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Last Updated:
September 29, 2007 10:27
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 22:52 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES The level of Travel Warning in this report has not changed. Sections 1 and 2 of this Travel Report have been updated. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Republic of Congo
You are advised against non-essential travel to the Business visitors should travel to the Regional Warning
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY It is the responsibility of individual travellers to make informed travel choices. The Government of Canada takes very seriously the safety and security of Canadians abroad and provides credible and timely advice in its Country Travel Reports. Situations vary from country to country, and there may be constraints on government resources, which can limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide assistance, particularly in countries where the potential for violent conflict or political instability are high. In the event of a crisis situation that requires evacuation, the Government of Canada’s policy is to provide safe transportation to the closest safe location. Canada will assist Canadians in leaving a country as a last resort, when all means of commercial or personal transportation have been exhausted. This service is provided on a cost-recovery basis. Onward travel is at the individual’s personal expense. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Even though a ceasefire accord was signed in March 2003 between the Congolese government and the Ninja rebel group, war-related crimes, such as the murder of Congolese civilians or looting of private property, remain a risk, particularly in the Pool region. Canadians should exercise caution and should be especially vigilant and avoid situations where political violence and demonstrations may occur. Criminal activity occurs as a result of long-term economic recession and the influx of arms. Street crime such as mugging and purse snatching can occur. Local police resources are limited and response to emergency calls is often very slow (15 minutes or more). In case of robbery, legal recourse is limited. Ensure personal belongings and travel documents are secure. Do not show signs of affluence, and do not venture out alone after dark. Poorly marked roadblocks monitored by undisciplined, armed soldiers are present throughout the country. Security forces may detain foreigners and/or attempt extortion. Passenger travel on the railroad is discouraged, as there are frequent reports of extortion by undisciplined security forces and robberies by criminal elements along the route. Tourist facilities are limited. There are frequent electrical power outages and fuel shortages. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Congolese authorities and was valid on March 28, 2007. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Republic of Congo and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit the Republic of Congo. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa. Tourist Visa: Required Business Visa: Required Student Visa: Required Transit Visa: Required Travellers are required to carry evidence of a yellow fever vaccination. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services. Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders. Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS There is no resident Canadian government office in the Republic of Congo. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Congo (Kinshasa) - KINSHASA, Embassy of Canada Address: 17, avenue Pumbu, Commune de Gombe, Kinshasa, Congo (Kinshasa) Postal Address: P.O. Box 8341, Kinshasa, 1 Tel.: 089-89-50-310/311/312 Fax: 243-999-975-403 or 243-813-016-515 E-Mail: kinshasa@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.congo.gc.ca Office hours are Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Kinshasa, DRC, at the numbers listed above and follow the instructions. You can also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Photography of public buildings or military installations is prohibited. Ask permission before photographing individuals. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Drive defensively, as traffic accidents are a common cause of death and injury. Other than National Route 2, north of Brazzaville, which reaches the city of Oyo, most roads are dirt tracks. Overland travel outside major cities should only be undertaken during daylight hours, in a convoy of four-wheel-drive vehicles. Travellers should provide their itinerary to the Embassy of Canada in Kinshasa. Although no authorization is required for road travel in the Pool region, Canadians can take the precaution of requesting information on current safety issues from the Congolese local security services or the United Nations offices in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo). An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required. Domestic air service is a good alternative to road travel. Note that while flights between Brazzaville and the cities of Pointe-Noire, Nkayi and Loubomo run on a daily basis, the air links to other cities like Impfondo may be more random. Departure schedules are often not respected. The rail line between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville is not safe and is frequently attacked by rebels. This rail service is very sporadic at best. The currency is the African Financial Community franc (XAF). The economy is primarily cash-based, but credit cards are accepted at a few hotels and restaurants in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE The rainy season extends from September to June in the south. Some roads may become impassable during this period. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. BACK TO TOP 9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage. The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Medical facilities are poor and supplies of medicine are limited. Travellers should not drink tap water. It is also not advisable to eat bush meat. Visitors should only drink bottled water with unbroken seals. Currently, diarrhea is of particular concern in the Niari department, especially in Tsinguid, Vouka and Mayoko villages. These regions should be avoided. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal. Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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