Democratic Republic of Congo FERI Comprehensive Guide

Last Updated: March 13, 2026

The DR Congo FERI Certificate is required for all ocean shipments destined for Democratic Republic of Congo. It is obtained through an Authorized Agent such as AfricaCTN.

For additional inquiries please contact us at info@africactn.com.


Getting Started

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the shipper or freight forwarder to obtain the validated FERI document and provide it to the importer.

Validation Deadline

The FERI Certificate must be validated prior to vessel arrival in the discharge port.

Key Information

  • All shipments require the FXI Number and Shipper’s Subscription Number

In Transit Shipments

In transit refers to a shipment that discharges in one country and its final destination is in another country.

  • DR Congo does not require a FERI for in transit shipments

Common discharge ports for these shipments include:

  • Matadi
  • Boma
  • Banana

Required Documents

  • Bill of Lading
  • Commercial Invoice
  • Freight Invoice
  • FXI Number
  • Shipper Subscription Number

Application Process

First, you must gather digital copies of the required documents as mentioned above. Then you can proceed with the application process:

  1. Submit: Send all the necessary documents to AfricaCTN via email or online
  2. Draft & Invoice: You will receive a draft copy of your ECTN and invoice
  3. Approve: Check and confirm all details on the draft ECTN
  4. Pay: Make payment of the invoice so validation can begin
  5. Final Validation: Receive your final validated ECTN ready for customs clearance

Validation & Approval Process

Validation of a FERI certificate is the process in which the certificate moves from a draft copy to a final copy. In order to begin validation two things must happen:

  • Approval: The customer must check and confirm all details on the draft copy, ensure they match the shipping documents provided and notify AfricaCTN that the draft has been approved.
  • Payment: The invoice must be paid before validation can begin.

Once these two steps are complete, AfricaCTN will release the final validated FERI certificate ready for customs clearance.


Timeline

Step of the ProcessHow Long it Takes
1. Submit Customer Action
2. Draft & Invoice 2-4 business hours
3. Approve Customer Action
4. Pay Customer Action
5. Final Validation 24-48 business hours

Special Cases & Regulations

There are no special cases or regulations for DR Congo FERI Certificate.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where can I apply for a FERI certificate?

You will apply for the FERI Certificate through AfricaCTN, the authorized agent.


Are the procedures different between the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Yes, DR Congo and the Republic of Congo are two different countries and have two different ECTN / FERI application processes.