Work Permit (Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security) and Resident Permit (Immigration Department) via the Unified Permit portal
Any non-citizen who wants to work, provide services or run a gainful business in Sierra Leone needs a work permit from the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security. Foreign nationals living, studying or investing in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days also need a resident permit from the Sierra Leone Immigration Department. Both permits are applied for online through the government's Unified Permit portal, which the two bodies run together.
Life in Sierra Leone
Money
3
Currency
Sierra Leonean Leone
SLE
Sierra Leonean Leone
Cost of living
25
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2023
Tax
15–30%
Income tax (national)
GST 15%
Bands 0%/15%/20%/25%/30%; first Le 600,000 old leones a month (NLe 600 after the 2022 redenomination) untaxed, 30% above Le 2,400,000 (NLe 2,400) a month.
Living
1
Happiness
#144 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals with a job, service contract or business in Sierra Leone, and foreign nationals who will live there for more than 90 days.
Eligibility
Work permit
Required for any non-citizen intending to work, provide services, or engage in gainful business in Sierra Leone.
Resident permit
You need a resident permit if you live, study or invest in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days.
- Applies to all foreign nationals
- Covers residing, studying or investing
Official wording
Required for all foreign nationals residing, studying, or investing in Sierra Leone for more than 90 days.
Non-national ID first
Applicants must register with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) to get a National Identification Number (NIN) and an active Non-National ID card before applying.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklistPassport
- FeesWork permit fee
- Steps to applyRegister with the NCRA to get your NIN and a Non-National ID card
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 4 documents
- 2 fees
- 6 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Sierra Leone
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Work permits in other countries
- San MarinoResidence permit for work (seasonal or temporary) in San Marino
- SenegalEmployment in Senegal: work contract approval and foreigner's establishment / identity card
- SomaliaWork permit and residence permit
- South SudanWork permit
- São Tomé & PríncipeResidence visa for salaried work (visto de residência para actividade profissional subordinada) and temporary residence certificate
- El SalvadorResidencia temporal con autorización para trabajar
