Republic of Congo Cash Guide for US Visitors
REPUBLIC OF CONGO · TRAVEL GUIDE
Key Facts
- What is happening Old coins issued from 1958 to 1985 stop being legal tender in the Republic of Congo on Sunday, 1 November.
- Why it matters A stray old coin will not be accepted, and cards are not widely accepted either, so cash handling matters.
- The numbers US$1 buys about 587 CFA francs; CFA 1 million is US$1,703; the peg is 655.957 per euro.
- Who is who The Bank of Central African States, the regional central bank in Yaoundé, issues the currency six countries share.
- What to watch Swap old coins at banks to 31 July 2027, then only at the central bank to 31 October.
- What it means for you Carry mostly cash, refuse old coins, and declare more than CFA 1 million (US$1,703) on arrival.
The Republic of Congo runs largely on cash, and its oldest coins stop counting as money on 1 November. Here is how a US visitor should carry, change and declare money.
- CFA: the Central African franc used in six countries, worth about US$1.70 per 1,000 and tied to the euro
- Peg: a fixed exchange rate, here 655.957 CFA for each euro, or about US$0.0017 per CFA
- Legal tender: money that a shop or creditor must accept by law
- Declaration: telling the authorities in writing how much cash you carry
The Republic of Congo runs largely on cash, and the State Department says credit and debit cards are not widely accepted. ATMs there pay out local currency only.
From Sunday, 1 November, coins issued between 1958 and 1985 also stop being legal money in the country. The change covers six Central African states, including Congo.
What the CFA Franc Is Worth in US Dollars
Congo uses the Central African CFA franc, worth about US$0.0017 each. The Bank of Central African States, the regional central bank, fixes it at 655.957 per euro (US$1.1172 on 30 October).
The European Central Bank, the euro area’s central bank, set its reference rate at US$1.1172 per euro on Friday, 30 October. That puts US$1 at about 587 CFA francs.
CFA 500 is worth about US$0.85, CFA 10,000 about US$17.03 and CFA 1 million about US$1,703. These dollar values move daily because the CFA follows the euro.
Cash, Cards and ATMs
The State Department says the country is largely cash-based, and credit and debit cards are not widely accepted. ATMs dispense local currency.
Most police reports carry a charge of CFA 12,000, about US$20, the State Department says. Keep small amounts ready for fees like that, and ask for a receipt.
Old Coins Stop Being Money on 1 November
The ministers’ committee of the Central African Monetary Union, the six-nation currency union, approved the change on Wednesday, 7 October. The central bank’s board, meeting from Monday, 5 October in N’Djamena, Chad, had proposed it.
Coins from the 1958, 1959, 1971, 1976 and 1985 ranges lose legal tender on Sunday, 1 November. Coins of the 2006 and 2024 ranges stay valid.
From Sunday, 1 November to Saturday, 31 July 2027, old coins can be swapped at banks, microfinance lenders and the central bank. From Sunday, 1 August 2027 to Sunday, 31 October 2027, only the central bank swaps them.
The rule covers Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad. A visitor holding leftover coins from a neighboring country faces the same rule.
Declaring Cash and Taking Souvenirs Home
The State Department says to declare more than CFA 1 million, about US$1,703, on arrival, with a bank or cashier’s receipt. Failure to do so risks fines and confiscation.
A State Department table also shows a limit of CFA 5 million, about US$8,516, but its label is missing. What that figure caps is therefore unclear.
Wooden arts and crafts are subject to an export tax. Exporting historical items such as wood pieces, sculptures and paintings is prohibited.
What It Means for You
Carry mostly cash in the country, and treat your bank card as a back-up, not a plan. Refuse old coins from Sunday, 1 November, and do not accept them as change.
Declare cash above the limit and keep the receipt. Check the day’s dollar value before you change money, because the CFA moves with the euro.
What Is Not Known
The State Department pages do not say whether shops take US dollars. They also leave unclear which US bank cards work at ATMs.
They leave unclear what the CFA 5 million (US$8,516) figure limits. The central bank’s counter procedures for swapping coins, including any cap per person, were not confirmed.
Whether shops in Brazzaville will give change in new coins at once is not known. Rates offered by banks and money changers there were not checked.
The dollar values here come from the peg and the Friday, 30 October reference rate. They are indicative only, not a quote from any bank.
Related Coverage
Read the Republic of Congo explained pillar and the Central Africa news hub. The report on the old coins ban covers the swap rules in more detail.
See the report on the 2027 budget and the guide to doing business in the Republic of Congo. The report on the US Ebola flight rule covers travel home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What currency is used in the Republic of Congo?
The country uses the Central African CFA franc, worth about US$0.0017 and fixed to the euro. On Friday, 30 October, US$1 bought about 587 CFA francs.
Can I use credit cards in Congo-Brazzaville?
The State Department says credit and debit cards are not widely accepted. The country is largely cash-based, and ATMs dispense local currency.
Are old coins still valid in the Republic of Congo?
Not from Sunday, 1 November, for coins issued between 1958 and 1985. They can be swapped until Sunday, 31 October 2027, at banks first and then only at the central bank.
How much cash can I bring into the Republic of Congo?
The State Department says to declare more than CFA 1 million, about US$1,703, with a bank or cashier’s receipt. Its page also shows a CFA 5 million (US$8,516) limit with a missing label, so ask the embassy.
Sources: US State Department, Republic of the Congo country information; Bank of Central African States, history of the Central African currency and its peg; Bank of Central African States, demonetised coins; European Central Bank, reference rate of US$1.1172 per euro (30 October 2026) (all accessed 31 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief