Active conflict or extreme danger; travel is strongly discouraged. Civil liberties are tightly restricted and political expression can carry risk.
Regional breakdown
The eastern provinces draw the heaviest warnings. official advisory guidance warns against all travel to North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Haut-Uélé, Maniema, Tanganyika and Haut-Lomami. Armed groups operate across these regions. Goma and Bukavu have seen heavy fighting, and their airports have been attacked. Commercial flights from both cities have stopped. The official advisory guidance tells travellers already in North or South Kivu to leave if they can do so safely. The Kasaï region also carries warnings. official advisory guidance warns against all travel to Kasaï Oriental, and against all but essential travel to Kasaï and Kasaï Central. The official advisory guidance lists the three Kasaï provinces, plus Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami and Mai-Ndombe, at Level 4 Do Not Travel. A 50km strip along the Central African Republic border is also flagged. Kinshasa, the capital, sits under the lower national warning, but parts of the city carry extra caution. official advisory guidance warns against all but essential travel to the N'djili and Kimbanseke districts, and to the N1 road corridor running through Kinshasa Province. Bangoka International Airport in Kisangani is also on the essential-travel-only list. Most consular help is limited to Kinshasa itself.
Recent advisory changes
official advisory guidance last updated its advice on 19 March 2026. It keeps a two-tier warning. The first tier warns against all travel to the eastern provinces and Kasaï Oriental. The second tier warns against all but essential travel to the Kasaï provinces, parts of Kinshasa, the N1 corridor and Kisangani airport. The update reflects continuing fighting in the east and the closure of Goma and Bukavu airports to commercial traffic. official advisory guidance notes that UK government support is severely limited outside Kinshasa. The official advisory guidance reissued its advisory on 12 August 2025 at Level 3 Reconsider Travel. It places North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami, the three Kasaï provinces and Mai-Ndombe at Level 4 Do Not Travel. The official advisory guidance cites crime, civil unrest, armed conflict and kidnapping. It has not declared an ordered departure. US government employees need special authorisation to enter Level 4 zones, and minor dependents of US officials are not permitted in the country. Both governments stress that consular help outside Kinshasa is very limited.
What travellers should know
Travel inside the DRC is hard. Roads are poor, and many routes pass through areas with armed groups. Domestic flights have a weak safety record, and the closure of Goma and Bukavu airports has cut off normal options for reaching the east. Travellers heading anywhere outside Kinshasa should plan with a trusted local operator and confirm that routes are open on the day of travel. Conditions can change within hours. Violent crime is a daily risk in the larger cities. official advisory guidance and official advisory guidance both flag armed robbery, carjacking and home invasion. Avoid showing valuables, keep car doors locked in traffic, and try not to move around after dark. Protests and roadblocks can flare up with little warning, so give any crowd a wide berth. Check whether your travel insurance covers a country under official advisory guidance advisories. Since many UK policies will not pay out for trips to areas under an 'all travel' or 'all but essential travel' warning. Carry copies of your passport, register with your embassy on arrival, and keep a list of emergency numbers. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry, and malaria is present across the country.