France to Congo (Rep.) visa requirements

French passport holders need a visa before traveling to the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). There is no visa-on-arrival for French nationals; you must apply in advance through the Congolese Embassy in Paris (online via the GIRAFE portal, then submit your documents). A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry. The Republic of Congo (CG, capital Brazzaville) requires French ordinary passport holders to obtain a tourist visa before departure. Congo's visa-on-arrival facility at Maya-Maya International Airport is limited to certain African nationalities (e.g. Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo) and visa exemptions apply only to CEMAC neighbours holding biometric passports (Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon) - France is not on either list. French citizens apply through the Embassy of the Republic of Congo in France using the online GIRAFE payment portal, after which they book an appointment to deliver the passport and supporting dossier (often via TLScontact). The tourist visa is issued for two weeks to three months, single or multiple entry at consular discretion, with normal processing of 7 business days and an express option of 3 business days. A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate, a letter of invitation or hotel/accommodation certificate, and a return flight reservation are required. Note: do not confuse the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville, CG) with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo, CD), which uses a separate eVisa system at evisa.gouv.cd. Congo is not in the Schengen area, so the 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to this route.