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Republic of Sierra Leone · investor

Investor Residence Permit

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 3 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Sierra Leone residence-permit path for foreign investors staying in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days, supported by SLIEPA investment guidance.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyResidence permit for investor stays over 90 days; exact validity is selected in the live permit application.
Processing time
Use the Unified Permit tracker for current processing; no fixed investor-residence clock is published on the cached page.
Government fees
Use the Unified Permit price checker and live application for the current residence permit fee.
Typical duration
Residence permit for investor stays over 90 days; exact validity is selected in the live permit application.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Unified Permit / Government of Sierra Leone ↗

In short

As of 30 July 2026, the Investor Residence Permit for Republic of Sierra Leone is an unsponsored Sierra Leone immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Sierra Leone government pages, reviewed 30 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/sierra-leone/investor-residence-permit#answer

What is the Investor Residence Permit in Republic of Sierra Leone?

Investor Residence Permit is an unsponsored Sierra Leone route. Indicative government fees are Use the Unified Permit price checker and live application for the current residence permit fee; indicative processing time is Use the Unified Permit tracker for current processing; no fixed investor-residence clock is published on the cached page; typical duration is Residence permit for investor stays over 90 days; exact validity is selected in the live permit application. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Unified Permit / Government of Sierra Leone on 29 June 2026.

Overview

Sierra Leone publishes official immigration service links through the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, online visa filing through evisa.sl, and work/residence permit filing through the Unified Permit portal. The public permit portal gives process and eligibility headlines; detailed document prompts can sit inside the live application, so applicants should confirm the current portal checklist before payment. The Unified Permit FAQ says all foreign nationals investing in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days need a resident permit. SLIEPA, Sierra Leone's Investment and Export Promotion Agency, states that it assists investors looking to start or expand business in Sierra Leone and publishes investor-guide resources. Visa Atlas treats the immigration status step as the Unified Permit residence process and the business-support step as SLIEPA guidance; the public sources do not describe this as a citizenship-by-investment or golden-visa programme.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Use SLIEPA resources to understand the investment or business setup context.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Register with the National Civil Registration Authority to obtain a NIN and active non-national ID card.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Create or use a Unified Permit account and choose the relevant permit type.

  4. After approval

    Fill the online application, upload required documents and pay the fees.

  5. Step 5

    Track the application online and collect the permit card at the indicated location after approval.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Investor Residence Permit, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Investor Residence Permit instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Sierra Leone

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. ApplyApplicant
    Apply for investor residence through Unified Permit ↗

    Use this official Sierra Leone source to confirm the current checklist, fee, timing and submission channel before filing. Sierra Leone publishes official immigration service links through the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, online visa filing through evisa.sl, and work/residence permit filing through the Unified Permit portal. The public permit portal gives process and eligibility headlines; detailed document prompts can sit inside the live application, so applicants should confirm the current portal checklist before payment.

    Unified Permit / Government of Sierra Leone · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Read SLIEPA investor resources ↗

    Use this official Sierra Leone source to confirm the current checklist, fee, timing and submission channel before filing. Sierra Leone publishes official immigration service links through the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, online visa filing through evisa.sl, and work/residence permit filing through the Unified Permit portal. The public permit portal gives process and eligibility headlines; detailed document prompts can sit inside the live application, so applicants should confirm the current portal checklist before payment.

    Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do investors need a Sierra Leone residence permit?+

The Unified Permit FAQ says foreign nationals investing in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days need a resident permit.

Is this a golden visa?+

No. The official sources reviewed describe investor residence through ordinary permit filing and investment-support guidance, not citizenship by investment or a golden visa.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Sierra Leone

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Unified Permit / Government of Sierra Leone

Last checked: 29 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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