Byevisa » Sierra Leone Tourist Visa

An eVisa is required. We can assist in processing this document.

Travel Document Type

eVisa (Single Entry)

Government Fee

USD 25.00 – 80.00 (Depends on Nationality)

Byevisa Processing Fee

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Processing Time

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Are you planning to visit Sierra Leone? Whether you want to experience the nightlife in the seaside capital Freetown, watch chimps play at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary or relax at one of the spectacular beaches, it’s likely you will need to get a visa first.

Fortunately, in 2019, the government introduced a new online e-Visa (Electronic Visa), which can be acquired before arrival to avoid queues and delays at the border. Over 200 nationalities can apply for this electronic document, including the USA, UK, EU Member States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.

The eVisa permits visits of up to 30 days, and is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. It’s a Single Entry travel permit, so you can only enter and exit the country once.

On the other hand, 40 countries including South Africa and Madagascar aren’t currently eligible for this type of electronic document, and will need to get your travel permit from the nearest embassy.

Meanwhile, citizens of countries that are part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are visa-exempt for Sierra Leone.

Whichever entry regulations apply to you, read on to learn more about the visa requirements for this country, and how to get your travel pass if you need one!

What Is the Difference Between a Standard Visa and the Electronic Version?

The main difference between these 2 documents is the process required to get them.

On the one hand, to get an eVisa the process is entirely online, so you can get it from the comfort of your home or anywhere else you may be. Then, the permit is sent by email, so you simply need to print it out, and you will be good to go! It’s quick and easy, and most countries worldwide can benefit from it.

On the other hand, some countries need to visit an embassy or consulate and go through the process of getting a standard visa stamped into their passport. This frequently takes longer and includes an appointment and interview at the embassy.

Sierra Leone Visa Requirements and Eligibility

To make sure you have the documents you need before travelling, it’s important to check the requirements for your specific nationality. Below, we have outlined which nationalities need a standard visa, which can apply for an electronic version and which can visit without needing to get any travel permits.

Check Visa Eligibility

Sierra Leone visa-free countries (part of the Economic Community of West African States):

  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cape Verde
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Liberia
  • Mali
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Senegal
  • Togo

Countries that can apply for the e-Visa:

Afghanistan
Åland Islands
Albania
American Samoa
Andorra
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar

Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Myanmar
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway

Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

Countries that need to process an embassy visa:

Algeria
Angola
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Lesotho
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mayotte
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Reunion

Rwanda
Saint Helena
Sao Tome and Principe
Seychelles
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Tunisia
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Visa for Sierra Leone Application Process

As we mentioned, there are different kinds of travel documents issued to visit this stunning hidden treasure of the African continent. So let’s take a look at the application processes for each one.

E-visa application

The online visa application is quick and easy with Byevisa. Just follow these 4 steps, and you will be ready to fly off to the land of rare pygmy hippos in no time at all:

  • Complete the online application form.
  • Pay the corresponding fee.
  • Wait to receive your travel document via email.
  • Print it out and take it with you when you travel.

It’s as simple as that! The introduction of this new online system has greatly reduced the time and costs of getting the necessary travel authorisation, making travelling to the country much more hassle-free.

Available Soon

Sierra Leone embassy visa application

If you need to get authorisation in person at the embassy to visit, please remember that it can take several weeks for it to be processed, so make sure you allow plenty of time and apply well in advance. These are the steps you should follow for this type of document:

  • Make an appointment at your nearest embassy.
  • Fill out the application form.
  • Attend your embassy interview with the application form and supporting documents.
  • Collect the document or receive it by post.

In some cases, you may be able to receive your passport with the approved document by post by including a prepaid and tracked envelope in your application. However, this will depend on your country of residency and the policies of the local embassy, so please check with them beforehand.

Visa for Sierra Leone Application Form and Documents

In this section, we will look at all the information and documents you will need to provide when you apply for the different travel permits.

e-Visa

This is a Single-Entry document which allows a stay of up to 30 days in the country and it is valid for 90 days from the moment it is approved.
Before you start the application process, please see below the information you will need to fill out in the application form.

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Nationality
  • Country of residence
  • Email address
  • Passport number
  • Passport expiry date
  • Date of entry
  • Address and phone number of where you will be staying
  • Next of kin information

You will also need to upload a scanned image of your passport information page, so make sure you prepare this beforehand. In addition, don’t forget to check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date.

Standard Visa

The application form for the standard permit is very similar to the one listed above, and you will need to provide much of the same information. In addition to what we have already mentioned, you will also need to provide the following:

  • A travel itinerary
  • A passport-sized photo
  • Return flight ticket or onward travel booking
  • Yellow Fever Certificate

Please note that anyone entering the country must have an International Vaccination Certificate showing they are vaccinated against yellow fever. You may be asked to show this upon arrival at border controls.

Sierra Leone Visa Status Check

Once you have submitted an application on Byevisa’s page, you will be able to check the progress by following these simple steps:

  • Click Log In in the top right corner of our main menu.
  • Enter your email address and the ID code sent to you when you completed the application.
  • Write your inquiry and submit it.

As soon as we have an update, we will be in touch with you via email. In any case, you receive your document by email when it’s approved. Please only submit an inquiry if the deadline has passed and you haven’t heard from us.

Sierra Leone Visa Cost

The cost for the travel document depends on which processing speed you choose and which country you are travelling from. The government charges 2 types of fee:

  • African countries: 25 USD
  • Non-African countries: 80 USD

In addition, Byevisa charges a service fee for taking care of all the paperwork for you. Here are the service options:

  • Highly Rapid: processed in X business days for X USD
  • Rapid: processed in X business days for X USD
  • Standard: processed in X business days for X USD

When you apply through our website, you can select the option that best suits your needs. Therefore, to calculate the overall cost, you should add up the government fee and the service fee.

More Online Sierra Leone Visa Questions and Information

We hope you found the information on this page useful. In case you still have some doubts and concerns, we have put together the answers to all our most frequently asked questions below.

The e-Visa to visit this country is valid for up to 30 days. If you wish to stay longer, you can apply for an extension when you are there at the nearest embassy.
From the moment it’s approved, the e-Visa is valid for 90 days, so you must travel within this time frame. With this in mind, we offer 3 processing options depending on your needs: Highly Rapid, Rapid and Standard.
On the official website, you can find details about the requirements and processes to enter the country. To make things easier for you, we have gathered everything you need to know on this page, so you have all the information in one place.
Yes, it’s a good idea to have a paper copy with you as well. Once you arrive in the country, you will need to show the document at border controls.
The processing time depends on the type of service you select. After completing the application form, you will be asked to choose between our Standard, Rapid and Highly Rapid services. If you’re unsure of what you selected, you can find out by checking the email confirmation.
If your application is denied, it could be due to missing or incorrect information in your application, in which case you could reapply. You can contact us to inquire about your circumstances and options.
You need to have at least 6 months validity on your passport at the time of entering the country. If you see your passport is due to expire, you need to renew your passport before you apply for your entry permit.
If you have dual citizenship, you can apply as described above. Just make sure you travel on the same passport you used for your application.
Yes, though the eVisa is much more convenient to obtain. This is because you get the online visa in advance from any internet-connected device, while you only apply for the VoA once you arrive at customs.
US citizens wishing to visit Sierra Leone are eligible for an e-Visa. Byevisa can help you get the document online before you travel in a few simple steps.
Yes, British citizens are eligible for the electronic travel document. If you are planning a visit, you can start the application process right away with Byevisa, without the hassle of embassy appointments or long queues at borders.
For your reference, here is an example of the visa:
We hope you found this page useful. Below we have included links to other relevant articles for you. We update this section regularly, so don’t forget to check back.
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