Western Africa · UN member
Sierra Leone: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a country in Western Africa with its capital in Freetown. It has a population of 8.8 million (#100 in the world) and covers 71,740 km². The official language is English. The currency is the Sierra Leonean leone (SLE, Le).
Where is Sierra Leone? Map of Sierra Leone
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia.
- Region
- Western Africa
- Coordinates
- 8.5° N, 11.5° W
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 402 km
- Sierra Leone
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Sierra Leone showing Freetown (capital) and the largest cities: Kenema, Bo, Koidu, Makeni, Port Loko, Kabala and Mile 91.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Sierra Leone
- Passport
Sierra Leone's eVisa portal says that to apply, your travel document must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you intend to enter the country.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 29 need no visa, 169 need an eVisa. Check yours or see Sierra Leone entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement.
- Vaccinations
The UK Foreign Office says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination to enter Sierra Leone.
- Arrival card
The National Public Health Agency's Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal says all travellers must complete a Health Declaration Form upon entry and exit, not more than 72 hours before the intended date of travel.
- Customs allowance
No official requirement. The Government of Canada says strict rules limit the import of foreign currency in cash.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Sierra Leone
- Safety: Sierra Leone is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sierra Leone Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: November to March — when daytime highs in Freetown are around 29–31°C.
- Money: the Sierra Leonean leone (SLE) — 1 US dollar is about 22.9249 SLE.
- Plugs: type D and G, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 019, Ambulance 999, Fire 999.
- Language: English is official.
- Driving: on the right.
- Time zone: UTC0 in Freetown.
- Capital: Freetown. About 8.8 million people live in Sierra Leone.
- Outdoors: 3 national parks.
Key facts
Sierra Leone at a glance
Languages spoken: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Geography & history
About Sierra Leone
Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of l…
Read the full history
Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of liberated Africans to Sierra Leone. During the 19th century, the colony gradually expanded inland. In 1961, Sierra Leone became independent of the UK. Sierra Leone held free and fair elections in 1962 and 1967, but Siaka STEVENS -- Sierra Leone’s second prime minister -- quickly reverted to authoritarian tendencies, outlawing most political parties and ruling from 1967 to 1985. In 1991, Sierra Leonean soldiers launched a civil war against STEVENS’ ruling party. The war caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 2 million people (about one third of the population). In 1998, a Nigerian-led West African coalition military force intervened, installing Tejan KABBAH -- who was originally elected in 1996 -- as prime minister. In 2002, KABBAH officially announced the end of the war. Since 1998, Sierra Leone has conducted democratic elections dominated by the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) party. In 2018, Julius Maada BIO of the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the presidential election that saw a high voter turnout despite some allegations of voter intimidation. BIO won again in June 2023, although irregularities were noted that called into question the integrity of the results. In October 2023, the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, signed the Agreement for National Unity to boost cooperation between political parties and begin the process of reforming the country’s electoral system.
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Highest point
Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Natural hazards
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
National symbols
lion
Safety
Is Sierra Leone safe to visit?
Sierra Leone is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sierra Leone Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about completing a health travel declaration (‘Entry Requirements’ page.)
Updated 19 Jun 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Sierra Leone
The best time to visit Sierra Leone is November to March, when daytime highs in Freetown are around 29–31°C. April is also a good time to go. April is the warmest month (31°C by day), January the coldest (22°C at night), and August the wettest with about 699 mm of rain.
- Jan29°C22°C
- Feb30°C23°C
- Mar31°C24°C
- Apr31°C25°C
- May30°C25°C
- Jun28°C24°C
- Jul27°C24°C
- Aug27°C24°C
- Sep27°C24°C
- Oct28°C24°C
- Nov29°C24°C
- Dec29°C23°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Sierra Leone
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
3 national parks in Sierra Leone
- 1,820 km² protected
- oldest from 1986
Largest: Outamba-Kilimi National Park · Gola National Park · Kuru Hills National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Sierra Leonean leone exchange rates today
Sierra Leone uses the Sierra Leonean leone (SLE, Le). One US dollar buys 22.9249 SLE; over the last 30 days the SLE has gained 0.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in SLE
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Sierra Leone ranks
How Sierra Leone compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Sierra Leone
11 airports and airfields — 1 large, 3 medium and 4 small, plus 3 heliports. 1 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Sierra Leone borders 2 countries along 1,093 km of land borders. Coastline: 402 km.
Military
Sierra Leonean armed forces
Sierra Leone ranks #138 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $32 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Freetown (1.3 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear)
Export partners
China 67%, India 6%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 4%, Ireland 3% (2023)
Top exports
iron ore, titanium ore, diamonds, aluminum ore, cocoa beans (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Sierra Leone
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec).
Sierra Leonean passport
Ranked #125: 39 countries visa-free, 20 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 37 with an eVisa.
Sierra Leonean passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Sierra Leone's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Sierra Leone
Dial +232 before the local number. Internet domain .sl.
Climate footprint
1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.17 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Sierra Leone: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Sierra Leone
Guinea-Bissau police free 71 people from fake jobs and visas scam
Guinea-Bissau's judicial police freed 71 people and arrested four suspects after raiding two houses in Bissau, targeting a network that promised jobs…
Freetown travellers must file health form before flying, Sierra Leone warns
Sierra Leone's Civil Aviation Authority has warned that passengers using Freetown International Airport who do not complete an online health declarat…
Without a passport, deported Iowa mother trapped in Sierra Leone hotel until Oct. 26
Fatou Traore, an Iowa mother of four U.S. citizen children deported to Sierra Leone on Oct. 13, says she is confined to a hotel without a passport an…
Frequently asked questions about Sierra Leone
What do I need to travel to Sierra Leone?
How long must my passport be valid for Sierra Leone?
Where is Sierra Leone?
What is Sierra Leone known for?
What is the capital of Sierra Leone?
What language is spoken in Sierra Leone?
What currency does Sierra Leone use?
What is the calling code of Sierra Leone?
Which countries border Sierra Leone?
How strong is the Sierra Leonean passport?
Is Sierra Leone safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Sierra Leone?
What plug type does Sierra Leone use?
How many airports does Sierra Leone have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.