🇸🇱Sierra Leone Visa for Eritrean Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

Work Permit (Employment Permit)

Authorises a foreign national to undertake employment in Sierra Leone for a Sierra Leonean employer or organisation.

Applied for through the Unified Permit portal (unifiedpermit.gov.sl). Mandatory as of January 1, 2026 - all applications and renewals must go through the online platform. Non-ECOWAS fee per SLIEPA FAQ: Employee 3,000,000 Leones; Self-Employed 3,600,000 Leones; renewal 855,000 Leones. ECOWAS nationals: Employee/Self-Employed 1,500,000 Leones. Also referred to as the Employment category under the Unified Permit system.

Business Immigration Quota (BIQ) Permit

Permits foreign investors and business owners to reside and operate businesses in Sierra Leone, with an allocated immigration quota for key personnel.

One of the named categories under the Unified Permit system (unifiedpermit.gov.sl). BIQ allows companies to bring foreign workers up to a quota. Alongside this is the Company Quota (CQ) permit. Specific fees and validity periods are not published on the public-facing pages of unifiedpermit.gov.sl.

Company Quota (CQ) Permit

Allows an established company registered in Sierra Leone to employ foreign nationals against an approved quota of expatriate positions.

One of the named resident-permit categories in Sierra Leone's Unified Permit system, alongside the Business Immigration Quota (BIQ), Employment, Student, and Dependant categories (per the SLIEPA immigration FAQ and unifiedpermit.gov.sl). CQ authorises a registered company to bring in expatriate staff up to an allocated immigration quota, whereas the separate work/employment permit covers an individual employee. Specific fee amounts and validity are not published on the public-facing pages of unifiedpermit.gov.sl. Applications and renewals are online-only as of 1 January 2026.

Student Permit

Authorises a foreign national to reside in Sierra Leone for the purpose of full-time study at an accredited institution.

Named as one of the categories in Sierra Leone's Unified Permit system. Applications and renewals must be submitted online via unifiedpermit.gov.sl as of January 1, 2026. Specific fee amounts, duration, and eligibility requirements are not published on publicly accessible pages of the unified permit portal.

Dependant Permit

Allows family members (dependants) of foreign nationals holding a valid work, business, or resident permit to reside in Sierra Leone.

Listed as a named category in Sierra Leone's Unified Permit system. Intended for spouses and dependent children of permit holders. Applications submitted online via unifiedpermit.gov.sl. Specific eligibility, fees, and durations are not published on publicly accessible portions of the portal.

GO-FOR-GOLD Permanent Residency Programme

Grants immediate Permanent Residency to high-net-worth foreign investors who deposit gold bullion in Sierra Leone government vaults.

Officially announced by SLID in a January 2025 press release. No in-country residency requirement to acquire or retain PR. Includes an upgrade pathway to citizenship. Administered by SLID. Minimum investment amounts appear only on the private operator website (goforgold.center) and are not published on any official *.gov.sl domain. Programme status as of June 2026 is uncertain - SLID website does not actively feature current articles about this programme.

Diplomatic/Service Passport Visa Exemption (China)

Mutual visa exemption for holders of valid PRC diplomatic and service passports travelling to Sierra Leone on official duties.

Based on the Agreement Between China and Sierra Leone on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports, entered into force December 24, 2018. Covers diplomatic and service passports (including public affairs passports) of the PRC. Stays exceeding 30 days require registration with competent authorities. Diplomatic/consular mission members and accredited families are exempt for the duration of their accreditation. Ordinary PRC passport holders are NOT exempt; they qualify for VoA/landing visa under the BRICS category.

Diplomatic/Service/Official Passport Visa Waiver (South Africa)

Mutual visa waiver for holders of South African diplomatic, service, and official passports travelling to Sierra Leone.

Agreed effective November 30, 2023, announced during a courtesy call by South African High Commissioner H.E. Grace Jeanet Mason at MoFAIC Building, Freetown on November 2, 2023. Ordinary South African passport holders qualify for landing visa under the BRICS/AU category. Max stay duration for diplomatic/service/official holders not confirmed - mofaic.gov.sl was inaccessible (ECONNREFUSED) during June 2026 re-validation.

ECOWAS Free Movement Right of Entry

Visa-free entry and right of residence for up to 90 days for citizens of ECOWAS member states, per the 1979 ECOWAS free movement protocol.

Under ECOWAS Protocol A/P.1/5/79 dated May 29, 1979. Citizens of the 14 other ECOWAS member states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo) may enter without a visa and reside up to 90 days. Free landing visa per SLID (slid.gov.sl/landing-visa/, March 2023). Right to reside is granted but does not confer right to employment - a work permit is still required for employment.