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Choose the visa that fits your trip. Fully online process, real-time tracking.
Visamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 84.10 USD
Electronic visaVisamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 167.70 USD
Electronic visaVisamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 25 USD
Electronic visaVisamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 50 USD
Electronic visaLong kept off the main tourist circuits, Sierra Leone is today experiencing a remarkable revival. The country has deeply modernised its infrastructure, secured its national parks, professionalised its hotel sector and, above all, simplified entry to its territory through a fully digital electronic visa (e-Visa) system. There is no longer any need to visit an embassy or send your passport by post: the entire procedure is completed online, securely and quickly, and the approved visa is sent to you by email. Affectionately nicknamed "Salone" by its inhabitants, Sierra Leone captivates travellers in search of authenticity: immaculate beaches lined with coconut trees, preserved tropical forests, exceptional wildlife and a hospitality that leaves a lasting impression.
01 · The essentials
The entire e-Visa procedure is completed online: no visit to an embassy or sending your passport by post is required.
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the intended arrival date in Sierra Leone, regardless of the option chosen.
The yellow fever vaccination record is strictly mandatory to cross the border on arrival, for all travellers without exception.
The Sierra Leone e-Visa is a genuine electronic visa — and not a simple travel authorisation reserved for nationals already exempt from visa requirements. It is mandatory for the vast majority of international travellers wishing to enter Sierra Leonean territory. The entire procedure is carried out online: submission of the application, payment of consular fees and receipt of the approved document by email, with no physical travel required.
The e-Visa system was established by the Sierra Leonean authorities as part of an ambitious tourism openness policy aimed at making Sierra Leone one of the new flagship destinations of West Africa. The process can be completed from your home, office or even your smartphone. Once approved, the document is sent to you in digital format by email.
Sierra Leone offers several e-Visa options tailored to different traveller profiles: single or multiple entry, standard rate (outside the African Union) or preferential rate reserved for nationals of African Union member states. In all cases, the maximum authorised length of stay is 90 days per entry, and the document is valid for 365 days from its date of issue.
02 · Eligibility
Sierra Leone's entry policy distinguishes several categories of travellers. Before starting any application process, it is essential to determine whether you are exempt from visa requirements or subject to the obligation to obtain an e-Visa.
Nationals of the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are exempt from visa requirements to enter Sierra Leone. A valid passport or national identity card is sufficient. This includes notably: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo.
Nationals of France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and the vast majority of other nationalities must obtain an e-Visa before departure (or a visa on arrival, an option that is not recommended). The application can be made from any country.
For any stopover exceeding 24 hours or involving exiting the international zone of the airport, a transit visa or an e-Visa is required.
A valid passport or national identity card is sufficient for nationals of the 15 ECOWAS member states. No prior visa application is required.
Every traveller, regardless of age — including infants and young children — must hold their own approved e-Visa. Minors cannot be included on a parent's visa.
Minors travelling without both parents must also present a parental consent document for travel abroad where applicable. This document is separate from the e-Visa and is governed by the rules of the country of departure.
The e-Visa is valid at land borders with Guinea (Pamelap checkpoint) and Liberia (Gendema / Bo Waterside), in addition to Freetown-Lungi International Airport.
While the visa on arrival is officially possible in Sierra Leone, this option carries concrete risks: long queues at Freetown-Lungi International Airport, the possibility of an unexpected refusal, and above all the risk of being denied boarding by the airline if you do not present a valid visa at check-in. Many airlines require a valid visa before authorising boarding. Obtaining the e-Visa before departure eliminates all of these uncertainties.
03 · The procedure
The procedure for obtaining the Sierra Leone e-Visa is entirely digital. No visit to an embassy or consulate is required. Before starting, gather the necessary documents and verify that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your intended arrival date in Sierra Leone.
Make sure your nationality is subject to visa requirements for Sierra Leone (and not exempt, particularly if you are a national of an ECOWAS country). If you are subject to visa requirements, determine the type of e-Visa that matches your plans: single entry for a one-off stay, or multiple entries if you are planning a sub-regional itinerary including Guinea or Liberia.
Collect the required documents: (1) a colour digital copy, legible and of good quality, of the information page of your passport — valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date and containing at least two consecutive blank pages; (2) a recent digital identity photo compliant with international standards (light background, face forward, neutral expression, no accessories); (3) an indicative travel itinerary (flight and accommodation bookings, or an invitation letter for business travel).
Complete the online application form by entering all the information requested by the Sierra Leonean authorities: purpose of stay, intended dates, accommodation details, personal information matching your passport. Check the accuracy of each piece of data before submitting the file.
Pay the government fees corresponding to the type of e-Visa chosen. Payment is made online by credit or debit card. Note: the government fees do not include any service fees related to assistance in preparing the application.
The standard processing time by the Sierra Leonean authorities is 2 to 5 business days from the complete and compliant submission of the application. This period may vary depending on the time of year, the volume of applications being processed, or any additional verification required. To travel with peace of mind, it is recommended to submit your complete application approximately 15 days before your departure date.
Once your application is approved, you will receive your e-Visa by email in the form of an official digital document. Print at least two copies: one to present to the airline at check-in, and one to hand to immigration officers at Freetown-Lungi Airport. Also keep a digital version on your phone and in your email inbox.
04 · Required documents
One of the great advantages of the Sierra Leonean e-Visa lies in its documentary simplicity. The file is lighter compared to many other destinations, which considerably facilitates the process. However, the quality and compliance of the documents provided remain decisive in obtaining swift approval.
Three main documents are required to complete your Sierra Leone e-Visa application. Gather them before starting to fill in the online form so as not to interrupt the process partway through.
The international vaccination record attesting to vaccination against yellow fever is not systematically required when submitting the e-Visa application online. However, it is strictly mandatory to cross the border on arrival in Sierra Leone. Without this document, you risk a straightforward refusal of entry to the country. The vaccination must be administered at least 10 days before your arrival at an approved centre to be recognised by the health authorities. Make sure to plan this from the very start of your trip preparation.
05 · Fees and processing times
The cost of the Sierra Leone e-Visa depends on two criteria: the number of entries required (single or multiple) and the applicant's nationality (African Union national or not). The fees correspond to the official government charges paid directly to the Sierra Leonean authorities. They do not include service fees related to assistance with compiling, verifying and tracking the application.
For nationals outside the African Union, the official government consular fees are approximately 80 USD for a single entry, and approximately 160 USD for multiple entries. For African nationals (African Union), preferential rates apply: approximately 25 USD for a single entry, and approximately 50 USD for multiple entries. The exact amounts in euros are communicated to you when your file is opened, as government fees may change slightly.
The standard processing time is 2 to 5 business days from the complete and compliant submission of the application. This period may vary depending on the time of year, the volume of applications processed by the Sierra Leonean consular services, or any additional verification required. To anticipate any complications, it is advisable to submit the complete application approximately 15 days before the departure date.
The e-Visa is valid for 365 days from its date of issue. As long as you enter Sierra Leone before this expiry date, your precise travel dates can change freely within the validity period of the document. The maximum length of stay authorised per entry is 90 days.
06 · Before you go
Beyond obtaining the e-Visa, a trip to Sierra Leone requires some specific preparations. Sierra Leone is today considered one of the safest and most welcoming countries in West Africa. The civil war, which ended in 2002, belongs to a distant past. Travellers are very often struck by the warmth and kindness of the local welcome. As with any international destination, it is advisable to apply the usual precautionary rules: avoid isolated areas at night, keep an eye on valuables, follow the advice of local guides.
Here are the key elements to check and prepare before your departure, based on the official e-Visa conditions and the information contained in the source.
If you wish to extend your stay beyond the initial duration of your e-Visa, an extension request must be made at the main Immigration office in Freetown before your current visa expires. Local administrative fees apply.
The Sierra Leone e-Visa is valid for 365 days from its issue date. As long as you enter the country before the expiry date, your precise travel dates can change freely. If in doubt, contact your service provider.
If you are planning an itinerary combining Sierra Leone with neighbouring Guinea or Liberia, the multiple-entry e-Visa is the most suitable option. It is valid for 1 year and allows successive stays of a maximum of 90 days.
Sierra Leone is today considered one of the safest and most peaceful destinations in West Africa. The warmth of the local welcome is one of the first impressions travellers report. The usual precautionary rules (avoiding isolated areas at night, keeping an eye on personal belongings) remain relevant, as with any international destination.
The Sierra Leonean authorities occasionally encounter difficulties maintaining a continuous and fully reliable service on their e-Visa application platform. Outages or slowdowns may require several attempts before finalising the submission. Plan sufficiently in advance — at least 15 days before your departure — to absorb any such issues without jeopardising your trip. In the event of repeated difficulties, call on a specialist assistance service to secure and accelerate the processing of your application.
The Sierra Leone e-Visa is an entirely digital procedure, accessible to virtually all nationalities worldwide outside ECOWAS. It is straightforward in its design, but requires good forward planning: the standard processing time is 2 to 5 business days, and the government platform may occasionally experience technical instability. Submit your complete application at least 15 days before your departure to have a comfortable buffer.
The major point to be vigilant about is yellow fever vaccination, which is mandatory to cross the border on arrival — with a minimum of 10 days between vaccination and entry into the country. Without an up-to-date vaccination record, you risk a straightforward refusal of entry.
If your itinerary includes several countries in the region (Guinea, Liberia), the multiple-entry e-Visa — valid for 1 year, stays of a maximum of 90 days — is the option to prioritise. In all cases, print at least two copies of your approved e-Visa: one for the airline, one for immigration at Freetown-Lungi. Also keep a digital version online in case of need.
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