Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone GO-FOR-GOLD Overview

The Sierra Leone GO-FOR-GOLD program grants foreign nationals Sierra Leonean citizenship through a verified economic contribution, bypassing the standard eight-year residency requirement for ordinary naturalization. 

Two citizenship routes are available: a fast-track route starting at US$140,000 open to all nationalities, and a heritage route starting at US$100,000 for individuals who can demonstrate African ancestry through a DNA test. 

A separate permanent residency route is also available for those who prefer to obtain residency first, with citizenship available through an expedited process thereafter. The entire application process is fully remote; no travel to Sierra Leone is required before or after citizenship is granted.

The main applicant can include a spouse, children under 18, parents, grandparents, adult children, siblings under 30, spouses of siblings, and a last remaining relative. One adult business partner or co-investor may also be added to the application without proof of a prior business relationship.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, hold a clean criminal record, demonstrate financial self-sufficiency, and pass due diligence checks conducted by an accredited investigative firm. Citizens of North Korea are not eligible. 

All contributions are held in escrow and released only after official approval is issued; no funds are disbursed prior to the Letter of Approval. 

Three routes are available.

Fast-Track Citizenship Route

• Total contribution of US$140,000 per main applicant, covering all program fees, legal costs, due diligence, documentation, and LLC and bank account incorporation
• Open to all eligible nationalities
• Processing: approximately 90 days from complete document submission to citizenship issuance
• Due diligence fee: US$5,000 for up to five applicants in total, or US$10,000 for six to ten applicants

African Heritage Citizenship Route

• Total contribution of US$100,000 per main applicant
• Requires submission of a DNA test result from Living DNA confirming African ancestry
• Processing: approximately 60 days from complete document submission to citizenship issuance
• Due diligence fee applies as above

Permanent Residency Route (GO-FOR-GOLD)

• Government fee of US$65,000 for a single applicant, or US$75,000 for a nuclear family
• Purchase of a minimum of 1 kilogram of 99.99% pure gold to LBMA Good Delivery Standard, stored at the Central Bank of Sierra Leone for five years; gold price is at current market rate at time of purchase
• Permanent residency issued within approximately 40 days
• Citizenship through an expedited process is available to permanent residents; full details of this pathway are subject to ongoing government publication
• Application fees are fully refundable if the application is rejected; the gold investment is not refundable

Dependent and Partner Fees

• Standard dependents (spouse, children under 18, parents, grandparents): US$10,000 per person
• Special dependents (adult children, siblings under 30, spouses of siblings under 30, last remaining relatives): US$20,000 per person
• Business partner or co-investor: US$30,000; no proof of prior relationship required; business partners may not add their own dependents

Route to Citizenship

The Fast-Track and African Heritage routes grant full Sierra Leonean citizenship directly upon approval, with no prior residency required. The President of Sierra Leone signs all naturalization certificates, with the Chief Immigration Officer issuing an interim Letter of Approval before presidential certification. Citizenship is confirmed through a Certificate of Naturalization and a Sierra Leone passport, both delivered securely to the applicant.

Sierra Leone permits dual nationality. Applicants are not required to relinquish their prior citizenship, though they should confirm the dual nationality rules of their country of origin before proceeding.

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

Sierra Leonean citizens can access approximately 67 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival, including Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, and most West African states. 

As a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Sierra Leone grants its citizens visa-free entry and the right of residence and work across all 15 ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea. 

Tax

Sierra Leone taxes residents on income sourced in Sierra Leone. Foreign-source income not derived from or remitted to Sierra Leone is not subject to Sierra Leonean personal income tax. 

Citizens who do not reside in Sierra Leone are generally not considered tax residents and are taxed only on Sierra Leonean-source income. Sierra Leone is not currently a participant in the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) automatic exchange of financial information, which affects how Sierra Leonean bank accounts and corporate structures interact with international tax reporting frameworks. 

Each approved applicant receives a Sierra Leone LLC and corporate bank account as part of the program. 

How to Apply

The program is administered by the Sierra Leone Immigration Department under Section 27A of the Sierra Leone Citizenship Act 1973. Applications are submitted entirely online through the program portal. The Master Agent is Hong Kong Visa Centre Limited and TG 2050 LTD; applicants may also engage licensed sub-agents. 

The process typically runs as follows.

• Step 1: Select the applicable route and engage the program portal or a licensed agent; complete the initial eligibility assessment and receive the document checklist tailored to the application.
• Step 2: Compile and upload all required documents, including a valid passport copy, passport-sized photograph, proof of residential address, birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, police clearance certificate, and proof of financial self-sufficiency; African Heritage applicants must submit a Living DNA test result confirming African ancestry.
• Step 3: Review and sign the escrow agreement; remit the applicable program contribution; due diligence and background checks commence upon receipt of the complete document package and signed escrow agreement.
• Step 4: Receive the Letter of Approval from the Chief Immigration Officer upon successful completion of due diligence; the contribution is released from escrow at this stage; the incorporated Sierra Leone LLC and corporate bank account are activated.
• Step 5: Complete the Oath of Allegiance digitally; await presidential signature of the Certificate of Naturalization, issued in batches; receive the Certificate of Naturalization and Sierra Leone passport by secure courier delivery to any country worldwide.