620172018201920202021202220232024
4,9709,940201520172019202120232024
Data table
20155,350
20166,790
20178,710
20189,940
20199,000
20207,520
20213,910
20224,690
20234,880
20245,040
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Refugees and asylees2,960
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens1,220
  3. Diversity visa lottery530
  4. Family-sponsored preferences170
  5. Employment-based preferences160
  6. Other classes10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)100
  2. Specialty occupations (H-1B)50
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)30
  4. Other temporary workers30
  5. Intracompany transferees (L-1)20
  6. Spouses and children10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in DR Congo)
5,040
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in DR Congo)
1,260
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
11,850
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of DR Congo (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in DR Congo (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor2,328
  2. Family141
  3. Study77
  4. Work55
  5. Other45

Visas issued by year

1,4752,949201020122014201620182020202220242025
1,4752,949201020132016201920222025
Data table
20101,804
20111,880
20121,919
20132,049
20142,081
20151,846
20162,077
20172,533
20182,187
20192,194
2020923
2021855
20222,176
20232,897
20242,949
20252,646
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
50
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of DR Congo, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20251008002,7454,280475
20241759202,4204,375295
20231459254,1005,315120
2022305002,6703,25530
2021155301,7401,82525
2020032085086020
201902601,3402,29045
201802108452,38555
201701254802,35525
201601305752,4900
20150704801,6750
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of DR Congo, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

592006–072008–092010–112012–132015–162017–182019–202022–232024–252025–26
592006–072009–102012–132016–172019–202023–242025–26
Data table
2006–072
2007–082
2008–091
2009–101
2010–112
2011–121
2012–131
2014–151
2015–161
2016–173
2017–182
2018–193
2019–205
2021–225
2022–233
2023–247
2024–253
2025–269
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills7
  2. Specialist Skills1
  3. Medium-term1
Granted, 2025–26
9
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of DR Congo living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

4378732012201420162018202220242025
4378732012201420162018202220242025
Data table
2012275
2013295
2014307
2015347
2016383
2017429
2018442
2019490
2022535
2023605
2024790
2025873
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Designated Activities313
  2. Permanent Resident142
  3. Student110
  4. Dependent86
  5. Long-Term Resident79
  6. Spouse or Child of Japanese National38
  7. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services32
  8. Religious Activities21
  9. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident17
  10. Professor13
Residents, December 2025
873
In work-related statuses
78
Share in work-related statuses
8.9%
Students
110
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in DR Congo

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in DR Congo, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Belgium47,45936,00310,34521.8%
Greece6,4282,1783,28151.0%
Spain4,3178712,45156.8%
Switzerland2,3418471,47563.0%
Germany2521713915.5%
France1008944.0%
Netherlands2417625.0%
Italy101100.0%

Applications by year

30k61k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
30k61k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200916,887
201023,164
201124,195
201226,715
201335,023
201432,396
201528,492
201629,344
201731,117
20189,122
201930,440
20207,421
20218,747
202233,817
202341,317
202460,922
Refusal rate, 2024
28.9%
Refusal rate, 2019
24.5%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of DR Congo in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Other reasons7,081
  2. Family3,112
  3. Education1,907
  4. Work478
First permits by country
  1. France6,787
  2. Belgium2,005
  3. Sweden911
  4. Germany772
  5. Italy478
  6. Spain241
  7. Finland239
  8. Greece229
  9. Norway214
  10. Netherlands201
  11. Switzerland106
  12. Poland73
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card17
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)34
  3. Researchers46
  4. Other paid activities381
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
14
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
5,042
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
3,232
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
305
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
165,554
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
5,619
Changed status into work, 2025
641
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of DR Congo in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025275548112092
Sweden2025781005469235
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland20251576151
Austria2025793544
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Germany

Citizens of DR Congo living in Germany on 31 December 2025, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

By residence status, 31 Dec 2025
  1. Permanent residence title2,950
  2. International law, humanitarian or political reasons2,020
  3. Application for a residence title pending1,640
  4. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure1,130
  5. Family reasons1,075
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted670
  7. Tolerated stay (Duldung)505
  8. Education and training220
  9. Special residence rights and national visas205
  10. Employment135
  11. EU free movement55

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

5,30511k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
5,30511k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
20149,608
20159,299
20169,005
20178,975
20188,880
20198,775
20208,660
20218,955
20229,735
20239,950
202410,245
202510,610
Residents in Germany, 31 Dec 2025
10,605
With a residence title for employment
135
Permanent residence title
2,950
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in DR Congo

Countries with an embassy or consulate in DR Congo, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Belgium1——
Brazil1——
Canada1——
Chad1——
China1——
Côte d’Ivoire1——
France1——
Germany1——
Ghana1——
Greece1——
Guinea1——
India1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Morocco1——
Netherlands1——
Norway1——
Portugal1——
Russia1——
Serbia1——
South Africa1——
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Sweden1——
Switzerland1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye1——
United Kingdom1——
YU1——
Countries
30
Missions
30
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by DR Congo, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

1,6593,31820052008201120142017202020232025
1,6593,318200520092013201720212025
Data table
20059
200613
20079
200815
200920
201016
20111,128
2012856
20131,001
2014756
20151,167
2016593
20171,076
20181,823
20192,076
20201,196
20211,348
20223,262
20233,298
20242,001
20253,318
Remittances received, 2025
US$3,318 million
Share of GDP, 2025
3.6%
Average cost of sending US$200 to DR Congo, 2023
2.0%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from DR Congo

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • DR Congo → Belgium
  • DR Congo → United States
  • DR Congo → Canada
  • DR Congo → France
  • DR Congo → Greece
  • DR Congo → Norway
  • DR Congo → Sweden
  • DR Congo → Germany
  • DR Congo → United Kingdom
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more