Republic of Kenya vs Republic of Sierra Leone
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Republic of Kenya
Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS) administers entry, residence and work authorisation under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011. Foreign nationals work mainly under lettered work-permit classes — most commonly Class D (employment by a specific employer), Class G (trade, business or consultancy) and Class K (ordinary residents with an assured external income) — while short-term and dependent stays use the Special, Dependant's and Student's passes. Applications are filed online through the eFNS portal.
- Official portal
- Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya)
- Languages
- English, Swahili
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling
Republic of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone publishes official immigration service links through the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, online entry visa filing through evisa.sl, and work and residence permit filing through the Unified Permit portal. The current Visa Atlas packet covers eVisa, residence permit, work permit, student residence, investor residence, and extension/re-entry handling. The Ministry of Labour website had an expired certificate during review, so work-permit coverage relies on the official Unified Permit portal and Immigration Department references rather than that host.
- Official portal
- Sierra Leone Immigration Department
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Sierra Leonean leone
How Republic of Kenya and Republic of Sierra Leone differ
| Dimension | Republic of Kenya | Republic of Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 8 | 6 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 4 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 5 | 0 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Class D Work Permit (Employment) | Work Permit |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | English, Swahili | English |
| Currency | Kenyan shilling | Sierra Leonean leone |
| Primary regulator | LSK | SLID |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Republic of Kenya
Visa routes side by side
Republic of Kenya (8)
Class D Work Permit (Employment)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the employment; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the business; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Class K Permit (Ordinary Residents)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable subject to continued assured income; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Class A Work Permit (Prospecting and Mining)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the licensed activity; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Special Pass
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 6 months maximum; not a settlement route.
Dependant's Pass
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Aligned to the sponsor status; renewable while the relationship and sponsor status continue.
Student's Pass
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Aligned to the course of study; renewable while enrolled.
Permanent Residence
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent on grant, subject to the conditions of the Act.
Republic of Sierra Leone (6)
eVisa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry visa duration depends on the visa issued through the eVisa portal; confirm the live approval letter before travel.
Residence Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permit for long-term stay beyond 90 days; exact validity is selected in the live permit application.
Work Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work permit validity is selected in the live application and tied to the approved work or business basis.
Student Residence Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permit for study stays over 90 days; exact validity is selected in the live permit application.
Investor Residence Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permit for investor stays over 90 days; exact validity is selected in the live permit application.
Permit Extension and Re-entry
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Extension or re-entry validity depends on the existing permit and the process selected in the Unified Permit portal.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Kenya or Republic of Sierra Leone?+
Republic of Kenya’s Class D Work Permit (Employment) is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Sierra Leone’s Work Permit is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Republic of Kenya or Republic of Sierra Leone have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Kenya has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 4 for Republic of Sierra Leone. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.