How to Apply for a Sierra Leone Visa in Savannah

Sierra Leone -- considered West Africa’s best-kept beach destination secret -- is leveraging its natural attractions and resources to attract more tourists and businesspeople from the Savannah area. 

“Sweet sands rise from the soft waters of the Atlantic, with the backdrop dressed in sun-stained hues, rainforest green and the red, red roads of the north.” Lonely Planet wrote of Sierra Leone. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/sierra-leone) The publication added, “You can take your pick from islands, rainforests, and national parks; museums, great restaurants, and cultural activities also beckon.  And if taking it easy is more your speed, well, you’ll fit right in: as Sierra Leoneans will tell you, there’s nothing better than chilling on one of the gorgeous beaches, soaking up the sun – and the natural beauty.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-things-to-do-in-sierra-leone)

The Republic of Sierra Leone is bordered by Guinea, Liberia, and the Atlantic Ocean.  A small country covering about 28,200 square miles, Sierra Leone (Portuguese for “lioness mountain”) is a culturally diverse country of 8.8 million people and 18 ethnic groups.  More than one percent of the population consists of Creoles (descendants of freed African-Americans), freed Afro-Caribbean slaves, and liberated Africans.  English remains the official language, but 98% of people speak the local dialect, Krio.

This area of West Africa has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years.  European traders began visiting the area in the 15th Century, establishing outposts that evolved into slave trading centers.  Over time, the region came under British rule.  The current national borders were established in two phases.  In 1808, after most countries abolished slavery, the Sierra Leone Colony was established along the coast as a location to resettle returning Africans.  In the 1880s, an inland protectorate was added, creating the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate.  The territory gained independence from Great Britain in 1961 as the Republic of Sierra Leone.  The country generally has enjoyed a peaceful history, marred only by an 11-year civil war that ended in 2002.

Natural resources power the republic’s $8.4 billion economy -- particularly the mining of gold, diamond, bauxite, aluminum and rutile (titanium ore) -- and mining remains the top foreign exchange-earning sector.  However, two-thirds of Sierra Leoneans work in agriculture and fishing, which accounts for 58% of GDP, while industry and services roughly split the remainder of the economy.

The country provides substantial opportunities for investment and development, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA). “The country is gifted with a favorable tropical climate with fertile soil advantageous for agriculture, an extensive continental shelf with numerous varieties of fishery resources, a natural environment offering tourism prospects, and vast mineral resources,” ITA stated.  The top potential for Savannah-based firms lies in five sectors: agriculture, fisheries, mining, tourism, and public infrastructure. “There are also several opportunities for investment in physical and digital public infrastructure,” ITA continued.  The government is prioritizing public-private partnerships for sizeable infrastructure development projects in energy, water, roads, ports, and telecommunications.  Leaders also have a diversification initiative to attract investment in agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure and tourism.  ITA added, “In the tourism sector, priority areas are investment in the hospitality industry, rehabilitation of historical and cultural sites, and promotion of tourism-based activities that link with the rural economy.” (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/sierra-leone-market-opportunities-1)

While tourism has only been a small part of Sierra’s Leone economy, government initiatives such as encouraging new investment and adding an electronic visa option aim to better promote leisure travel. “For a small country, Sierra Leone has no shortage of fabulous places to visit,” Lonely Planet noted. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-to-visit-in-sierra-leone) Many Americans from cities like Savannah are discovering their ancestral connection to Sierra Leone, creating opportunities to develop their tourism industry as more people travel here.  Sierra Leone has even offered full citizenship to those Americans with DNA test results linking them to one of the country’s ethnic groups.  Some residents of Georgia and South Carolina share a special bond with Sierra Leone.  Coastal rice planters prioritized slaves with experience growing rice, and those from Sierra Leone led the continent in rice cultivation.  The descendants of those former rice planting-slaves were the forerunners of the Gullah people of the Georgia-Carolina coast.  The country is also popular with residents of Great Britain and the Caribbean who want to understand their ancestral history and culture -- and simply enjoy the white sand beaches and turquoise waters.

Freetown, the most visited city in Sierra Leone, is also the capital, largest city, and site of the country’s only international airport.  The city is also convenient to most of the country’s top attractions.  Freetown Peninsula contains numerous popular beaches, including Lumley-Aberdeen, Laka, Tokeh, Bureh, and Mama.  The rainforests of Western Area Peninsula Park surround the 100-acre Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and its large collection of rare and endangered chimps.  Other top Freetown tourist sites for Savannah-based travelers include Bunce Island, which contains the ruins of a slave fortress; historic Krio architecture; the coastal Sea Coach Express railway; and the Sierra Leone and National Railway museums.  Shop at Big Markit, the country’s oldest bazaar, or walk Tower Hill for panoramic views of the city.  The road linking Aberdeen and Lumley is also a vibrant nightlife district with restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, and plenty of fresh-caught seafood.

Sierra Leone does not currently have any UNESCO World Heritage sites but there are several sites on the tentative list under consideration.  Candidates include Bunce Island; Western Area Peninsula National Park; the Golla-Tiwai complex, which contains Gola Rainforest National Park and Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary; and cultural landmarks Old Fourah Bay College Building and Gateway to the Old King’s Yard.

“Many of the best activities take place outdoors, and involve nature and wildlife watching,” Lonely Planet stated.  Outamba-Kilimi, Sierra Leone’s oldest national park, is named for the mountain and river, respectively, which lie within its borders.  It is home to forest elephants, buffalo, Sierra Leonean hippos, chimps, and leopards.  Take a three-hour boat ride to the Turtle Islands, where divers and snorkelers can explore the stunning coral reefs while beach lovers relax in a hammock.  Tiwai Island also requires a trip by speedboat or canoe, but the tiny island offers black-and-white Diana monkeys, bush babies, forest elephants, otters, sea turtles, and 135 species of birds -- plus occasional sightings of pygmy hippos.  Explore Tiwai’s rainforests by day or night through guided beach walks, self-guided trails, or dugout canoe safaris.

“For a small country, Sierra Leone has no shortage of fabulous places to visit,” Lonely Planet reported. “Indeed, depending on the length of your trip, your biggest challenge may well be deciding which ones to leave off your itinerary.”

 

Sierra Leone Visa Requirements

Citizens of the United States and most other countries living in the Savannah area are required to obtain a visa to visit Sierra Leone. (Passport holders from Economic Community of West African States {ECOWAS can enter without a visa or can obtain a visa free of charge.) The primary requirement to obtain a visa is that your signed passport be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry and contain one or more blank pages.

Sierra Leone requires that visitors provide proof of yellow fever vaccination (WHO yellow card).  This link from the Centers for Disease Control website can help you find the nearest clinic offering the yellow fever vaccine: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellow-fever-vaccination-clinics/search.  Other vaccinations recommended by the CDC for Sierra Leone travelers can be found at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/Sierra Leone?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-travel-single-001.

Most visitors to Sierra Leone obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa) online or a traditional physical through an embassy.  While Sierra Leone does allow a one-month visa-on-arrival for certain travelers at Freetown International Airport or some border crossings, issuance is not guaranteed, so obtaining an e-Visa or traditional visa is recommended.

Most visitors entering and leaving Sierra Leone must also pay a $25 security fee to finance airport security. (Infants under the age of two and certain other visitors are exempt from the fee.) You can pay the fee in advance through the Secuipass platform (https://securipass.sl/) or at the airport.  According to the U.S. State Department, payment can also be made with Orange Money or Afrimoney, or at any branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA) or Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB). { https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SierraLeone.html}

 

Option One: Apply Online for an Electronic Visa

Sierra Leone recently introduced a new electronic visa (e-Visa) program that allows you to apply in advance and pick up your visa when you arrive.  The e-Visa program is billed as the first step towards making Sierra Leone a visa-free country, which would make it easier for tourist, business, and other travelers from the Savannah area to enter.

You can apply for an e-Visa at https://www.evisa.sl/#/home.  The basic process is:

  • Get a log-in code. Enter your name and email at the website above, and you will receive a log-in code by return email.  Follow the instructions in the email, and use the code from the email to log into the “My Applications” tab.
  • Fill out the application (also found at https://www.evisa.sl/#/apply). You will need to first select your nationality and type of visa desired (single or multiple entry) to gain access to the application.
  • Complete and submit your application and payment.
  • Receive confirmation of your visa application status via email. If approved, follow the additional instructions in the email.
  • Once approved, your visa will be issued upon arrival at Freetown International Airport or at a border crossing.

The fees vary by country and type of visa (including single- versus multiple-entry).  For example, for passport holders from countries such as the United States that are not members of the African Union, the fees are $80 for a single-entry visa and $160 for multiple-entry.  Those from selected African countries do not pay a visa fee.  Visa fees are payable via major credit card.

E-visa applications can be created for an individual, a family, or a group of people.  Each traveler must obtain a separate visa (even infants who are included on their parents’ passports).  Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you intend to enter Sierra Leone.

 

Option Two: Apply Through the Sierra Leone Embassy

U.S. passport holders and foreign nationals living in Savannah can also obtain a traditional visa through the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C.  Details about the visa can be found at https://embassyoftherepublicofsierraleoneintheunitedstates.kallmania3.multisiteadmin.com/visa-services.

The basic requirements for the visa include:

  • Passport valid for at least six months with one blank page.
  • One recent color passport-sized photo.
  • International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever (yellow card).
  • Copy of round-trip airline tickets or other itinerary.
  • Completed and signed visa application, available at the embassy website above.
  • Business Visa applicants should attach a letter of support from their company.
  • Visa applications for minors (less than 18 years old) must also be accompanied by a copy of their birth certificate, a notarized letter of consent from both parents, and copies of both parents’ government issued IDs (such as a passport or driver’s license.)
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Sierra Leone.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒Order Now.

You can either visit the embassy to apply for a visa or apply by mail.  To learn about business and consular hours and to address questions on submitting an application in person, you can call the phone number or fill out the contact form on the embassy’s online landing page, https://embassyoftherepublicofsierraleoneintheunitedstates.kallmania3.multisiteadmin.com/

If you cannot or prefer not to apply in person, submit your materials by mail using an envelope that includes tracking numbers (such as US Postal Next Day Delivery).  Also include a prepaid self-addressed stamped envelope that includes a tracking number for return mail (unless you plan to pick up your visa and passport at the embassy).  Applicants located outside the United States should use UPS Airway.  The mailing address is:

Embassy of Sierra Leone
1701 19th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009-1605

Phone: +1 202-939-9261

The application process is:

  1. Download and complete the visa application form, which is linked at https://embassyoftherepublicofsierraleoneintheunitedstates.kallmania3.multisiteadmin.com/visa-services.
  2. Compile your documents (passport, photo, yellow fever vaccination certification, visa fees, and self-addressed envelope).
  3. Mail the materials from Step 2 using US Postal Service Next Day Delivery (or drop them off at the embassy)
  4. Use the tracking number from Step 2 to track when your passport is mailed, or pick it up after the embassy notifies you it has been approved. You can start tracking the return envelope three to four days after the embassy receives your package.

Visa fees are payable only by money order or cashier’s check payable to “Embassy of Sierra Leone.” All fees must be paid in U.S. dollars.  U.S. passport holders are granted three-year visas with multiple entries, which carry a $160 fee.  Canadian passport holders can get a single-entry visa valid for six months for $75 or a 12-month multiple-year visa for $150. British passport holders would pay $229 or $523 for the same two options.  Nationals of other countries pay $40 for the single-entry visa or $80 for the multiple-entry visa.  You can also pay an additional $50 for expedited services.

 

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Savannah or anywhere in the state of Georgia and have difficulty applying for a Sierra Leone visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Sierra Leone visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Sierra Leone government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Sierra Leone visa services for our customers in Savannah:

  • Sierra Leone Tourist Visa
  • Sierra Leone Business Visa
  • Sierra Leone Medical Insurance
  • Sierra Leone Flight Tickets
  • Sierra Leone Hotel Accommodations
  • Sierra Leone Packaged Tours