No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Sierra Leone’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Sierra Leone set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Sierra Leone High Commission in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Sierra Leone, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date of your visa application.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
\n\nYou must have a visa to enter Sierra Leone.
\n\nYou can get a visa to visit or for business travel either:
\n\nSingle entry visas are valid for 90 days from date of issuing for visits up to a maximum of 30 days.
\n\nMultiple entry visas are valid for 365 days from date of issuing and are valid for multiple separate trips for up to a maximum of 30 days for each visit.
\n\nIf you’re travelling for a purpose other than a visit or business, you must get a visa before you travel. Contact the Sierra Leone High Commission in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Sierra Leone, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.
\n\nFor more details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Sierra Leone guide.
\n\nAll travellers entering or leaving Sierra Leone must complete a health declaration before travel using the Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal.
\n\nYou must:
\n\nYou may be required to undergo health screening on arrival.
\n\nIf you do not comply, you may face delays or be refused entry or departure.
\n\nAs a public health measure, Sierra Leone has introduced screening for arriving travellers. You should expect enhanced health screening measures on arrival.
\n\nThe World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared this a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Sierra Leone.
\n\nYou must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\nYou must have an export licence to leave Sierra Leone with precious stones. Check the quality of any gems or minerals you buy. Any deals that appear too good to be true probably are.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Sierra Leone, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nFollowing the end of the civil war in 2002, the political situation in Sierra Leone has improved. However, the political situation can change and protests can turn violent. Avoid any political gatherings or demonstrations and follow any curfews or restrictions. Remain vigilant as the security situation could change quickly.
\n\nIn a small number of incidents, British nationals have been robbed, sometimes at knifepoint. Robberies have taken place in Congo Cross, Wilkinson Road, Lumley Beach, Aberdeen and at beach resorts along the Freetown peninsula and surrounding islands. Crime rates in Sierra Leone are comparatively low, however incidents of violent and organised crime are rising. Exercise vigilance and avoid walking alone at night.
\n\nThe greatest risk to short-stay visitors is from pickpocketing and mugging in Freetown. If you’re staying for a longer period, make sure you secure your property and employ guards.
\n\nTo reduce your personal risk:
\n\nPublic transport drivers and passengers have robbed foreign visitors. Avoid travelling in taxis, minibuses (‘poda-podas’), motorised rickshaws (‘kekes’) or motorbikes (‘ocadas’).
\n\nThe Sierra Leone Police charge foreign nationals a fee for police reports. They will not issue a crime reference number, which is needed for most insurance claims, without a police report. Do not pay the police directly. Make your payment to the Sierra Leone Police Revenue Generation Fund account at the Bank of Sierra Leone and get a receipt.
\n\nThere is no charge if you want to report a crime and do not need a crime reference number.
\n\nSierra Leone has a tolerant, multi-religion culture. Always respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions and make sure your actions do not cause offence.
\n\nAlways carry ID such as a passport or residence permit. The police will usually accept a copy of your passport’s photo page and visa stamp.
\n\nDo not become involved with drugs of any kind. There are heavy penalties for drug trafficking, including prison sentences. Prison conditions are harsh.
\n\nThere are heavy penalties for diamond smuggling, including prison sentences.
\n\nLand registry records are sometimes disputed and can lead to land disputes, where more than one person claims rights to the same land. Disputes can lead to threats of violence. If you are concerned about land ownership, seek independent legal advice and contact the Anti-Land Grabbing Unit of the Sierra Leone Police. The British High Commission cannot intervene with disputes or investigate ownership claims.
\n\nDo not take pictures of military installations or any other official government buildings, including prisons and courthouses. There have been instances where individuals have been arrested for doing so.
\n\nSame-sex relations between men are illegal in Sierra Leone, even if they are consensual. Penalties can include imprisonment. Same-sex relations are not illegal between women. All travellers should exercise caution given the much more conservative culture than UK.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nThe UK does not recognise adoption orders from Sierra Leone. If you are planning to adopt a child in Sierra Leone, make sure you comply with Sierra Leone’s adoption laws. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs is responsible for adoptions in Sierra Leone.
\n\nThere are strong ocean currents along the coast in Sierra Leone, and no lifeguards on any beaches. You go into the sea at your own risk.
\n\nGet local advice about sea conditions before you swim or do any water sports. Health and safety standards for water sports operators are usually lower than the UK. Check safety credentials in advance and always ask for a life jacket.
\n\nBeware of hospital waste, including needles, on Lumley Beach.
\n\nSee water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Sierra Leone, see information on driving abroad.
\n\nYou can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Sierra Leone for up to one month after you arrive. If you also get the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP), you can drive for the length of the IDP’s validity. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence.
\n\nIf you’re staying longer or living in Sierra Leone, you must get a Sierra Leone driving licence.
\n\nSerious traffic accidents are common and road travel across the country comes with risks, including:
\n\nIf you are travelling by road, particularly outside the Freetown peninsula, you should:
\n\nBritish High Commission staff avoid road travel outside the Freetown peninsula at night. They do not use local taxis, minibuses (‘poda-podas’), motorised riskshaw (‘kekes’) or motorbikes (‘ocadas’).
\n\nThe mobile network is unreliable, particularly in remote areas. If you do manage to communicate, the emergency response is unreliable. If you have an accident, mobs of people can form around your car. You need a plan for what to do in an emergency.
\n\nSierra Leone is bordered to the north and east by Guinea, and to the south by Liberia. There will be security personnel at these borders. Make sure you have your paperwork ready if you are crossing by land. Stay calm and patient while you wait for your paperwork to be processed and be prepared for disruption and short-notice border closures.
\n\nOfficers in uniform control official checkpoints with marked barriers.
\n\nChildren sometimes put a rope across the road and ask for a small donation for mending the road. These unofficial roadblocks are most common at the weekend and on the roads to tourist beaches in the Western Area.
\n\nThe UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Sierra Leone that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
\n\nLungi airport is on the far side of a wide estuary across from Freetown. The journey time from Freetown to the airport is around 3 hours by road. There are no car hire facilities at the airport.
\n\nBritish High Commission staff do not travel by road after dark and rarely take this route in the daytime due to the risk of accidents.
\n\nLet someone know your expected arrival time and what action they should take if you do not arrive at that time.
\n\nAirport hotels rooms are extremely limited and in high demand.
\n\nThe 2 main water taxi operators, Sierra Leone Sea Coach Express Africa and SeaBird Water Taxi, run a reliable service between Freetown and Lungi. It takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on the size of the boat.
\n\nThe one-hour ferry service between Lungi Tagrin and Kissy Town only runs when there is enough demand.
\n\nWater taxis are scheduled to align with specific flight arrivals and departures, and also include a courtesy bus between Lungi airport and the beach departure or arrival point in Lungi.
\n\nDuring the rainy season from May to October, rough sea conditions may cause delays or cancellations. Water taxis have navigational aids, night lights and life jackets for passengers. However they have limited rescue capability if you fall overboard.
\n\nAvoid using the unregulated or privately operated boats such as wooden pirogues and canoes, which do not have lights or safety equipment. British High Commission staff do not travel on small boats.
\n\nThere is no country-wide coverage from mobile network providers in Sierra Leone. Some areas have no mobile reception. There’s no public telephone system, and landline connections are mainly disused. Calls between Sierra Leone mobile phones and Sierra Leone landline phones are not possible.
\n\nMains water is limited. Mains power is unreliable and extended outages are common. Power surges, especially in the rainy season, are common – you may want to use power surge protectors. Hotels and rented villas have generators and private water supplies.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nCall 117 and ask for an ambulance.
\n\nAmbulance services are unreliable in Freetown and unavailable throughout most of the country. Staff are not usually trained paramedics and often have little or no medical equipment.
\n\nSome private hospitals, particularly in Freetown, operate their own commercial ambulances. Injured or seriously ill travellers may need to take a taxi or private vehicle to the nearest major hospital rather than wait for an ambulance.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Sierra Leone, including:
\n\nWater-borne diseases, including cholera, are endemic in Sierra Leone with outbreaks, particularly during the rainy season, in areas where there is poor sanitation. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.
\n\nAs of 2023, UNAIDS estimate that around 77,000 people in Sierra Leone were living with HIV. You should take normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.
\n\nIf you are in Sierra Leone for business, check what medical support your employer can provide if you fall ill.
\n\nCheck with the Federal Office of Public Health that your medication is legal in Sierra Leone.
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Sierra Leone.
\n\nHospitals, medical facilities and services in Sierra Leone are severely limited. The standard of care is much lower than in the UK, including basic services such as blood screening. Many facilities, particularly outside of Freetown, only accept cash payments.
\n\nMedical supplies are unreliable and limited. Carry basic medical supplies and adequate supplies of prescription medication. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription.
\n\nMake sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, medical evacuation and repatriation.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nTelephone: 117 (ambulance, fire, police)
\n\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThe Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Sierra Leone on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
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