Democratic Republic of Congo FERI Certificate — The Complete Guide

This guide covers the FERI certificate for shipments to Democratic Republic of Congo — who issues it, which documents it needs, how the application runs and what the validation rules are. For the country procedure page, see Democratic Republic of Congo FERI.

Overview

The FERI — Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à l’Importation — is the cargo tracking certificate required for shipments to Democratic Republic of Congo. It is issued by Office de Gestion du Fret Multimodal (OGEFREM). Requirement status: Mandatory.

For eastern DRC, cargo often routes via Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) or Mombasa (Kenya) — neither requires its own ECTN, the FERI suffices. If your shipment is discharged outside the DRC and moves overland, you also need the Attestation de Destination (A.D. / Certificate of Destination), which we can provide.

Sample FERI certificate

A Democratic Republic of Congo FERI we filed, with the customer fields masked. Use it to check the layout, where the authority stamp sits and where the reference number is printed.

Discharge ports

• Matadi
• Boma
• Dar es Salaam (transit)
• Mombasa (transit)

Required documents

• Bill of Lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List

Application process

1. Send your documents

Share PDF copies of the required documents via sck@scktr.com, or upload them through the application form. There is no need to send hard copies for the issuance of FERI certificates.

2. Draft is prepared

Once complete, consistent documents arrive, a draft is prepared for your confirmation. A file specialist checks the shipment details against the documents before anything is filed.

3. Confirm the draft

Check every field on the draft — consignee, ports, weights, values and container references. Final documents must be submitted without further amendments; corrections after validation are charged separately.

4. Filing and validation

The confirmed file is submitted to the issuing authority for validation. The FERI number is issued at validation, so it cannot be shown on documents prepared before that point.

5. Certificate delivered

The validated certificate is sent to you and can accompany the cargo to the destination port.

Timeline

• Processing time: 1–3 business days
• Validity: One validated FERI per Bill of Lading

The exact cut-off depends on the destination and the vessel schedule; confirm the deadline for your shipment with our team before filing.

Special rules

Validation deadline. FERI certificates should be approved up to 5 days before the vessel enters DRC territorial waters (tracked from the manifest). We recommend applying right after departure. A valid FXI/GUICE reference is required, and we recommend the FERI number be written on the Bill of Lading.

Non-compliance. Failure to secure a FERI certificate incurs a 20% freight cost penalty at the destination (per decree 409/021 of 23 March 1992), on top of demurrage and clearance delays.

Frequently asked questions

What is FERI and is it mandatory?

FERI (Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à l’Importation) is the DRC’s mandatory cargo waiver. Every imported good must be accompanied by a valid FERI certificate to clear customs.

Do I need an FXI / GUICE number?

Yes. The GUICE reference (FXI) is a progressive number issued to importers when they open their import licence. The FXI must be inserted at origin to verify the importation and prevent delays and extra charges at destination.

What is the penalty for shipping without a FERI?

A 20% freight cost penalty applies at destination under decree 409/021, alongside demurrage and clearance delays.

What is the Attestation de Destination (A.D.)?

If your cargo is discharged at a port outside the DRC (e.g. Dar es Salaam or Mombasa) and moves overland, the Certificate of Destination (A.D.) is required in addition to the FERI. We can issue both.

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Ready to file? Apply for a FERI certificate or go back to the Democratic Republic of Congo FERI procedure page. All country guides: Country guides.