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Journey planner: Freetown International Airport and Freetown

Freetown International Airport is at Lungi, across a wide estuary from Freetown 1. Travellers cross by water taxi, by the Tagrin to Kissy ferry or by road 1. This planner sets out each option in both directions and names who runs each step. Three groups cover health, passport, customs and money checks before travel and at the airport 3,10. Fares appear only where an official or dated source gives them. The National Tourist Board fare dates from a page last modified on 9 September 2024 2.

Last checked 24 October 2026

01 Before you fly, both directions

  1. File the health declaration

    Complete the Health Declaration Form on the Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal not more than 72 hours before the date of travel 10. Keep the QR code or reference number and show it if asked 3.

    Who: National Public Health Agency

  2. Give your seat number

    The UK government asks travellers to give accurate travel details on the form, including the seat number where possible 3.

    Who: Traveller

  3. Check passport validity

    The Immigration Department advised on 28 January 2026 that passports should have at least 6 months validity before travel 13. The UK government counts the six months from the date of the visa application 3.

    Who: Sierra Leone Immigration

  4. Carry the yellow fever card

    The portal says a yellow fever card is mandatory for travel to or from Sierra Leone 10.

    Who: National Public Health Agency

02 Arrival checks at Lungi

  1. Expect health screening

    Travellers may be screened on arrival, and Sierra Leone has brought in enhanced Ebola screening for arriving travellers 3.

    Who: Point of Entry Health staff

  2. Get help with the form

    Point of Entry Health staff can help passengers who have trouble with the health declaration, MyJoyOnline reported on 8 July 2026 14.

    Who: Point of Entry Health staff

  3. Declare goods

    Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty 3. The Customs Act, 2011 lets passengers make the declaration orally to an officer 12.

    Who: Customs officers, National Revenue Authority

  4. Change money at a licensed bureau

    The Bank of Sierra Leone lists Tap Foreign Exchange Bureau Limited and Zion Foreign Exchange Bureau Company Limited at the airport 11. Only banks and licensed bureaux may trade foreign currency, and street trading is prohibited 15.

    Who: Licensed foreign exchange bureaux

03 Water taxi, airport to Freetown

  1. Clear arrivals

    Have a visa or eVisa and a yellow fever vaccination certificate ready for arrival checks 3. The visa on arrival costs US$80 in cash 3.

    Who: Sierra Leone Immigration

  2. Board the courtesy bus

    Water taxi operators run a courtesy bus from the airport to the departure point on Lungi beach 1.

    Who: Sea Coach Express or SeaBird

  3. Pay the fare

    The National Tourist Board listed US$45 including the transfer from the airport to the dock, on a page last modified 9 September 2024 2.

    Who: Sea Coach Express or SeaBird

  4. Cross the estuary

    The crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on boat size, according to the UK government 1. The tourist board gives 20 to 30 minutes 2.

    Who: Sea Coach Express or SeaBird

04 Water taxi, Freetown to airport

  1. Book for your flight

    Water taxi services are scheduled around flight departures 1.

    Who: Sea Coach Express or SeaBird

  2. Allow for weather

    Rough seas in the rainy season, May to October, can delay or cancel boats 1.

    Who: Sea Coach Express or SeaBird

  3. Cross and take the bus

    After the crossing a courtesy bus runs from the Lungi beach arrival point to the airport 1.

    Who: Sea Coach Express or SeaBird

  4. Pay departure taxes through the ticket

    The ticket issuer collects the Foreign Travel Tax 4. The undated NRA website gives 10% of the normal return fare, and the October 2022 NRA guide gives US$25 to US$250 4,16. The US$25 security fee was suspended from 6 July 2026 5.

    Who: National Revenue Authority and ticket issuer

05 Departure checks at Lungi

  1. File the exit declaration

    The health declaration applies to everyone leaving Sierra Leone as well as those arriving 3,10.

    Who: National Public Health Agency

  2. Declare precious stones

    Leaving with precious stones needs an export licence 3.

    Who: Customs officers, National Revenue Authority

  3. Dual nationals show tax proof

    Dual US and Sierra Leonean nationals must show proof of paying taxes on Sierra Leone revenue before clearance to leave 7.

    Who: Sierra Leone authorities

  4. Allow extra time

    The Immigration Department advised on 15 January 2026 that operational changes may affect processing times at select points of entry 13.

    Who: Sierra Leone Immigration

06 Ferry, Tagrin and Kissy

  1. Travel from the airport to Tagrin

    A 2009 report for the UK government put the Tagrin ferry point about 20 km from the airport 6.

    Who: Road transport

  2. Take the ferry

    The ferry between Tagrin and Kissy Town takes about one hour and runs only when there is enough demand 1.

    Who: Ferry operators at Kissy

  3. Know who sets fares

    The 2009 report said Kissy ferry fares were fixed by the Ministry of Transport 6. No current official fare was found.

    Who: Ministry of Transport and Aviation

  4. Watch your belongings

    The US Department of State says petty crime and pickpocketing are very common on the ferry to and from the airport 7.

    Who: Traveller

  5. Return the same way

    From Freetown the ferry leaves from Kissy for Tagrin on the Lungi side 1.

    Who: Ferry operators at Kissy

07 Road, both directions

  1. Arrange a vehicle in advance

    No car hire is available at the airport 1.

    Who: Traveller or host organisation

  2. Drive around the estuary

    The road trip takes about three hours 1. The Logistics Cluster describes a paved road to the city 8.

    Who: Private driver

  3. Travel in daylight

    The UK government advises daylight travel in a well-maintained vehicle with doors locked 1. British High Commission staff do not drive the route after dark 1.

    Who: Traveller

  4. Share your plan

    Tell someone your expected arrival time and what to do if you do not arrive 1.

    Who: Traveller

08 Past services, historical

  1. Helicopter and hovercraft, 2009

    In 2009 a helicopter charged US$70 and the Pelican water taxi US$40. A hovercraft had charged US$50 and was not running 6.

    Who: UTair and Intercity Airlines helicopter, Diamond Airlines hovercraft, Pelican

  2. Sierra Princess fast ferry, 2016

    Westminster Group said in September 2016 that the Sovereign Ferries vessel Sierra Princess would serve Tagrin, Kissy and Government Wharf with crossings of about 20 minutes 9.

    Who: Sovereign Ferries

Notes

  • Crossing times differ between sources. The UK government gives 30 to 45 minutes 1 and the National Tourist Board gives 20 to 30 minutes 2.
  • Water taxi fares can change. The US$45 fare comes from a page last modified on 9 September 2024 2.
  • The FCDO advises against wooden pirogues, canoes and other unregulated boats 1.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@sierraleoneairportguide.com.

Sources

  1. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Sierra Leone travel advice, safety and security (updated 19 June 2026)
  2. National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone: Getting there and around (last modified 9 September 2024)
  3. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Sierra Leone travel advice, entry requirements (updated 19 June 2026)
  4. National Revenue Authority: Foreign Travel Tax (undated, viewed 24 October 2026)
  5. Premier News SL, as reported by Matthew Bakarr: Government Suspends USD 25 Airport Security Fee (6 July 2026)
  6. TI-UP Resource Centre for UK Government: Sierra Leone Airport Transfers Project due diligence final report (17 August 2009)
  7. US Department of State: Sierra Leone international travel information (undated, viewed 24 October 2026)
  8. Logistics Cluster: Logistics Capacity Assessment, Sierra Leone aviation section (undated, viewed 24 October 2026)
  9. Westminster Group PLC company statement: Sierra Princess inaugural voyage (13 September 2016)
  10. National Public Health Agency: Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal (official portal, viewed 24 October 2026)
  11. Bank of Sierra Leone: Directory of financial institutions, foreign exchange bureaux (undated, viewed 24 October 2026)
  12. SierraLII: Customs Act, 2011 (assent 11 August 2011)
  13. Sierra Leone Immigration Department: Notices and advisories (notices dated 15 January to 1 March 2026)
  14. MyJoyOnline, as reported by Emmanuel Tetteh: Sierra Leone introduces mandatory online health declaration for all travellers (8 July 2026)
  15. Bank of Sierra Leone: Prohibition of foreign currency transactions by unlicensed operators, Government Notice No. 32 (3 March 2020)
  16. National Revenue Authority: Tax and Non-Tax Revenue Guide, second edition (October 2022), copy hosted by Policy Vault