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Sierra Leone

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
4,019
Top destination, 2023
United States
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
1,756
UK visas issued, 2025
2,052
NationalitySLISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<SLSIERRA<LEONE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
SL9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Sierra Leone need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Sierra Leone move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. United States1,790
  2. Germany964
  3. Italy327
  4. France257
  5. Belgium204
  6. Netherlands130
  7. Canada105
  8. Hungary51
  9. Australia48
  10. Japan39
  11. Sweden25
  12. South Korea23
  13. Austria17
  14. Denmark8
  15. Finland8

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

2,5325,063200020032006200920122015201820212023
2,5325,0632000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,634
20013,003
20024,560
20033,350
20043,193
20054,463
20065,063
20073,481
20083,764
20093,595
20103,273
20112,919
20123,683
20132,607
20142,706
20152,815
20163,180
20174,306
20183,186
20192,564
20201,584
20213,600
20224,108
20234,019
Share going to the top destination
44.5%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Sierra Leone who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Senegal15,843
  2. Liberia13,878
  3. Guinea8,065
  4. Nigeria4,679
  5. Australia4,218
  6. Ghana3,061
  7. Belgium3,018
  8. Gambia2,856
  9. Mali2,774
  10. Italy2,470
  11. Norway576
  12. Guinea-Bissau491

Living abroad by year

230k460k19901995200020052010201520202024
230k460k19902000201020202024
Data table
199042,497
1995423,611
2000459,995
200589,467
201057,946
201559,400
202064,980
202463,631
Living abroad, 2024
63,631
Change since 2000
-86.2%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
24.9%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Sierra Leone by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B21,039
  2. A2160
  3. K1158
  4. G298
  5. F156
  6. J150
  7. G446
  8. G140
  9. A131
  10. K231

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

2,4814,961201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,4814,96120172019202120232025
Data table
20171,523
20181,770
20192,053
2020871
2021809
20223,108
20234,961
20243,287
20251,756
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR2143
  2. IR182
  3. F180
  4. IR553
  5. F2A44
  6. DV44
  7. FX24
  8. IR320
Immigrant visas, FY2025
546
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
3
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Sierra Leone who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Sierra Leone with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1,1602,3202015201620172018201920202021202220232024
1,1602,320201520172019202120232024
Data table
20151,600
20161,540
20172,060
20181,530
20191,440
2020710
20211,230
20222,320
20231,870
20241,680
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens1,270
  2. Diversity visa lottery210
  3. Family-sponsored preferences120
  4. Refugees and asylees50
  5. Employment-based preferences20
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Sierra Leone)
1,680
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Sierra Leone)
1,370
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
6,160
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Sierra Leone (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Sierra Leone (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor1,648
  2. Family185
  3. Study122
  4. Other59
  5. Work38

Visas issued by year

1,6383,275201020122014201620182020202220242025
1,6383,275201020132016201920222025
Data table
20103,275
20112,580
20122,421
20132,489
20142,338
20151,908
20161,975
20172,061
20182,085
20192,504
2020809
20211,038
20222,241
20232,517
20242,399
20252,052
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
110
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Sierra Leone, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20250580450
2024030801000
20230060950
20220020400
2021005400
20200010250
20190015350
20180520550
20170020300
20160015750
2015005800
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Sierra Leone, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

242005–062007–082009–102011–122014–152021–222023–24
242005–062007–082009–102011–122014–152021–222023–24
Data table
2005–063
2006–074
2007–081
2008–091
2009–101
2010–111
2011–121
2012–133
2014–151
2017–181
2021–221
2023–243
Granted, 2025–26
0
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Sierra Leone living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

541082012201420162018202220242025
541082012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201244
201344
201435
201540
201643
201753
201849
201958
202269
202378
202496
2025108
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Designated Activities28
  2. Permanent Resident24
  3. Student21
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services10
  5. Dependent8
  6. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident5
  7. Spouse or Child of Japanese National5
  8. Long-Term Resident3
  9. Skilled Labor2
  10. Instructor1
Residents, December 2025
108
In work-related statuses
14
Share in work-related statuses
13.0%
Students
21
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Sierra Leone in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Other reasons1,346
  2. Family473
  3. Education141
  4. Work139
First permits by country
  1. Germany519
  2. France423
  3. Greece288
  4. Italy242
  5. Netherlands224
  6. Belgium93
  7. Hungary77
  8. Ireland49
  9. Spain46
  10. Portugal34
  11. Sweden26
  12. Cyprus25
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card1
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)5
  3. Researchers1
  4. Other paid activities132
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
4
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
541
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
495
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
85
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
14,900
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
725
Changed status into work, 2025
123
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
4
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Sierra Leone in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025713300
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025808
Austria20251459
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Sierra Leone

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Sierra Leone, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
France1——
Germany1——
Guinea1——
Ireland1——
Türkiye1——
Countries
6
Missions
6
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Sierra Leone, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

161321200020032006200920122015201820212024
161321200020052010201520202024
Data table
20007
20016
200222
200326
200425
20052
200616
200742
200823
200936
201044
201159
201265
201370
201462
201548
201658
201764
201873
2019177
2020177
2021184
2022291
2023293
2024321
Remittances received, 2024
US$321 million
Share of GDP, 2024
4.6%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Sierra Leone, 2023
10.3%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

All corridors from Sierra Leone

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Sierra Leone → United States
  • Sierra Leone → Germany
  • Sierra Leone → United Kingdom
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more