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U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS

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 the Congo due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued to reflect changes to the “Do Not Travel” provinces.

Reconsider travel to the Democratic Republic of the 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, terrorism, civil unrest, active volcanoes, 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. 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 may respond with heavy-handed tactics that result 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:

  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
  • Avoid demonstrations.
  • Use caution when walking or driving.
  • Always have a photocopy 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 to 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 personal contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Ensure that documents and medications are easy to locate in case you need to leave on short notice.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

North Kivu Province – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Armed conflict involving armed groups continues in North Kivu, near the major city of Goma. Missiles and armed drones have been used in the conflict. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, crowding internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, and contributing to instability in the province.

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.

Terrorist and armed groups operate in North Kivu province. They have attacked military and civilian targets, including humanitarian aid workers, businesspeople, and other NGO personnel operating in the area.

Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout the region, especially in urban areas. Mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to bystanders.

Mount Nyiragongo is an active volcano. It is located near Goma in the volcano region of Virunga National Park.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in North Kivu province as travel of U.S. government employees under the U.S. Embassy (Chief of Mission) security responsibility to North Kivu Province 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.

Terrorist and armed groups operate in Ituri province. They have attacked military and civilian targets, including humanitarian aid workers and other NGO personnel operating in the area.

Demonstrations and large gatherings can occur throughout these regions, especially in urban areas. Mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to bystanders.

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 travel of U.S. government employees under the U.S. Embassy (Chief of Mission) security responsibility to Ituri Province 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, 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. Mobs can form rapidly and turn violent, posing a threat to bystanders.

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 travel of U.S. government employees under the U.S. Embassy (Chief of Mission) security responsibility 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.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) passed updates to the DRC Family Code in 2016 which effectively suspended intercountry adoptions under DRC law. The DRC Family Code (in French) is available at http://www.leganet.cd/. In addition to the suspension of intercountry adoption, the Immigration Authority (DGM) has also continued to suspend the issuance of exit permits for adopted children.

As a result, The Department of State continues to ask adoption agencies not to refer Congolese adoption cases for U.S. prospective adoptive parents given these suspensions and the absence of any legal path for children to exit the country.

Please visit the Department of State’s travel advisory 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: May 10, 2023

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