Sierra Leonean visa resources
How to Apply for a Sierra Leone Visa or Permit
A plain-language overview of where and how to apply for entry visas, permits and passports, using only Sierra Leone's official government portals.
Important
Sierra Leone handles different immigration needs through different official portals, all run by or with the Sierra Leone Immigration Department (SLID). Short-stay entry visas (tourist, business and transit) are applied for online through the official eVisa portal at evisa.sl. Work and residence permits, including business and family residence, are applied for and renewed through the Unified Permit portal at unifiedpermit.gov.sl. Sierra Leonean passports are handled through the passport service.
In general you create an application on the relevant portal, complete the form, upload the requested documents, pay the fee through an approved channel and keep your reference number to track progress. Some nationalities can instead obtain a visa on arrival, and ECOWAS citizens can enter without a visa for short visits.
Always confirm the current document checklist, fee and permitted stay inside the live portal before paying, and use only official portals and approved payment channels.
Which portal to use
- Tourist, business or transit visit: official eVisa portal, evisa.sl
- Work, residence, business or family permit: Unified Permit portal, unifiedpermit.gov.sl
- Passport services: SLID passport service
- General guidance and FAQs: slid.gov.sl
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.