What is DR Congo FERI?
The FERI (Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à l'Importation) is the mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) that must accompany all cargo destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo through the ports of Matadi and Boma. It is issued under the authority of OGEFREM (Office de Gestion du Fret Multimodal), the DRC's public freight-management body based in Kinshasa. The FERI reconciles the Bill of Lading, freight and cargo values from origin through transit to final import, and works alongside the importer's FXI licence. Cargo arriving without a validated FERI faces heavy penalties, clearance delays and possible inability to release the goods until the certificate and taxes are settled.
Which ports require the FERI
The requirement attaches to the port of discharge. For DR Congo that is Matadi or Boma. Where cargo only transits DR Congo on its way to a landlocked neighbour, the routing has to be documented — several destinations treat transit cargo differently, so tell us the final destination when you send the Bill of Lading rather than after the file is open.
When to apply: the FERI filing deadline
The cut-off is set by DR Congo and is anchored either to the vessel leaving the load port or to it reaching Matadi or Boma. Filing when the booking is confirmed is safe under either anchor, and a draft Bill of Lading is enough to open the file. We confirm the exact cut-off for your route before anything is filed. Late validation costs more than filing on time everywhere it is allowed at all.
Who files the FERI
The shipper, the exporter, or the freight forwarder acting for them — the party at origin that holds the Bill of Lading and the commercial invoice. The consignee usually cannot fix a missing certificate from the destination side once the vessel has sailed. Where the sales terms put the cost on the buyer, that settles who pays; it does not move the obligation to file.
Official FERI Validation Procedure
According to the customs regulations of DR Congo, every cargo shipment purchased from abroad and transported for commercial, business, diplomatic, or personal purposes requires a validated Loading Certificate:
- ▪The shipper or freight forwarder opens the FERI file before shipment and validates it before the cargo reaches the DRC.
- ▪Prepare the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Freight Invoice, Packing List and the Customs Declaration (BOE / CE20).
- ▪Our compliance desk validates the freight and cargo data against OGEFREM requirements and the importer's FXI number.
- ▪OGEFREM issues the FERI number, which must accompany the shipment for clearance at Matadi or Boma.
- ▪Validate in good time — surface freight and late filings attract severe OGEFREM penalties before the cargo can be cleared.
Validity and amendments
A validated FERI is issued against one shipment: one Bill of Lading, one vessel, one voyage, one consignee. It does not carry over to your next shipment and it carries no renewal date. If the shipment changes, the certificate has to change with it — and what can be amended after validation, and at what cost, is set by the destination authority. Corrections to the draft before filing cost nothing, which is why we send you the draft first.
What happens without a valid FERI
Cargo arriving without a validated FERI is generally not released. What follows depends on the destination: customs clearance delays, storage and demurrage accruing daily at Matadi or Boma, and regulatory fines until a valid certificate is presented. The demurrage is often the larger of the two numbers, and it is the one that grows while the paperwork is corrected.
What a DR Congo FERI costs
Two lines, quoted separately. The first is the statutory charge the destination authority sets for registering the certificate — it belongs to the authority, not to us, and it varies by destination and shipment profile. The second is our service fee for preparing the file, checking it against the published requirements, filing it and handling any query. Neither is a percentage of your cargo value. Both are fixed and shown before anything is filed, so the invoice you approve is the invoice you pay.
Waiver Regulations & Q&A
What is the FERI certificate for DR Congo?
FERI stands for Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à l'Importation. It is the mandatory OGEFREM import tracking document required for all cargo shipped to the DRC via Matadi and Boma.
Who issues the FERI in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
The FERI is issued under OGEFREM (Office de Gestion du Fret Multimodal), the DRC's public freight-management authority headquartered in Kinshasa.
Which documents are required for a DRC FERI?
Typically the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Freight Invoice, Packing List and the Customs Declaration (BOE / CE20). The FERI also links to the importer's FXI licence number.
Is FERI the same as an FERI for DR Congo?
Yes. FERI is the DRC's national form of the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN); both describe the same compulsory ECTN.
What happens if cargo reaches the DRC without a FERI?
Cargo without a validated FERI faces heavy OGEFREM penalties and clearance delays at Matadi or Boma, and may not be released until the certificate and related taxes are settled.