Regulatory & compliance · International household goods
International: Democratic Republic of the Congo
The DRC is a member of both COMESA and the EAC, but its EAC accession is very recent, and no international-specific mover requirement could be confirmed
Regulated byThe DRC is one of the 21 member states of COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) and became the EAC’s 7th Partner State on 11 July 2022. The COMESA Carrier’s License (allowing a single licence to cover commercial goods vehicles across participating member states) and the COMESA Yellow Card (regional third-party motor insurance) apply to COMESA members generally, but this research did not confirm the DRC’s current practical implementation status for either
At a glanceRequirements at a glance
- DRC Is a Long-Standing COMESA Member
- Yes. The DRC is one of the 21 member states of COMESA, the same regional bloc under which the Carrier’s License and Yellow Card insurance schemes were confirmed for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
- DRC’s EAC Membership Is Very Recent
- Yes. The DRC became the EAC’s 7th Partner State on 11 July 2022, joining the same Tripartite framework (COMESA-EAC-SADC) that includes the Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement and harmonized standards for vehicle registration, transport operator registration and driver licensing. Given how recent this accession is, practical implementation may lag the formal legal commitment.
- COMESA Carrier’s License and Yellow Card: Not Confirmed for the DRC
- Not confirmed. Given the DRC’s COMESA membership, the same Carrier’s License and Yellow Card insurance schemes documented for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda might be expected to apply, but this research did not confirm the DRC’s current participation status or practical implementation for these schemes. They are therefore not listed as requirements on this page.
OverviewOverview & Scope
The DRC’s membership in both COMESA (long-standing) and the EAC (since July 2022) suggests that the regional Carrier’s License and Yellow Card insurance framework documented for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda could extend to the DRC as well. However, this research could not confirm the DRC’s current practical implementation status for either scheme, and given how recent the DRC’s EAC accession is, full harmonization should not be assumed. A mover planning to send its own vehicles across the DRC’s borders should confirm the current position with the Ministry of Transport and Channels of Communication.
Where a mover subcontracts the cross-border carriage, any regional permits and insurance attach to the carrier operating the vehicle, and the carrier’s own licences cover the transport it performs.
RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials
Movers handling international moves to or from the DRC must:
- Maintain the domestic requirements on the DRC page (business registration and, where the mover operates its own vehicles, Ministry of Transport approval).
- Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.
ChecklistCompliance checklist
Company licensing
- Domestic requirements on the DRC page met (business registration and, where the mover operates its own vehicles, Ministry of Transport approval)Verified by DocumentRequired
Subcontracted transport
- Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired