Passports and travel documents for Sierra Leone

Passport validity for visitors

The sources count the six months in different ways. Check the strictest rule that applies to you.

When you can be refused entry

The UK government says you will be denied entry without a valid travel document or if you use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen ¹. Visits for purposes other than tourism or business need a visa obtained before travel ¹.

ECOWAS citizens enter Sierra Leone without a visa, under a September 2019 policy reported by Africanews ⁶. Visa fees and the eVisa are covered on the visa page.

Applying for or renewing a Sierra Leone passport

The Immigration Department runs passport applications online ³. Its site says applicants buy a voucher, complete the application online and then book biometrics for issue or renewal ³. A notice dated 1 March 2026 says the online form cannot be submitted without a valid voucher code and that applicants should have their documents ready before booking biometrics ⁵.

The fees page lists issue or renewal at 100 USD or 2,280 leones, at a rate of 1 USD to 22.8 leones ⁴. It says prices may change with the exchange rate and all payments must go through approved channels ⁴. The page carries no date ⁴. It does not list express service, children's passports or lost passport fees ⁴.

• Buy a voucher through the official voucher channel and keep the code safe ^3,7.
• Start the online application and attach the required documents ⁷.
• Book a biometrics appointment ^3,7.
• Track the application online ³.

Dual nationals

The US Department of State says dual US and Sierra Leonean nationals must show proof of payment of taxes on Sierra Leone revenue before they are cleared to leave ². The UK government says British citizens returning to the UK must carry a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement ¹.

Lost or stolen passports

The UK government says the Sierra Leone Police charge foreign nationals a fee for police reports ⁸. It advises not to pay the police directly but to pay into the Sierra Leone Police Revenue Generation Fund account at the Bank of Sierra Leone and get a receipt ⁸. There is no charge to report a crime if you do not need a crime reference number ⁸.

The Immigration Department lists an emergency hotline, +23275898686, and its headquarters at 14 Gloucester Street, Freetown ³. Its advisory of 15 January 2026 says travellers should allow extra time for clearance at some points of entry ⁵.