Democratic Republic of the Congo: Process for applying for or renewing a passport
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 2011 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | COD103711.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Process for applying for or renewing a passport, 1 April 2011, COD103711.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4db7c3802.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Radio Okapi, the United Nations radio station in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), interviewed a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs (ministère des Affaires étrangères) by telephone for a 22 October 2009 article. During the interview, the spokesman reportedly indicated that applicants applying for the DRC's new biometric passport must [translation] "bring their voter card, US$150 for the passport and US$20 for the form" (Radio Okapi 22 Oct. 2009). In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate on 16 March 2011, a representative at the Embassy of the DRC in Ottawa explained that the new biometric passport entered circulation in April 2009; he also said that to apply, applicants must provide their current passport or nationality certificate, their residency card or a valid driver's licence, and pay C$250.
The same embassy representative also said, in a telephone interview with the Research Directorate on 7 March 2011, that the new passport is valid for five years and that it is not renewable; unlike previous passports, the new passport does not include a page for passport extension.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 16 March 2011. Embassy of the Democractic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Ottawa. Telephone interview with a representative.
_____. 7 March 2011. Embassy of the Democractic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Ottawa. Telephone interview with a representative.
Radio Okapi. 22 October 2009. "Kinshasa : bientôt la fin de la validité des anciens passeports."
_____. N.d. "À propos."
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to reach respresentatives at the embassies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Brussels, Lusaka and Paris were unsuccessful.
Internet sites, including: Afrik.com; AllAfrica.com; La Conscience [Kinshasa]; Digitalcongo.net; InfoSud Belgique (InfoSud); Keesing's Reference Systems; Panapress (PANA); Le Phare [Kinshasa]; Le Potentiel [Kinshasa].
