Online health declaration in Sierra Leone at entry and exit

Travelers and citizens alike are required to submit their travel history and documents through the Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal before entering or departing the country. The form must be completed within 72 hours prior to travel.

A single portal for health information and travel documents

According to a communiqué from the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), the ministry of health and the NPHA launched the portal on June 5, 2026, at Freetown’s Lungi International Airport. This is a centralized system: managed by the NPHA, with a single access point used to submit and verify both traveler health information and travel documents.

The NPHA frames the tool as a means to digitize border health control and leverage digital data to strengthen disease surveillance. It notes that the data collected is used solely for public health purposes and is protected in line with data protection standards.

Health Minister Austin Demby describes the portal as empowering Sierra Leone to anticipate, detect, and react to any health threat.

Who must complete the declaration

The Ministry of Health states the system is designed for travelers and citizens alike. The portal provides two separate forms: one for arrival and one for departure. It requires submission upon both entry and exit of the country, no matter the traveler’s nationality.

The portal lists the following points of entry: Lungi International Airport, Queen Elizabeth II Quay, as well as border posts at Gbalamuya (with Guinea) and Jendema (with Liberia).

3-day submission window before travel date

Travelers must submit their health declaration and supporting documents electronically no earlier than 72 hours before their intended date of arrival or departure. Unlike broader interpretations, the NPHA specifies a narrow 72-hour window ending at travel time, not prior. Declarations must therefore be submitted within this 72-hour window before entry or exit.

To submit their declaration, travelers simply create an account on the portal, fill in the required fields, verify the submitted information for accuracy, and submit.

Why now: ongoing Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Ministry of Health links the portal’s launch to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with Health Minister Austin Demby stating that a single digital declaration will help the country avoid the pitfalls of past health crises. We have detailed how other countries manage health control measures for international travelers amid the current DRC Ebola outbreak.

Unlike neighboring Nigeria, which mandates a 21-day follow-up for arrivals, the NPHA does not mention any post-arrival tracking. The portal also requires travelers to present an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP) as proof of yellow fever vaccination if they are entering or departing yellow fever-endemic areas, including Sierra Leone itself.

On October 13, 2026, the Ministry of Health and NPHA’s compiled pages provided no further details. They did not specify a distinct effective date for the portal beyond its launch on June 5, nor penalties for non-compliance or inaccurate submissions, nor the airlines’ role in verification. For further clarification on these points, NPHA has provided the email address info@npha.gov.sl and the contact number 117.