Sierra Leone is a West African country located on the Atlantic ocean. Because of its location, it’s not surprising that it has one of the most beautiful white-sand beaches and scenic views. With a lot of natural resources that you could visit, it is difficult to decide which one you should go to first. But before thinking about your itinerary, you should also remember that going there is not that easy as American citizens need to get a visa.

In this article, we listed down the main things that you should know in order to apply for a Sierra Leon Tourist Visa. This would help you prepare your requirements before submitting your application.

Facts about Sierra Leone

Language

The official language in Sierra Leone is English. However, Krio is the most widely spoken among Sierra Leoneans. They use English in schools, government, or media. So people can still understand English, plus Krio is pretty much the same with English since it is the basis of the Krio language.

Currency

Sierra Leonean leone

Religion

The vast majority of Sierra Leone are Muslims, followed by Christians, and the rest are followers of traditional African religion.

Main Requirements in Applying for Sierra Leone Tourist Visa

1. A valid passport. (must be valid for the next 6 months)

2. Signed and completed the visa application form.

3. Only one recent passport size picture.

4. Copy of a yellow fever vaccine certificate (You can check here for the yellow fever vaccination clinics near you.)

5. Self Address prepaid trackable return label and envelope. Please note that it should be TRACKABLE and please remember the tracking number so you can monitor your package.

Visa Fee

All American passport holders are granted 3-year multiple entry visas which costs $160.

If you wish to expedite your visa, you need to pay for an additional $50. Please remember that you must submit the requirements by 12 noon, so you can pick them up by 3 pm.

Mode of Payment: Money order or cashier’s check only made payable to the Embassy of Sierra Leone. The consular doesn’t accept cash as payment.

*All fees are non-refundable. Please pay the exact amount.

Processing time: The processing time may take for up to 4-5 business days.

Embassy in the United States

Address: 1701 19th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-1605
Contact number:
Tel: 202-939-9261
Fax: 202-483-1793

Office hours:
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM (Mon-Fri)

Consular hours:
10:00 AM - 03:00 PM (Mon-Fri)

Frequently Asked Questions on Applying for a Sierra Leone Visa

1. When should I apply for a Sierra Leone Tourist Visa?

It is advisable to apply for a visa at least a month before your target travel date.

2. Is it safe to travel to Sierra Leone?

Comparing to other West African countries, Sierra Leone is a lot safer. Violent crimes are rare, and people are friendly. Although you still need to be cautious all the time, wandering around the country is relatively safe. If you’re planning to travel outside Freetown, just remember to always be vigilant. As much as possible, don’t show any signs of wealthiness. To know more about the precautionary measure that you should practice when you’re in Sierra Leone, click here.

3. Should I get travel insurance before my departure?

Yes, we encourage you to get travel insurance wherever you go.

4. How to get there?

Sadly, there are no direct flights going to Sierra Leone. You need a connecting flight from your city. Check Skyscanner to see more available flights. The main airport in the said country is Lungi International Airport, internationally known as Freetown International Airport (FNA). However, this airport is not located in Freetown. It is located in Lungi, a small town in Sierra Leone. There’s a river that separates FNA from Freetown, this is the Sierra Leone River.

There are several ways to go to Freetown; by water or by land. If you want a quick trip, you can travel by water. You can choose, a ferry, water taxi, or a private speedboat, the travel time may vary depending on what you want to use. The cheapest of these methods is the ferry, but the travel time may take for almost an hour. If you’re not comfortable traveling by water, you can choose to travel by land. However, the travel time is much longer. It can get up to 3 to 5 hours depending on the traffic and road condition. Just remember that car rental my not be a good idea since it is limited at the airport. Pre-booking private car is advisable and much easier.

5. When is the best time to visit Sierra Leone?

Traveling to Sierra Leone on the wet season is obviously not a good idea. So of course, we need to avoid those days. The wet season occurs from May-October, the rest is the dry season. November to January are the best months to visit as these are the coolest months.

6. Will I have a hard time communicating with the locals?

Even though Krio is widely used in Sierra Leone, people can still communicate in English. You can ensure that Sierra Leoneans can speak and understand the language. Communicating with the locals won’t be a problem.

7. How can I go around the area?

The main transportations in Sierra Leone are buses or trains. You can get around the area using these public vehicles. But if you want more privacy, you can use taxis or rent a car. But you need to pay more.

8. Why should I visit Sierra Leone?

Boasting with beautiful natural resources, Sierra Leone offers the most amazing experiences you would never think of. The pristine beaches and the wildlife it has is surely unmissable. If you want a relaxing vacation, go ahead and visit River Number Two Beach. Yes, that’s the name of the beach, it is the most popular and most crowded beach in Sierra Leone. But the aesthetic views that it offers is purely insane. Visit sanctuaries and get closer to wildlife especially chimpanzees. This will surely be the highlight of your trip.

Sierra Leoneans are also known to be so friendly and welcoming to tourists. You’d definitely enjoy staying there as they would make you feel at home.

Sierra Leone is not only a vacation spot but going there is an adventure. An experience you shouldn’t miss. So if you’re thinking of planning a trip there, go ahead and apply for that visa.