Living in Liberia
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Liberia, including guidance on security, healthcare and driving.
This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Liberia. Read about how our embassy in Monrovia can help.
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Liberian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
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Before you go
See our travel advice for Liberia for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements for Liberia in our travel advice.
See our travel advice on how to apply for a visa to enter Liberia.
Passports and travel
You cannot apply for or renew your British passport from Liberia.
Check the Liberia travel advice for passport validity requirements.
Healthcare in Liberia
Currently there is no healthcare registration for residents in Liberia. However, you can obtain private healthcare cover for Liberia. See a list of medical facilities here.
Medical facilities in Liberia are generally poor. Equipment is basic and often not sterile. You should carry basic medical supplies and consider including an emergency dental kit if travelling outside the capital. For serious medical or dental treatment, medical evacuation to Ghana or Europe is necessary.
There are some well-stocked pharmacies in Monrovia but few outside the capital. Some anti-cancer medications and prescription antibiotics are not available in Liberia but can be ordered from other countries. Some mental health medications are available in Liberia, but are limited. To prevent malaria, mosquito nets are necessary, as are anti-malarial prophylactics.
Make sure you have adequate health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
NOTE: UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any medication, you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Liberia. Certain medicines may not be available in Liberia (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Liberia to find out about any alternative medication.
Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines.
Working in Liberia
If you are planning to move to Liberia and work, you may need a visa. Read the Liberian government’s guidance on working in Liberia as a foreign national and how to get a visa.
To apply for a job, you may need to provide a work permit for which you must apply to the Ministry of Labour. In special cases like benevolent and voluntary work, a work permit may be issued free of charge according to the Minister of Labour’s discretion.
Requirements and procedures to apply for a work permit include:
- a copy of your Residence Permit
- curriculum vitae
- a valid passport plus two passport size photos
- completed application form provided by the Ministry of Labour Liberia
It takes the Ministry of Labour about 2 to 3 weeks to issue the work permit. It will cost $1,000, which is paid annually.
When given the Permit, go to the Liberian Revenue Authority (LRA) to be issued a Tax Identification Number (TIN), which takes about 1 to 2 days to be processed.
After obtaining the TIN you will need to obtain a Social Security number which can be obtained by filling out and submitting an Employee Registration Form 2, which is available at the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) website.
Professional qualifications
Professional and academic qualifications from the UK are recognised in Liberia, and academic credentials are usually verified by contacting the person’s school for confirmation.
You cannot practise law in Liberia. The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) restricts membership to Liberians only.
You can practise medicine in Liberia. To practise, you have to pass an exam by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council, after which a licence to operate would be issued. Medical doctors and healthcare specialists are in demand.
Most NGOs and private companies in Liberia will employ foreign nationals with international experience.
Career opportunities are mostly advertised on The Executive Mansion.
Studying in Liberia
If you plan to study in Liberia, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.
Contact the Ministry of Education Liberia to check what fees you may have to pay.
Tax
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Liberia. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Liberia.
The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) provides detailed information on the tax system, process and procedures in Liberia.
Read guidance on:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad
- tax if you get a pension and live abroad
Paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
Benefits
If you plan to move to Liberia to work, you and your employer will be required to pay social security contributions in Liberia. These social security contributions would entitle you to certain benefits such as healthcare, retirement pension etc.
The National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) administers the Social Security Programme in Liberia. Its website provides details of the three schemes that it administers: Employment Injury Scheme (EIS); National Pension Scheme (NPS); and the Welfare Scheme (WS).
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Pensions
Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
If you retire in Liberia, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.
If you have worked in Liberia and want to claim your pension or other benefits, contact the office of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.
Money and banking
Liberia has a dual currency system. The local currency, which is the Liberian dollar (‘Liberties’/LRD); and the US dollar. Both are acceptable currency in shops. Supermarket prices are in USD. Markets mainly use LRD. Many shops accept cash only.
Only the bigger hotels and supermarket in Monrovia accept Visa cards; Liberia is very much a cash-based economy.
You can open a bank account in Liberia and have access to banking services - money transfer, loans, visa card and ATM services, mobile banking etc., once you present a Residence Permit and a valid passport, and 2 passport-size photos to the bank of your choice.
There are several banks in Liberia including the International Bank (Liberia) Limited, the Guaranty Trust Bank (Liberia) Ltd, and [Ecobank][https://www.ecobank.com/personal-banking]) that offer personal, corporate and e-banking services.
Accommodation and buying property
Foreign nationals cannot own real estate property in Liberia as the Liberia Property Law and the Liberian Constitution restrict real estate property ownership to Liberian citizens and other eligible persons.
Before renting property in Liberia, you are advised to consult with a Liberian lawyer.
Driving in Liberia
Read the guidance on what actions you must do to drive legally in Liberia.
Read the information on driving abroad.
Guidance for travelling by road in Liberia can be found here.
On arrival in Liberia, you can use your UK driver’s license for up to 90 days. After the 90-day period, you can apply for a local licence using your British passport or Work Permit. If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (e.g. the DVLA).
If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see taking a vehicle out of the UK.
Read the information on the vehicle registration process in Liberia, which includes steps to obtain your driver’s licence.
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Liberia, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Voting
You can only vote in Liberia’s legislative and presidential elections if you are a Liberian citizen.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership
Births
If your child is born in Liberia, you should register the birth with the local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate.
The Ministry of Health in Liberia, specifically its Office of Vital Statistics, is responsible for registration of births and deaths in Liberia.
If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.
Deaths
If someone dies in Liberia, read our guidance on:
- what to do if someone dies abroad
- bereavement guidance for Liberia
- English-speaking funeral directors in Liberia
Marriage and civil partnership
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
There are two types of marriage in Liberia: traditional and western. For western marriage, the Centre for National Documents Records and Archives (CNDRA) issues certificates.
The domestic relations laws of Liberia provides details of marriages in Liberia.
Pets
To bring your pet to Liberia you need to obtain a permit, and this may take up to a week. To obtain the permit you must:
- write a letter to the Deputy Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and attach the pet’s health document (document to attest that the pet is free from diseases and is healthy to travel) requesting a permit. You will then be issued a payment slip for deposit of 10 US dollars
- make the deposit at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), after which, take the LRA receipt to the Ministry of Agriculture for the permit to be processed and issued
Taking pets back to the UK
For information on what you would have to do to get your pet back into the UK, please consult Bringing your pet to Great Britain.
Getting pets back to the UK can be more complicated as Liberia is an “unlisted” country. International couriers will not carry blood samples from Liberia, so any rabies titre samples must be personally transported back to the UK.
Emergencies
Dial 911 for the police, 5888 for ambulance, 114 for fire brigade, and 116 for a missing child.
If you have been a victim of a rape or sexual assault in Liberia, read the: Information for Survivors of Rape and Sexual Assault in Liberia. See also https://www.gov.uk/guidance/victim-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-abroad
Please see list of English-speaking lawyers here.
If you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Monrovia.
Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.
If you receive a Liberian pension, contact the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation in order to inform them of your move and make appropriate arrangements.