Freetown travellers must file health form before flying, Sierra Leone warns

Passengers flying through Freetown International Airport must complete an online health declaration before every flight, and those who do not will be refused boarding, the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) said in a notice dated 21 October 2026. The warning covers both travellers entering and leaving Sierra Leone, regardless of nationality.

Key facts

• Issued by the SLCAA on 21 October 2026, the notice applies to Freetown International Airport (FNA), also known as Lungi International Airport.
• The Health Declaration Form must be filed online within 72 hours before travel — and not earlier.
• All nationalities are covered, including Sierra Leonean citizens, for both arrivals and departures.
• The requirement has been in force since June 2026; the latest notice does not introduce a new rule.
• Holding a Sierra Leonean e-Visa does not replace the health declaration.

What is the requirement?

Every passenger passing through Freetown International Airport must submit Sierra Leone's Health Declaration Form before travel. The SLCAA notice, signed by Director General Musayeroh Barrie, stressed that passengers who fail to comply will be denied boarding.

Sierra Leone's government launched its health travel portal on 5 June 2026 and made the form mandatory for arriving and departing travellers later that month. The system is intended to strengthen health surveillance at borders, detect potential disease outbreaks early and improve the prevention of infectious diseases. Travellers may also face additional health screening at the airport.

Who needs to complete it?

The rule applies to travellers of all nationalities, including Sierra Leonean citizens, using Freetown International Airport. Because separate forms are required for arrival and departure, passengers must file one declaration before flying into Sierra Leone and another before leaving the country.

How do I complete it?

Declarations are submitted online through the Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal, operated by the National Public Health Agency (NPHA). According to the instructions on the portal, the form must be completed within 72 hours before travel — it cannot be submitted earlier.

The process is as follows:

• Create an account on the portal, or log in to an existing one.
• Choose the correct form for the trip: an Arrival Form or a Departure Form.
• Enter the required personal information, travel details and health-related information, including the seat number if available.
• Review the information and submit the declaration.
• Save the confirmation QR code or reference number generated after submission, as it may need to be shown to authorities.

The SLCAA advises travellers to submit their declarations before arriving at the terminal and to keep the confirmation ready for inspection.

Does an e-Visa replace the health form?

No. Sierra Leone has offered an electronic visa (e-Visa) since March 2023, letting eligible foreign nationals — including travellers from France and other European countries — apply online before departure for purposes such as tourism and business. But the e-Visa and the health declaration are separate requirements, and the health form must still be filed through the NPHA portal within 72 hours before travel.

What this means for travellers

Anyone flying to or from Sierra Leone through Freetown should plan to file a health declaration online within the 72-hour window before each flight — once for the arrival leg and once for the departure leg — and carry the confirmation QR code or reference number to the airport. The SLCAA has also asked airlines, travel agencies and other industry stakeholders to tell passengers about the requirement and help them comply.

No changes to the rule have been announced beyond the reminder; the authority's aim is to reinforce compliance with the requirement already in place since June 2026.