Launch of Biometric Residence Cards for Foreigners

Kinshasa - March 11, 2026 - The Kinshasa provincial government officially launched the issuance of biometric residence cards for foreign nationals residing in the city. The ceremony was held at Kinshasa City Hall, presided over by Provincial Minister Jeannot Canon Larose. The initiative aims to strengthen public security, improve identification of foreigners, and modernize administrative management of their stay. Minister Larose emphasized that the system ensures a secure, regulated, and harmonized integration of foreigners in the city. Financial oversight is also a priority: Minister Magloire Kabemba highlighted that the system will help mobilize revenues to support the city-province’s operations. Key features of the program: Validity: 2 years, with fees by category: Category A: US$250 Category B: US$200 Category C: US$100 Category D: US$50 Spouse-specific fees also apply. Electronic verification: Agents equipped with smartphone-like devices can scan cards and check authenticity via a dedicated database. Digital procedures: Applications can be submitted online to streamline processing. The government called on foreign communities to raise awareness and ensure compliance with this new administrative measure.