Sierra Leone visa options for United Kingdom passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa on arrival
Get the visa at the border on entry.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Sierra Leone
Rules are written for non-ECOWAS foreign nationals; ECOWAS-state citizens enter visa-free for up to 90 days, and some nationalities qualify for free or reduced-fee visa on arrival.
- Tourist
Tourist e-Visa (short-stay)
Up to 30 days per entry; the e-visa is typically valid for 90 days from issuance (verify).
- Insurance
- Recommendednot a stated visa condition, but reputable sources strongly advise travel/medical insurance including medical evacuation given limited local healthcare.
- Good for
- Non-ECOWAS visitors travelling for tourism who want to arrange a visa online before arrival.
- Requirement
- Online application via the official portal (evisa.sl) with passport valid 6+ months and 2 blank pages; single-entry; fee varies by nationality (approx. USD 80-100, verify). Yellow fever vaccination certificate mandatory on entry.
- Tourist
Visa on Arrival (tourism/business/religious)
Single-entry, valid 1 month; extendable after arrival (verify).
- Insurance
- Recommendedsources advise medical/travel insurance with evacuation cover; not a formal visa requirement.
- Good for
- Eligible nationalities arriving for tourism, business or religious activities at Freetown airport or the Gbalamuya (Guinea) / Jendema (Liberia) land borders.
- Requirement
- Issued only at designated entry points; standard fee approx. USD 80 (free or ~USD 25 for some African Union nationals, verify). Not available for work, study or diplomatic purposes. Yellow fever certificate required.
- Business
Business Visa
Short-stay; e-visa/visa-on-arrival single entry typically 30 days / 1 month (multiple-entry available via missions or facilitation, verify).
- Insurance
- Recommendedtravel/medical insurance with evacuation cover advised; not a stated condition.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals visiting for meetings, negotiations or exploring investment (not taking up employment).
- Requirement
- Valid passport and online e-visa or eligible visa on arrival; does not permit paid employment. Yellow fever certificate required.
- Work
Work Permit (employment)
Typically 1 year, renewable annually (verify).
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required - no stated insurance mandate; a medical examination is required and private health cover is advisable. Verify.
- Good for
- Non-citizens taking up employment in Sierra Leone; visas on arrival are not permitted for work, so an entry visa must be arranged in advance through a mission.
- Requirement
- Job offer from a registered employer plus a work permit from the Work Permit Bureau (Ministry of Labour), applied via the Unified Permit portal (unifiedpermit.gov.sl); medical/health examination clearance and clean criminal record generally required. Usually paired with a residence permit.
- Study
Study route (visa + permit)
Tied to the residence permit, typically 1 year renewable (verify - no separate published student e-visa category found).
- Insurance
- Recommendedno stated mandate, but private medical cover advisable. Verify.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals coming to study; study is excluded from visa on arrival, so an entry visa must be arranged in advance and a residence permit obtained for stays over 90 days.
- Requirement
- Entry visa from a Sierra Leonean mission, plus residence permit via the Unified Permit portal once stay exceeds 90 days; admission documents, medical and police clearance generally required. Yellow fever certificate required.
- Residence
Residence Permit (long-stay)
Typically 1 year, must be renewed annually (verify).
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required - no stated insurance mandate; medical report required and private cover advisable. Verify.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals (including ECOWAS citizens) residing, working, studying or investing in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days.
- Requirement
- Application via the Unified Permit portal (unifiedpermit.gov.sl) to the Immigration Department; supporting documents include passport, medical report and police clearance. Working without a valid resident permit is an offence.
- Residence
Permanent Residence
Indefinite (no renewal once granted), per immigration-guide sources (verify with the Immigration Department).
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required - no stated insurance mandate. Verify.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals after several years of continuous lawful residence and stable employment seeking indefinite settlement.
- Requirement
- Extended period of legal residence, stable employment, integration and a clean record; documentation including passport, medical and police clearance. Exact qualifying period not officially published - verify.
- Transit
Transit
Short transit period (verify - no distinct published transit-visa duration found).
- Insurance
- Recommendedtravel/medical insurance advisable; not a stated condition.
- Good for
- Travellers passing through Sierra Leone en route to another destination.
- Requirement
- Onward travel documentation; visa-exempt nationals and e-visa/visa-on-arrival holders transit under those rules. Confirm exact transit-visa rules with the Immigration Department. Yellow fever certificate required.
General guidance compiled from official and reputable sources; fees, durations and entry rules change often, so verify with the Sierra Leone Immigration Department (slid.gov.sl) or a Sierra Leonean mission before travel. Last checked: 2026-06.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Sierra Leone, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
United Kingdom → Sierra Leone: frequently asked
- Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit Sierra Leone?
- Visa on arrival. Get the visa at the border on entry. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a United Kingdom passport holder live or work long-term in Sierra Leone?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Sierra Leone has 8 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Sierra Leone?
- Entry to Sierra Leone never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.