Working in Congo as a French National: Visa, Social Protection and Economy

The visa is mandatory before departure and is requested online only; it is valid for 15 to 91 days. For a business assignment, the application is made on the website of the Embassy of Congo with a copy of the passport valid for at least six months, an identity photo, a hotel reservation or an invitation letter bearing the approval of the Congolese DDST, a business letter and a copy of the plane ticket reservation. The fees are 55 euros for 15 days and 110 euros for three months, or 110 euros and 220 euros with the “Express Visa” option; the processing time is about seven working days, or three with the express option.

The visa is not a work permit: France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry’s travel advice service) does not address the permit subject in its business travel pages, and the rules for recruiting a foreigner fall to the Congolese labour and immigration authorities, with the employer. Congo does not issue a three-month visa on the spot: renewal after three months costs about 162 euros for one year (106,000 FCFA) and about 315 euros for two years (206,000 FCFA).

An employee seconded by a French company benefits from an exception to the liability rule provided for in Article 5 of the social security agreement, according to CLEISS (the French liaison centre for international social security), which gives no secondment duration: the duration and conditions should be confirmed with CLEISS and the Urssaf (the French social security contributions collector).

CLEISS cites the guaranteed interprofessional minimum wage (SMIG) to set the floor of the old-age pension (60% of the SMIG). The amount in force could not be read on an official source for this guide: it should be checked with the Ministry of Labour before signing a contract. No average salary is put forward.

The context helps in reading an offer: GDP per capita is 2,448 US dollars, hydrocarbons dominate the economy and France Diplomatie describes a fragile economic situation, with a large part of the population living in precarious conditions. Jobs open to foreigners are concentrated in energy, engineering, logistics and international organisations.

To compare a post, think in terms of the full package: salary, housing, safety, health insurance and evacuation, schooling, travel. The guide seconded or expatriate explains the differences in status.

The employment contract is the basis of the residence document application and specifies the position, pay, term, probationary period and notice. A local lawyer can review it. Tax on salaries falls under the Congolese tax authority; the scales in force could not be read in an up-to-date version and should be checked with that authority.

France and Congo are bound by a convention to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion on income tax, inheritance tax, registration duties and stamp duties, signed in Brazzaville on 27 November 1987 and in force since 1 September 1989 (BOFiP). It serves to determine the State of taxation according to tax residence, the nature of the income and the length of stay; its text can be read on impots.gouv.fr.

Before leaving, you must declare the change of tax residence or, on the contrary, keep a residence in France if the stay is temporary; a written simulation from the tax office for individuals is recommended.

The Franco-Congolese social security agreement was concluded on 11 February 1987 (with its Protocol No. 1) and supplemented by an administrative arrangement of 11 March 1988; it came into force on 1 June 1988. It covers maternity (Articles 14 to 18), invalidity (19 to 24 bis), old age and survivors (25 to 33), occupational accidents and diseases (34 to 43) and family benefits (7 to 13). According to CLEISS, it contains no coordination provision for the sickness branch or for death insurance; unemployment insurance falls outside its scope.

Protocol No. 1 provides for the maintenance of certain health insurance benefits, in kind and in cash, for insured persons who go to Congo; on a transfer of residence, this maintenance is limited to six months. On the Congolese side, the CNSS still manages pensions, occupational accidents and family benefits for employees; the universal health insurance scheme (RAMU), established by Law No. 37-2014 and amended by Law No. 12-2023 of 10 May 2023, is a compulsory scheme managed by the CAMU since 1 July 2023, which covers sickness, accident, maternity and rehabilitation.

The family benefits provided for by CLEISS include a family allowance of 2,000 FCFA per month per child, paid every quarter, and a birth bonus of 1,200 FCFA for the first three children; maternity leave is 15 weeks at 50% of salary. The CFE (Caisse des Français de l’étranger, the French social security fund for expatriates) complements cover: see the CFE and reimbursements in Congo.

CLEISS specifies that Congo is not on the list of countries for which France has provided cover for self-employed workers. A French self-employed person therefore checks with the Congolese authorities the residence document, the registration of their activity and their social scheme, and plans voluntary insurance (CFE or private insurance) for sickness.

No remote-worker visa is mentioned in the official pages read for this guide. The available visas cover 15 to 91 days; for a longer presence, the residence document should be planned for. Income from a French employer remains to be declared in France according to tax residence. See digital nomad insurance and visas for digital nomads.

The Republic of Congo has more than 6 million inhabitants (World Bank) and a modest GDP per capita; growth and inflation vary from year to year. Hydrocarbons account for 85% of exports and 63% of budget revenue; the oil sector dominates, the share of other sectors (construction, industry, agriculture, livestock) remaining small, with a steadily growing services sector.

Trade with France is regular, French exports far exceeding imports from Congo. The economic service in Brazzaville (French Treasury directorate), the Agence française de développement, the Congolese employers’ federation (UNICONGO) and a network of about twenty French foreign trade advisers are relays for companies.

Current inflation, growth and unemployment appear in the “Economic indicators” block.

The currency is the CFA franc: France Diplomatie indicates that 1 euro is worth 656 CFA francs. Currency exchange is prohibited outside traditional exchange offices and cash machines.

The outlook depends on oil prices and the diversification of the economy. Before accepting a post, check the currency of the salary, the coverage of health insurance and evacuation, and the arrangements for transferring funds; see living in Congo.