Kinshasa, April 12th, 2025 (CPA).- The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, announced the reduction of the cost of the ordinary biometric passport to USD 75, during the 39th meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday in Kinshasa, according to the minutes of the said Council. “Today, in the same dynamic with the firm will to make this essential document even more accessible, (President) Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has taken the decision, after analyzing various parameters presented to him, to reduce the price of the ordinary biometric passport to the equivalent of US dollars 75 USD,” it read. This is a new step in the policy of social justice and good governance advocated by the Head of State.
Already in 2019, the cost of the passport had been reduced to USD 99. The new reduction is in line with the same logic of lightening the financial burden for citizens”, said the source, before stressing that this measure aims to guarantee citizens their right to identify themselves and move around freely. “This highly symbolic measure is designed to guarantee every citizen the fundamental right to identify themselves and move around freely, without financial constraints being a hindrance”, said the Head of State, quoted by the source.
The implementation of this measure will nevertheless have to respect certain principles. These include preserving current contractual commitments, avoiding any disruption to the passport production and issuance chain, and maintaining social peace. President Tshisekedi insisted that “its implementation must be rigorous, fair and responsible”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was instructed to consult with the Ministers of Budget and Finance without delay, in order to submit a detailed timetable for implementation, including the official launch date of the US$75 passport, as soon as possible. The Presidency of the Republic also pointed out that this reform is part of a series of measures aimed at bringing the administration closer to the population, and reinforcing trust between the State and its citizens.