DRC Investigates Alleged Biometric Passport Price Hikes in Beni

Kinshasa, February 12, 2026 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dispatched a team to Beni, in North Kivu, to investigate reports of an illegal increase in the price of biometric passports.

While the official fee is set at USD 75, some applicants claim to have paid up to USD 125 at the mobile data capture centers established in Beni and Butembo in October 2025.

Leading the mission, Teddy Kamembo Milambo, the Ministry’s Director of Legal Affairs and Litigation, urged citizens not to use intermediaries.

“If the allegations are true, it is up to the higher authorities to take the toughest possible action. The authorities' objective in setting the official price was to ease the difficulties faced by the population,” he said.

He emphasized that the official fee remains USD 75 and instructed citizens to submit applications directly, without intermediaries. “Those with old passports should continue to use them. No country rejects these documents,” he added.