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UAE residents need a visa for Sierra Leone. The immigration department points travellers to its e-visa portal, and UK government advice says you can also buy a visa on arrival for USD 80 in cash. We file the e-visa for you and check it before you fly. A yellow fever certificate and a health declaration are checked as well.
Two ways in
| Route | What UK government advice says |
|---|---|
| E-visa | Apply online at evisa.sl before travel |
| Visa on arrival | USD 80, paid in cash in US dollars |
The immigration department's fees page lists only passport fees (USD 100 for issue or renewal) and tells you to confirm other charges through authorised channels. So the USD 80 comes from UK advice, not from the immigration site. Check the amount on the e-visa portal when you apply.
Source: Sierra Leone Immigration Department and UK FCDO entry requirements, checked .
How long it lasts
UK advice gives the validity this way. A single entry visa is valid for 90 days from the day it is issued, and you may stay up to 30 days. A multiple entry visa is valid for 365 days, with separate trips of up to 30 days each. For anything beyond a visit or business trip, the advice says to get the visa beforehand by contacting a Sierra Leone mission.
What the airport also checks
- Passport: an expiry date at least 6 months after the date of your visa application. The immigration department's travel advisory of gives the same 6 months.
- Yellow fever: a vaccination certificate, required by the UK advice for entry.
- Health declaration: completed on the Sierra Leone Health Travel Portal within 72 hours before you travel. Keep the confirmation.
Notices to know
On the department posted an e-visa advisory: apply only on the official portal and never share one-time codes or personal data with third parties. On it warned that operational changes may slow processing at some entry points. Allow extra time on arrival.
A UAE resident's checklist
- Residence permit and Emirates ID valid for your return to the UAE
- Passport with the 6-month margin
- Yellow fever certificate in your hand luggage
- A printed e-visa
- A return ticket to Dubai or Abu Dhabi
We found no Sierra Leone rule that changes with UAE residence, so check the entry rule for your own passport. If you also travel through West Africa, see Gambia visa for UAE residents.
How it works with us
Send a photo of your passport page and your flight dates. Our adviser says whether the e-visa or arrival route is better for your passport and quotes one total. Once you agree, the team fills in the e-visa application with you, you approve it, and we submit it and follow it up. We then check the issued e-visa against your passport. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service, and the Sierra Leone authorities decide.
If the visa is refused, Sierra Leone keeps its fee. In writing, before payment, the adviser tells you whether any of our own charge would be returned in that case.
Official sources
- Sierra Leone Immigration Department FAQ: eVisa portal
- Fees and charges: passport fees, confirm other charges
- Notices and advisories: eVisa advisory, travel advisory
- UK FCDO, Sierra Leone entry requirements: visa on arrival, validity, yellow fever
All destinations: visas from Dubai. Also visa-free countries for UAE residents.
