Sierra Leone eVisa

The eVisa is a multi-entry electronic travel authorisation for short stays, available to all countries except ECOWAS members. Applicants need a passport from a permitted country with at least six months remaining from the date of entry. The service is run by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Liverpool Street, Freetown.

The terms of the portal limit the eVisa to tourist and business purposes; it is not a work visa and you must not take up paid employment during the visit. You must be able to support yourself and any dependants while in Sierra Leone, hold a valid email address so that the Immigration Department can reach you, and arrive at the border with the same passport you used for the application. Approval is at the sole discretion of the Chief Immigration Officer, and paying the fee does not guarantee it.

The platform's visa information lists two fee groups. Non-African Union nationals pay USD 80 for a single-entry visa, valid for 90 days with a 30-day stay, and USD 160 for a multiple-entry visa, valid for 365 days with 30-day stays; African Union nationals pay USD 25 and USD 50 for the same options. An online processing fee (a percentage plus a fixed charge) and GST are added. Payment is by any major credit or debit card, which does not have to be in your name. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Select your nationality and visa type, fill in the application, upload the required documents and pay. Status updates are sent by email and can be seen in My Applications after logging in with your email and last name. Once approved, the visa is issued on arrival at the terminal or border; carry a copy of the eVisa on your first arrival. Biometric details are captured on arrival, and entry remains at the discretion of the immigration officer.

An eVisa cannot be extended, so the 30-day stay per entry is a firm limit. Anyone who plans to live, study, invest or work in the country has to use the residence and work permit services of the Unified Permit portal instead. Travellers who prefer a visa in their passport before departure can apply to the Sierra Leone embassy or high commission responsible for their country of residence, under that mission's own procedure and fees.

The portal lists the main grounds for denial: an incomplete application or missing supporting documents, doubts about the applicant's qualifications and intent, fraud or misrepresentation, previous unlawful presence, and health-related or criminal-related reasons. An application containing false or misleading information is rejected and may be shared with the authorities. A refused applicant is not refunded, and once submitted to the government an application can no longer be cancelled.

The validity period differs from the length of stay: you may enter at any time within the validity, but if you want to enter earlier than the date on the visa you must apply again. If the eVisa expires before you enter, a new application and fee are required. Details on the visa must match your travel document exactly, otherwise it is invalid and not refunded. The eVisa is valid for entry through all airports and seaports.

Questions about an eVisa application or the refund policy go to info@slid.gov.sl or +232 30 769115, a line the portal says is staffed around the clock. The Immigration Department headquarters is at 14 Gloucester Street, Freetown. The department warns applicants to use only its official portals and payment channels and not to share codes or personal details with unverified third parties.