Travel.State.Gov

Popular Links

Stay Connected

Legal Resources

Travel.State.Gov US Department of State Homepage
Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Republic of the Congo Intercountry Adoption Information

Intercountry Adoption

English

Country Information

Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Republic of the Congo Intercountry Adoption Information

Republic of the Congo

Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
Reissued after periodic review with minor updates. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued after periodic review with minor updates.

Exercise increased caution in the Republic of the Congo due to crime.

Country Summary: While not common, violent crime, such as armed robbery and assault, remains a concern throughout the Republic of the Congo.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside Brazzaville. U.S. government employees must use two vehicles for all overland travel outside Brazzaville. In Pointe-Noire, they are restricted to beaches adjacent to their hotels due to crime.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Republic of Congo.

If you decide to travel to the Republic of the Congo:

... [READ MORE]

Presidential Proclamation 10998 on Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026, the United States is suspending or limiting entry and visa issuance to nationals of 39 countries as well as individuals applying using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. With Presidential Proclamation 10998, as of the effective date of January 1, 2026, the following categorical exceptions provided in Presidential Proclamation 10949 for nationals subject to the suspension on entry are no longer available under Presidential Proclamation 10998: immediate family immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5); adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4); and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas.

In his discretion, the Secretary of State or his designee, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may find, on a case-by-case basis, that travel by an individual would serve the U.S. national interest. The Secretary of Homeland Security or her designee, in coordination with the Secretary of State, may also find, on a case-by-case basis, that travel by an individual would serve the U.S. national interest.

Applicants who are subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States. For additional details, visit travel.state.gov here.

Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
Yes
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Intercountry adoption is not currently possible from the Republic of the Congo to the United States, except for transition cases, as discussed below. 
Is this country a U.S. Hague Partner?
The Republic of the Congo Transition Cases: The Republic of the Congo has not yet confirmed that it will continue to process certain adoption cases under the non-Convention process in effect prior to April 1, 2020.
ALL / ALL /

Hague Convention Information

The Republic of the Congo does not yet have implementing legislation giving authority to the designated Central Authority to carry out its responsibilities under the Hague Adoption Convention.  As a result, consular officers will not be able to issue Hague Adoption Certificates or Custody Certificates, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cannot approve Form I-800, Petitions to Classify convention Adoptees as Immediate Relative, for a child from the Republic of the Congo. 

Please see our section on Adoptions from the United States for more information on the process for adopting a child from the United States.  We urge prospective adoptive parents residing in the Republic of the Congo who are considering adoption of a child from the United States to consult with the appropriate Congolese authority and whether it considers your adoption to be subject to the Convention.

The Republic of the Congo Transition Cases

The Republic of the Congo has not yet confirmed that it will continue to process certain adoption cases under the non-Convention process in effect prior to April 1, 2020.  These would be cases in which a U.S. citizen filed a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, or a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, prior to April 1, 2020, or in which a final adoption was completed prior to April 1, 2020. The Office of Children’s Issues will continue to coordinate with Congolese authorities on issues related to “transition cases” and the Republic of the Congo’s accession to the Hague Adoption Convention. 

Please monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at adoption@state.gov. 

Contact Information

Contact Information

U.S. Embassy in Republic of the Congo 
70-83 Section D
Blvd Denis Sassou N’Guesso
Brazzaville
République du Congo
Tel: (242) 06 612-2050
Email: BrazzavilleIV@state.gov
Internet: cg.usembassy.gov

Republic of the Congo’s Adoption Authority 
Ministry of Justice 
Mr. Aimé Ange Wilfrid Bininga
Directeur de la protection légale de l’enfant 
Tel: +242 06 577 4630

Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action 
Ms. Irène Marie Cécile Mboukou-Kimbatsa 
Direction générale des affaires sociales 
Tel: +242 05 526 54 84
contact@affaires-sociales.gouv.cg

Embassy of Republic of the Congo 
1720 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
Tel: (202) 726-5500
Email: consulate@ambacongo-us.org 
Internet: ambacongo-us.org/

Office of Children’s Issues 
U.S. Department of State 
CA/OCS/CI 
SA-17, 9th Floor 
Washington, D.C. 20522-1709 
Email: Adoption@state.gov 
Internet: adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition: 
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC): 
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1-913-214-5808 
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures: 
USCIS Contact Center 
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833) 
Internet: uscis.gov

Last Updated: February 6, 2025

Adoption Notice

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Brazzaville
70-83 Section D
Maya Maya Boulevard
Brazzaville
Republic of the Congo
Telephone
+242 06 612 2000
Emergency
+242 06 612 2010
Fax
No Fax
Email
BrazzavilleConsular@state.gov
Website
https://cg.usembassy.gov/

Republic of the Congo Map

View Larger Map

Adoption Statistics

Adoptions from Republic of the Congo to U.S. by Year:
SEE ALL STATISTICS
Travel.State.Gov
Popular Links

Stay Connected

Legal Resources

Privacy | Accessibility | Copyright & Disclaimer | FOIA | GSA | No FEAR Act Data | Office of the Inspector General | USA.gov | USA.gov/espanol |
This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State. External links to other Internet sites and listings of private entities on this page are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as the U.S. Department of State or U.S. government endorsement of the entity, its views, the products or services it provides, or the accuracy of information contained therein. The order in which names appear has no significance, and the listings or links may be removed at any time at the discretion of the Department.