Sierra Leone resident permit

The Unified Permit portal states that all foreign nationals residing, studying or investing in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days need a resident permit. Short visits on the 30-day eVisa or an embassy visa do not cover this, and the eVisa cannot be extended, so anyone moving to Sierra Leone for a job, a posting with an NGO, studies or a business should plan the permit from the start. The Immigration Department's FAQ sends every permit and residency request to this portal.

The portal classifies applicants by nationality group (ECOWAS, other African, all others) and by the role or sector they work in. Sectors listed for resident permits include mining, energy, aviation and travel, marine and fishing, casinos and betting, telecommunications and mobile money, general merchandise, banking and insurance, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing, construction and quarrying, garages and car dealers, private security, water drilling, agriculture, educational institutions, consultancy and research, sports, health services, journalism, wildlife, domestic staff, hawkers, NGOs, faith-based organisations and missionaries, and a separate category for housewives, children and adult dependants. Diplomatic and consular missions and international organisations are handled outside the price list.

Selecting a non-African nationality in the portal's price checker returns these resident permit amounts in US dollars: USD 1,000 for mining, energy, aviation, marine, casino and mobile companies; USD 700 for general merchandise, banking, hotels, manufacturing, construction, garages, security companies, water drilling and agricultural companies; USD 350 for educational institutions, consultancy and research, sports, health services, journalism, wildlife, domestic staff, hawkers and NGOs or missionaries; and USD 200 for housewives, children and adult dependants. Fees are paid online at the end of the application.

First register at the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) to obtain your NIN and an active Non-National ID card. Then create an account on the portal with an email address or mobile number, choose the resident permit (or both residence and work permits), complete the guided form, upload the documents such as your passport, employment letter and photos, and pay. Applications can be tracked online, and the permit card is collected at the location the portal indicates. The portal reported in October 2025 that it had added real-time tracking and a mobile app.

Questions about documents can be sent to info@constratsl.com, and the portal's phone support is +232 30 300003; Constrat Systems SL is named by the Immigration Department as its residency permit service provider. The Immigration Department headquarters is at 14 Gloucester Street, Freetown.