Intercountry Adoption

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Country Information

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Reconsider travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory

Last Update: Reissued with updates to the health information.

Reconsider travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo due to crime and civil unrest.  Some areas have increased risk.  Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel To:

  • North Kivu province due to crime, civil unrest, terrorism, armed conflict, and kidnapping.
  • Ituri province due to crime, civil unrest, terrorism, armed conflict, and kidnapping.
  • The eastern DRC region and the three Kasai provinces (Kasai, Kasai-Oriental, Kasai-Central) due to crime, civil unrest, armed conflict and kidnapping.

Country Summary: Violent crime, such as armed robbery, armed home invasion, and assault, is common and local police lack resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Assailants may pose as police or security agents.

Demonstrations are common in many cities and some have turned violent. Police have at times responded with heavy-handed tactics that resulted in civilian casualties and arrests.

The U.S. government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens outside of Kinshasa due to poor infrastructure and security conditions.

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

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

  • Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel, and read the U.S. Embassy's web page for country-specific COVID-19 information.
  • Avoid demonstrations.
  • Use caution when walking or driving.
  • Always have a copy of your U.S. passport and DRC visa.  Keep originals in a secure location.  Carry your U.S. passport and DRC visa when crossing provincial borders or flying domestically.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the Country Security Report for the DRC.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

North Kivu Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Violent crime, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and pillaging, continue throughout North Kivu province. Road travelers are frequently targeted for ambush, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout these regions, especially in urban areas, and escalate to violence. Extrajudicial mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to humanitarian aid workers and other personnel operating in the area.

Terrorist and armed groups operating in North Kivu province have attacked military and civilian targets and represent an ongoing threat to humanitarian aid workers and other NGO personnel operating in the area.

Armed groups, individuals, and military forces routinely clash with each other. Civilians are frequently targeted in attacks.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in North Kivu province as U.S. government travel to these areas is restricted.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Ituri Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Violent crime, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and pillaging, continue throughout Ituri province. Road travelers are frequently targeted for ambush, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout these regions, especially in urban areas, and escalate to violence. Extrajudicial mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to humanitarian aid workers and other personnel operating in the area.

Terrorist and armed groups operating in Ituri province have attacked military and civilian targets and represent an ongoing threat to humanitarian aid workers and other NGO personnel operating in the area.

Armed groups, individuals, and military forces routinely clash with each other. Civilians are frequently targeted in attacks.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Ituri province as U.S. government travel to these areas is restricted.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Eastern DRC Region and the Three Kasai Provinces – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Violent crime, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, and pillaging, continue throughout South Kivu, Tanganyika, Haut Lomami, Bas-Uele, and Haut-Uele and three Kasai provinces of Kasai Oriental, Kasai Central, and Kasai. Road travelers are frequently targeted for ambush, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout these regions, especially in urban areas, and escalate to violence. Extrajudicial mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to humanitarian aid workers and other personnel operating in the area.

Armed groups, individuals, and military forces routinely clash with each other. Civilians are frequently targeted in attacks.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in eastern DRC and these provinces, as U.S. government travel to these regions is restricted.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

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Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
No
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
No.

Hague Convention Information

Intercountry adoptions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the United States are not currently possible. Intercountry adoptions to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the United States are possible.

Intercountry adoptions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were suspended pursuant to a 2016 DRC law, which became effective July 15, 2016. The DRC’s Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Children; and the Immigration Authority (DGM) agree that intercountry adoptions from the DRC are not legally possible at this time, and the DGM will not allow adopted children to leave Congolese territory.

In addition to the suspension of intercountry adoption, exit permits for children who have been adopted and who have applied for and received immigrant visas continue to be suspended as well. Due to the suspension of adoptions and the continued suspension of the issuance of exit permits in adoption cases, adopted children have no legal means to exit the country. Thus, the Department of State strongly advises against initiating an intercountry adoption in the DRC. The Department of State continues to ask adoption agencies not to refer Congolese adoption cases for U.S. prospective adoptive parents given the adoption suspension and absence of any legal path for children to exit the country. The DRC Family Code (in French) is available at http://www.leganet.cd/. The Department of State remains engaged with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and will provide updated information as it becomes available.

There is currently no functioning adoption authority in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who can field questions about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should contact the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s immigration authority (DGM), as there is no functioning adoption authority.  See contact information below.

Please visit the Department of State’s country page for more information on travelling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and U.S. Embassy Kinshasa’s website for information on consular services.

Contact Information

U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
310, Avenue des Aviateurs
Kinshasa, Gombe
République Démocratique du Congo
Tel: +243 81 884-6623 (Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.) or +243-81-880-556-0151
Email: KinshasaAdoptions@state.gov 
Website: cd.usembassy.gov

Ministry of Justice
Due to suspension of international adoption, there is no office or subject matter expert currently handling adoption inquiries. The Ministry of Justice directs all inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Children.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
M. Joska Kabongo
Head of Adoptions Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Place de l’Indépendance
Commune de la Gombe
Kinshasa, DRC
Tel +243851830952
Email: joskangoy@hotmail.com

Ministry of Gender, Family, and Children
M. Gauthier Luyela
Director – Chief of Protective Service for Children
30 June Boulevard
Commune de la Gombe
Kinshasa, RD Congo
Tel : +243 89 875 6632
Email:  galudipren@gmail.com

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Immigration Authority
Direction Générale de Migration
65, Boulevard du 30 Juin
Commune de la Gombe
Ville de Kinshasa, R.D.Congo
Tel: + +243 81 682 77 82 or +243 99 994 27 67
Email: dgm@dgm.cd or dgmetatmajor@yahoo.fr

Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
1726 M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 234-7690

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: http://adoptions.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

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

For questions about filing a Form I-600A application or I-600 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-816-251-2770 (local)
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

Last Updated: June 18, 2020

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Kinshasa
310 Avenue des Aviateurs
Kinshasa/Gombe
Telephone
+(243) 081-556-0151 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
Emergency
+(243) 081-556-0151
Fax
No Fax

Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) Map