Hello,

i am looking for PRECISE infos about the visa of Congo Brazzaville.
The visa is like the one in the photo.

Expiry date: 28 of July

-How does this visa exactly work?
Do i have time until the 28th to enter Congo, and since the day i enter i get 30 days to stay? In this case for example, i could even enter the country the last day before the expiry date.
Or the visa just expires once and forever the 28th , and by this day i should enter and leave the country?

-Also, the visa does not mention the number of entries allowed.
Single? Multiples?


- Last question: once in Congo it is possible to extend the visa in brazzaville or somewhere?

thanks a lot!

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On my Congo VISA, there is a field for the "Multiples Entries". It is called "Nombre d'entrée(s)". Yours don't have it. It should be on the same line as the field "Type de visa". Exactly where you see a tiny vertical bar on your visa.

Did you ask for a multiple entries visa?


As for the entry / duration date definition, I never had a problem in Africa to explain to immigration officials what the embassy told me they are.


Also can you share with us, in a seperated thread, how it was to travel in the Central African Republic? Where you entered? Exited? Route?

Patrick

Ok so that would be a single entry Visa.

I did not Ask for multiple entries.
Does anybody know if It is possible and Easy to renew the Visa in brazzaville and possibly to have a multiple entries?

Regarding the entry/duration definition what have you Been told?


(Dont go to CAR if you dont want a good amount of hassle)

Some travel book like lonely planets sometimes specify where and for how many days you can get your visa renewed in a country. Maybe you know someone who has a congo travel book. I don't. They sell them online too.

You do bring up a good question, which will help other travellers, about what is the definition of the expiration date on a visa? Is it the last day you can enter a country and then your visa duration starts? Or the real expiration of the VISA? We should take the habit of reading our visa and asking questions. I admit, I don't always do. I did not for the Congo visa. I cannot tell you the official congolese definition of the visa expiration date but based on the dates on my visa, there is a high probability that the expiration date is the expiration date of the visa itself.

Personnally, only me can know what the embassy said, so I decide which definition is best for me when I need to at a border crossing. The explanation that you travel by bike and not by plane wins. You don't know when you will get into the country, so your visa can't start right away. The expiration date is the last date you can enter the country.

As an example, I entered Benin on the last day of my VISA d'entente and gave the explanation above and entered the country no problem.

I find it worth it to ask for visa duration a bit longer than needed and try to delay the start date when possible. Sometimes the cost of a longer visa is just slightly more. Unplanned delays happen and sometime you run out of time. Having to drive and wait for a few days for a visa cost money too.


If you would not need the multiples entries and leave the country before a month after the expiration date, I would not worry too much about getting a new visa. I would give them the explanation above. I do speak French and English so your experience may vary. Do this at your own risk.


Patrick
PS: thanks for the CAR update

What the embassies say very often is totally wrong. They Just make papers and collect money. Sometimes the police knows better...but Can't rely on congolese police.
However i would Like to know how really is.

For example the Visa for Central African​ Republic, according to the embassy , expires definitely the date indicated on the label. But at the local immigration i was told that the i can count the days since the day i entered the country. It was the Same for the Visa of Liberia.

Also Anybody knows​ if in brazzaville i can renew the Visa and get a multiple entries one?

From your quote above, I'm understanding that we don't have the same mindset with respect to how to deal with immigration officers.

Contrary to many "modern" countries, there is room for negotiations. Which I like since it makes the process more humain. Things are not black and white.

Here is an example: As I was leaving an african country, an immigration officer ask me If I could help them by being a translator between them and a foreigner.
They told me to tell him that he overstayed his visa by 12days and that he needs to go back to the country's capital to clear the issue.

I was facing a dilema:
1) tell the guy exactly what the officer told me. The guy would have had to drive back for at least 2 days in its 4x4, pay hotel for a few days, pay a new visa, drive back here. That's a few hundreds euros.

2) or step in the discussion and try to make a deal for him.

I like these situation too much that I stepped in. I asked to see the guy's passport to assess the real situation and the negotiation started. The guy had entered on an expired visa. It was great to see that the immigration officer was human at the entrance port or maybe he forgot to look. Anyway, to make a story short, I got him a deal of paying 20euros only. It's less than a new visa. He saved a lot of money.

If you listen and follow right away what officals tells you, you are adding pain to your trip.

You probably had enough interactions with people to understand that there is a lot of comedy in Africa. Who told you that you cannot join the show.

No matter what, the best decision is the one you will take for yourself.


This will be last post on the subject since I cannot answer your questions
Patrick

your point of view is very clear.

of course in Africa there are a lot of comedy and negotiations.

(as you know i have been in central african republic....for several months actually...you can imagine).

but now i have a very tight schedue and can't risk any issues in case i am on the wrong side.
so i always consider negotiating without worrying about it, but i like to know if i am officially breaking the law or not.

however, even if i don't know exactly how the congo visa works, i have solved my issue and i will be out of the country by that day