Information Guide

The import customs clearance procedure in the DRC requires, on average, the presentation of nine documents:

  • The supplier's invoice duly bearing the security label of the inspection company and certified as compliant upstream by the OCC.
  • The packing list,
  • The freight note or insurance,
  • The bill of landing (if it is by sea),
  • Air waybill (if by air),
  • import license,
  • Verification certificates – BIVAC,
  • Note from the Multimodal Freight Management Office (Ogefrem),
  • Import authorization for certain products.

Import tax

An imported product will thus be subject on the basis of its CIF value (cost, insurance, freight) to a customs duty between 0% and 20.0% plus a consumption duty (also called excise duty) between 0 % and 60.0%.

To the sum of these two rights, we add the VAT of 19.0%.

Address and contact of the head office of the DGDA

June 30 Boulevard,

Royal Square, Kinshasa, Gombe,

Democratic Republic of Congo

Green number: +243 82 19 20 21 5

Email address: info@douane.gouv.cd

Customs procedure for importing into the Democratic Republic of Congo

The registration formalities for traders, required for the export of goods, also apply to imports. As in the case of imports, export formalities have also been handled by a one-stop shop since January 2010 and require the prior subscription of a model quotIBquot declaration or license (import of goods) with a bank, the Banque Centrale du Congo or an approved commercial bank.

Click here for more information on import and export licenses

With the current Congolese code which governs customs, the economic operator has the possibility of carrying out customs formalities himself on the sole condition of paying a deposit of 50,000USD.

Under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Finance, the reform of the Integral Single Window for Foreign Trade (GUICE) is operated by SEGUCE RDC SA , a private operator within the framework of a public-private partnership, according to the best internationally recognized practices.

By Decree No. 019/15 of October 14, 2015, the Single Window for Foreign Trade was established to meet the need to simplify, by electronic means, the procedures of all the services involved in customs clearance operations.

It is the system allowing operators involved in trade and transport to communicate standardized information and documents at a single point of entry in order to meet all the formalities required in the event of import , export and transit. . The Single Window takes into account these three packages of pre-clearance, customs clearance and post-clearance

Register by clicking here to be trained in the use of GUICE in accordance with the different modules.

Otherwise, the operator can consult a customs agency or a customs broker who meets the standards according to the laws governing customs procedure.

angle-left Other important information about importing into the DRC

Other important information about importing into the DRC

  1. The DRC does not yet grant tariff preferences to imports whatever their origin, and despite its membership of various regional blocs, in particular the Community of Economic States of Southern Africa (SADC) and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The process of joining the Comesa Customs Union and SADC Preferential Tariff is ongoing at government and relevant department level.
  2. The importation of plants, plant products, foodstuffs of plant or mineral origin and phytosanitary products is subject to obtaining an import permit issued by the Services responsible for the protection of plants of the Ministry in charge of Agriculture. Imported plants, plant products or foodstuffs of plant or mineral origin must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country. These permits are issued by the Department of National Economy, Industry and Commerce.
  3. The DRC levies excise and consumption duties on a list of products, in accordance with the principle of national treatment. The products subject to excise and consumption duties are: alcohol and alcoholic beverages; table waters and lemonades; manufactured tobacco; mineral oils; beauty or make-up products containing neither hydroquinone nor mercury iodide; hair preparations; pre-shave or after-shave preparations; soaps, organic surfactants, lubricating preparations and polishes as well as shoe creams; plastic articles and works; synthetic rubber articles and works; cellular communication; and vehicles. Tax rates range from 3% to 40%, depending on the product concerned.
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