This is the most important page on this site for a Congolese-American, and the advice comes from the U.S. government itself: the DRC does not recognise dual nationality, and American citizens should always present themselves as U.S. citizens to Congolese authorities. Presenting yourself otherwise may impede the ability of the United States to provide consular services to you.
Quick facts
That is the opposite of the rule in most countries in this directory, where dual nationals are told to use the local passport. Here, using the Congolese one can be the thing that removes your access to American assistance if something goes wrong.
What this means
| Situation | Consequence | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Entering on a Congolese passport | Treated as Congolese only | Take advice first |
| Difficulty at a port of entry | Ask to contact the U.S. embassy | Know this in advance |
| Holding both nationalities | Not recognised by the DRC | Understand the trade-off |
| Children born in the U.S. | Position needs advice | A lawyer, before acting |
| Property or inheritance | Follows nationality status | A lawyer in the DRC |
None of this means you cannot travel or cannot hold Congolese documents. It means the choice of which passport to present has consequences that are worth understanding before you are standing at a counter in Kinshasa.
What to do
- Read the current U.S. travel advisory and country information in full.
- Establish your position with a lawyer before travelling, not after.
- Understand which passport you intend to present and why.
- Know that you can ask to contact the U.S. embassy if you face difficulty at entry.
- Take separate advice on property and inheritance, which follow nationality.
- Leave your itinerary with family in the United States.
Required documents
- Congolese passport or travel document, if you hold one.
- U.S. passport and naturalisation certificate.
- Birth certificate.
- Parents’ documents where the claim is by descent.
- Visa where you travel as an American.
- Legal advice specific to your circumstances.
Where to go
To the embassy for documents; to a qualified lawyer before making any decision about how you travel.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
The opposite of the usual rule
Most countries want dual nationals to use the local passport. Here the U.S. government advises the reverse, and the reason is consular access.
Know your rights at entry
If you experience detention, passport confiscation or demands for unofficial fees, ask to contact the U.S. embassy.
Children
A child’s position deserves its own advice rather than an assumption based on the parents’.
Take proper advice
This is not a question to settle from a website, including this one.