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🇫🇷FRANCE
🏳CGFR-CG

Do France passport holders need a visa to visit CG?

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.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
France (PR)Living in France as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Tourist visa (visa de tourisme) - obtained in advance at the Congolese Embassy in France
Maximum stay
2 weeks to 3 months (set by the visa granted; tourist visas commonly 15 or 91 days)
per entry
Entries
Single or multiple entry (at consular discretion)
from issue date
Visa fee
EUR 55 to EUR 220 depending on duration and normal/express processing
consular fee only
Processing time
7 business days (normal); 3 business days (express) after document submission
standard track
Validity
Visa validity matches the stay granted (15 days to 91 days)
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm you need a visa and prepare a yellow fever certificate
French ordinary passport holders cannot get a visa on arrival in Congo. Get vaccinated against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and keep the international (yellow) certificate, which is checked on entry.
· Mandatory vaccine· No VOA for FR
/02
Gather supporting documents
Obtain a letter of invitation or a hotel/accommodation certificate (the latter typically requires approval by Congo's territorial surveillance authority), a passport valid 6+ months, a return flight reservation, and a recent passport photo.
· Invitation or hotel proof· Passport 6+ months
/03
Apply and pay online via the GIRAFE portal
Register and submit the visa application and payment through the Congolese Embassy's online GIRAFE system on the official consular site (ambacongofr.org).
· Online application· Card payment
/04
Book an appointment and submit your passport
Schedule an appointment to deliver your passport and complete dossier to the Embassy (applications in Congo are handled via TLScontact centres; in France submission is to the Embassy/consular service).
· Appointment required
/05
Collect the visa
Processing takes about 7 business days for a normal application or 3 business days for express. Collect the passport with the visa sticker.
· 7 days normal· 3 days express
/06
Travel and present documents on arrival
At Maya-Maya Airport (Brazzaville) present your passport, visa, yellow fever certificate, accommodation proof and return ticket. A temperature/health check is common at immigration.
· Health check on arrival
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Passport valid at least 6 months with blank pages
required
Completed visa application submitted via the GIRAFE online portal
required
Visa fee paid (EUR 55-220 per duration/speed)
required
International yellow fever vaccination certificate
required
Letter of invitation or hotel/accommodation certificate
required
Recent passport-style colour photo (white background)
required
Return or onward flight reservation
required
Proof of sufficient funds for the stay
recommended
Travel/medical insurance for the trip
recommended
Copies of all documents kept separately during travel
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Tourist visa - 15 days (normal)EUR 557 business day processing
Tourist visa - 15 days (express)EUR 1103 business day processing
Tourist visa - 91 days (normal)EUR 1107 business day processing
Tourist visa - 91 days (express)EUR 2203 business day processing; reduced rates for children 0-5 and persons 65+
Total estimateEUR 55EUR 220incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Express embassy processing
3 business days
Faster processing at roughly double the fee for travellers on a tight timeline.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
France is not visa-exempt for Congo
Visa exemption applies only to CEMAC neighbours (Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon) with biometric passports - not France.
High
/02
No visa on arrival for French nationals
Maya-Maya Airport VOA is limited to specific African nationalities; airport visas are otherwise not issued, so French travellers must hold a visa before boarding.
High
/03
Congo is outside the Schengen / EU visa-waiver framework
No reciprocal short-stay waiver applies, so an advance visa is needed regardless of trip length.
Medium
/04
No national eVisa for the Republic of Congo
Unlike the neighbouring DR Congo, Congo-Brazzaville has no public eVisa channel for tourists; applications go through the embassy.
Medium
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30 · major
France to Congo route verified
Confirmed against the Congolese Embassy in France consular service, France-Visas and Maya-Maya Airport guidance: French ordinary passport holders require a tourist visa obtained in advance; no visa on arrival; yellow fever certificate mandatory.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can French citizens get a visa on arrival in Congo-Brazzaville?
No. Visa on arrival at Maya-Maya Airport is only for certain African nationalities. French ordinary passport holders must obtain a visa from the Congolese Embassy before travelling.
Is there an eVisa for the Republic of Congo?+
Is a yellow fever vaccination required?+
How much does a Congo tourist visa cost for French applicants?+
How long does processing take?+
What documents do I need to apply?+
/11 — 护照工具

法国 (France) 护照工具

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