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DR Congo: fintech & payments regulation

Regulated

CBK centralizes fintech/payments oversight via Instructions 58, 62, 006; no standalone VASP law

Lead regulator:
Banque Centrale du Congo (Central Bank of the Congo)
Key law:
Central Bank of the Congo Instructions (e.g., No. 58, 62, 006, 007)
Last updated:
2026-07-12

The Central Bank of the Congo (CBK) exercises direct regulatory authority over the fintech and payments sector through a series of administrative instructions rather than a single comprehensive fintech act. Key regulations mandate interoperability via the National E-Payment Switch for all electronic payment providers and establish specific licensing, capital, and operational requirements for money transfer operators and physical funds transporters.

The regulatory framework requires prior authorization for financial messaging services (money transfer operators) and physical funds transport, with strict capital floors and anti-money laundering obligations. Manual foreign exchange activities are also regulated under distinct dealer categories with defined capital and guarantee requirements.

Recent directives emphasize systemic integration, requiring credit institutions, financial companies, and aggregators to connect to the National E-Payment Switch. The CBK maintains tight control over market entry, management approval, and operational conduct across all licensed payment and financial service providers.

Who regulates

  • Banque Centrale du Congo

    Primary supervisor for credit institutions, financial companies, payment systems, money transfer operators, and physical funds transport.

    [1][2][3][4]

Core laws & rules

  • Instruction No. 58 on Interoperability of Electronic Payment Systems (2024)

    Mandates interoperability among electronic payment systems and requires regulated entities to connect to the National E-Payment Switch.

    [4]

  • Administrative Instruction No. 006 on Financial Messaging Services (2023)

    Regulates licensing, capital, and operational conduct of money transfer operators.

    [3]

  • Instruction No. 62 on Physical Transport of Funds (2025)

    Establishes licensing and oversight for physical funds and valuables transport providers.

    [1]

  • Administrative Instruction No. 007 on Manual Foreign Exchange (2023)

    Regulates manual foreign exchange activities through dealer categories with capital and guarantee requirements.

    [5]

Licensing & registration

  • Money Transfer Operators (Financial Messaging Services)

    Requires prior authorization, minimum paid-up capital, and strict operational conduct rules. Capital: USD [amount not specified in snippet] Timeline: Prior authorization required

    [3]

  • Physical Funds and Valuables Transport

    Requires licensing, minimum fully paid-up cash capital, and adherence to AML/CFT standards. Capital: Minimum fully paid-up cash capital (amount not specified in snippet) Timeline: Licensing framework established

    [1]

  • Manual Foreign Exchange Dealers

    Categorized into three dealer types with specific capital and guarantee requirements and prior approval for office establishment. Capital: Defined capital and guarantee requirements (amounts not specified in snippet) Timeline: Prior approval for office establishment

    [5]

  • Electronic Payment System Participants

    Credit institutions, financial companies, postal services, and aggregators must connect to the National E-Payment Switch. Capital: N/A Timeline: Compliance with interoperability mandates

    [4]

Restrictions & warnings

  • Mandatory connection to the National E-Payment Switch for all regulated electronic payment entities.

    [4]

  • Strict prior regulatory approval required for credit institutions, financial companies, their management, and statutory amendments.

    [6][2]

  • AML/CFT compliance is mandated for physical funds transport and money transfer operators.

    [1][3]

Direction of travel

  • The regulatory trajectory emphasizes systemic interoperability and centralized oversight through the National E-Payment Switch, with recent instructions (2025) expanding capital and operational requirements for niche payment-related services like physical transport.

    [1][4]

Sources

  1. Instruction No. 62 on the Physical Transport of Funds and Valuables in the Democratic Republic of Congo · 2025-11-19
  2. Instruction No. 53 on Approval Conditions for Financial Companies, Their Directors, and Statutory Modifications · 2023-08-15
  3. Administrative Instruction No. 006 Regulating the Activity of Financial Messaging Services (Modification No. 2) · 2023-07-27
  4. Instruction No. 58 on the Interoperability of Electronic Payment Systems and Participation in the National E-Payment Switch · 2024-08-30
  5. Administrative Instruction No. 007 Regulating Manual Foreign Exchange Activities (Modification No. 3) · 2023-09-05
  6. Instruction No. 18 on Approval Conditions for Credit Institutions, Their Management, and Statutory Amendments (Modification No. 3) · 2025-05-27

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This guide is compiled automatically from 6 primary-source documents published by DR Congo's regulators, reviewed by RegAlert, and refreshed monthly (last updated 2026-07-12). It is not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the regulator or local counsel before acting.