Visa for the United Kingdom from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. A Standard Visitor visa is required for tourism, family visits or short business trips of up to six months. It does not allow work or access to public funds. Because the UK is not in Schengen, a Schengen visa gives you no right to enter.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government fee135 GBP

  Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.

• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator

  Only when the post uses an external centre. The amount is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

Prepare a valid passport, evidence of sufficient funds, proof of accommodation, your itinerary, and evidence of ties to the DRC (employment, family, property). The visa fee is not stated here, check GOV.UK for the current amount. A yellow-fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on your routing.

You complete and pay for the application online on GOV.UK. After submitting, Congolese applicants book an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) (in Kinshasa) to give fingerprints and a biometric photo. Supporting documents are uploaded online or presented at the centre.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing times vary; see GOV.UK for the current estimate and apply well ahead. A paid priority service is sometimes offered depending on the centre. Do not book non-refundable travel before a decision is made.

A common mistake is assuming a Schengen visa covers the UK, it does not. Focus on demonstrating your ties to the DRC and your intention to return, which is central to the assessment. Always confirm the fee, timelines and the relevant centre directly on GOV.UK before paying.