France visa for citizens of DR Congo

France’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities; the official site for it is france-visas.gouv.fr. Processing time, as France states it: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

France has 2 missions in DR Congo, with its embassy in Lubumbashi.

In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in DR Congo (Kinshasa) received 80 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 68. The refusal rate was 5.8%. The refusal rate rose by 3.0 points from 2.9% in 2024. Applications fell by 20% compared with 2024 (100).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 40.1% of the applications lodged in DR Congo that year, from 34.9% at the consulates of Belgium to 72.9% at those of Switzerland. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the 6th most applied-for Schengen state in DR Congo.

You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in DR Congo, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

For a trip from DR Congo to France, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 28 October 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.

How long citizens of DR Congo can stay in France

How long citizens of DR Congo may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How citizens of DR Congo apply

In DR Congo, applications go to the French embassy in Lubumbashi, or to a visa centre acting for France; fees, documents and processing times are published by France.

France and the Schengen area

A Schengen visa issued by France lets citizens of DR Congo travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.

France’s neighbours for citizens of DR Congo

Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require citizens of DR Congo to obtain a visa in advance.

French citizens travelling to DR Congo

French citizens need a visa for DR Congo, which they can apply for online as an e-Visa for stays of up to 7 days.