Is It Safe to Travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2026?
Democratic Republic of the Congo - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⛔ Do Not Travel
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo or parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo due to serious safety concerns. Key factors: crime, civil_unrest, terrorism, health.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo or less often Zaire, is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is the second-largest country in Africa and the eleventh-largest in the world.
Is It Safe to Travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2026?
Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently rated Level 4 — Do Not Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Do Not Travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to the Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak in Ituri Province. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in the DRC due to the health situation. Petty crime is common, including pickpocketing and burglary, while violent crimes such as armed robbery and assault are also prevalent. Demonstrations are common and can turn violent, with police responding with force. Active fighting is ongoing in North and South Kivu Provinces, with significant risks of violent crime and terrorist activity.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
- terrorism
- health
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Ongoing fighting in North and South Kivu Provinces, Demonstrations can turn violent, with police responding with force, Ebola outbreak declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Active restrictions in Democratic Republic of the Congo:
- Security escort may be required
U.S. government employees need special authorization to travel outside of Kinshasa.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face extreme risks from violent crime and civil unrest, particularly in urban areas and during demonstrations, where police response can escalate tensions.
Business travelers encounter significant operational risks due to limited consular support, ongoing violence in key provinces, and the health crisis affecting travel logistics.
Families with children face severe health risks, including the Ebola outbreak, and limited access to healthcare, making travel with minors extremely dangerous.
Remote workers will struggle with inadequate infrastructure and health risks, with limited internet access outside major cities and ongoing violence posing a threat to safety.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- North Kivu Province
- South Kivu Province
- Ituri Province
- Tanganyika Province
- Haut Lomami Province
- Kasai Oriental Province
- Kasai Central Province
- Mai-Ndombe Province
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel9 regions
▶Democratic Republic of the Congo
Do Not Travel due to crime, unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, and health.
▶Haut Lomami Province
Violent crime is common.
▶Ituri Province
Violent crime and terrorist activity are prevalent.
▶Kasai Central Province
Violent crime is common.
▶Kasai Oriental Province
Violent crime is common.
▶Mai-Ndombe Province
Rising violence; armed groups may limit travel.
▶North Kivu Province
Active fighting ongoing; high risk of violent crime and terrorist activity.
▶South Kivu Province
Active fighting ongoing; high risk of violent crime and terrorist activity.
▶Tanganyika Province
Violent crime is common.
Democratic Republic of the Congo has 9 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Democratic Republic of the Congo has an overall threat severity of 9.9 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 9.0/10, terrorism risk 7.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 19/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Required
Currency
Congolese Franc (CDF)
Language
French
Notable restrictions:
- Drug possession illegal, including medical marijuana.
- E-cigarettes prohibited.
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: high
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- warningEbola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in Parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in Ituri, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), and Sud-Kivu (South Kivu) provinces. CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to these provinces.
- alertEbola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda are experiencing outbreaks of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). CDC recommends practicing enhanced precautions for travel to Uganda or to provinces in the DRC other than those affected by the outbreak.
- infoMeningococcal Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: There is an outbreak of meningococcal disease in the Mangembo Health Zone of Kongo Central Province. The best way to protect yourself is to get meningococcal vaccination.
- watchGlobal Polio: Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Democratic Republic of the Congo
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Democratic Republic of the Congo?
▶Is it safe to travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Democratic Republic of the Congo?
▶What vaccines do I need for Democratic Republic of the Congo?
▶Is Democratic Republic of the Congo safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Democratic Republic of the Congo?
More Democratic Republic of the Congo Data
Not Free — 19/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.