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🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
🇸🇱Sierra LeoneAE-SL

United Arab Emirates to Sierra Leone visa requirements

UAE ordinary passport holders need a visa for Sierra Leone, but they can obtain a visa on arrival for tourist or business visits. The optional official eVisa is also available before travel. The single-entry visa costs USD 80, permits stays up to 30 days, and the eVisa option is valid for 90 days from issue. A United Arab Emirates ordinary passport holder is not visa-exempt for Sierra Leone and must obtain a visa for a short tourist or business visit. UAE MoFA lists normal UAE passports as Visa On Arrival, and Sierra Leone's National Tourist Board lists Gulf Cooperation Council citizens, including the UAE, as eligible for visa on arrival. Sierra Leone also operates an official electronic visa system (evisa.sl), so travelers can either get the visa on arrival or apply online before travel. The single-entry non-African Union visa costs USD 80, permits stays up to 30 days, and the official eVisa data lists a 90-day validity from issue; a multiple-entry eVisa option costs USD 160, is valid for 365 days, and permits separate visits of up to 30 days each. A passport valid at least 6 months beyond the visa application date and a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate are required. Sierra Leone also requires travelers to complete the health declaration and pay a separate USD 25 airport security fee on arrival and departure. Sierra Leone is not in the Schengen area, so Schengen/ETIAS rules do not apply.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-19
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →UAE (Golden Visa)Living in United Arab Emirates as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19
Visa type
Visa on arrival; optional eVisa before travel
Maximum stay
Up to 30 days
per entry
Entries
Single entry (multiple-entry options available)
from issue date
Visa fee
USD 80 single-entry visa; USD 160 multiple-entry eVisa
consular fee only
Processing time
Visa on arrival at border; optional eVisa online before travel
standard track
Validity
Single-entry eVisa valid 90 days from issue; multiple-entry eVisa valid 365 days
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm eligibility and documents
Verify your UAE ordinary passport is valid at least 6 months beyond your visa application date and has a blank page. Prepare a passport-style photo, onward/return ticket, and accommodation details if applying online.
· 6 months passport validity
/02
Get a yellow fever vaccination
Sierra Leone requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry. Obtain the vaccine and keep the international certificate (yellow card) to show on arrival.
· Mandatory· Yellow fever certificate
/03
Choose visa on arrival or eVisa
Use visa on arrival if you want the border-issued route, or apply in advance at evisa.sl if you prefer to have an online approval before travel.
· VOA· Optional eVisa
/04
Pay the visa fee
Budget USD 80 for the single-entry visa. The official eVisa data also lists a USD 160 multiple-entry option.
· USD 80· USD 160 multiple
/05
Complete health declaration
Complete Sierra Leone's health travel declaration within 72 hours before travel and keep the QR code or reference number available.
· Health declaration
/06
Enter Sierra Leone
Present your passport, yellow fever certificate, health declaration proof, and visa/eVisa documents as applicable. Pay the separate USD 25 airport security fee on arrival and again on departure.
· USD 25 airport fee
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

14 items
Personalized checklist
United Arab Emirates -> Sierra Leone · Visa on arrival; optional eVisa before travel
0 / 14 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredUAE passport valid 6+ months beyond application date with a blank page
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
required
RequiredYellow fever vaccination certificate
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
RequiredHealth travel declaration QR code / reference number
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
RequiredUSD 80 single-entry visa fee
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
OptionalCompleted online eVisa application at evisa.sl if applying before travel
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
optional
OptionalRecent passport-style photograph (digital, for eVisa)
Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route
optional
OptionalScan of passport bio-data page (for eVisa)
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
optional
RecommendedConfirmed onward / return air ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
recommended
RecommendedProof of accommodation or host details
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
recommended
RequiredUSD 25 airport security fee on arrival and departure
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
RecommendedPrinted copy of eVisa approval / application ID
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
recommended
RequiredOfficial application form or online application
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
Use the current form from the official or designated application channel.
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesUAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Travel requirements for Sierra Leone (last modified 2025-06-16)Sierra Leone National Tourist Board - Visa-On-Arrival to Sierra Leone (published 2019-11-19)Sierra Leone official eVisa API for UAE/ARE (checked 2026-06-19)
Application link included: Sierra Leone National Tourist Board - Visa-On-Arrival to Sierra Leone (published 2019-11-19)
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Single-entry visa / eVisaUSD 80Non-African Union single-entry visa; stay up to 30 days, eVisa validity 90 days
Multiple-entry eVisaUSD 160Non-African Union multiple-entry eVisa; validity 365 days, visits up to 30 days each
Airport security feeUSD 25Collected separately on arrival and on departure
Total estimateUSD 80 — USD 160incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa on arrival
At the border
Issued on arrival for eligible UAE/GCC ordinary passport holders; budget USD 80 for the single-entry visa.
Optional eVisa (online)
Before travel
Apply at evisa.sl before travel if you prefer an online approval; official public sources do not guarantee a fixed processing time.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
UAE is not visa-exempt for Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone grants visa-free entry mainly to ECOWAS members; UAE nationals are not on the exemption list and must obtain a visa.
High
/02
Visa on arrival officially available
UAE MoFA lists normal UAE passports as Visa On Arrival, and Sierra Leone's National Tourist Board includes UAE/GCC citizens in its visa-on-arrival policy.
High
/03
Official eVisa system in place
Sierra Leone also runs an electronic visa portal (evisa.sl) for travelers who prefer to apply before travel.
Medium
/04
Yellow fever certificate mandatory
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is an entry condition, independent of the visa.
Medium
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-06-19
Reviewed by Claude Code
Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.
2026-06-19 · major
United Arab Emirates to Sierra Leone route corrected
Changed verdict from eVisa to visa on arrival because UAE MoFA and Sierra Leone tourism guidance list UAE/GCC passport holders as eligible for VOA; kept eVisa as an optional pre-travel route and added checked-date.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can a UAE passport holder enter Sierra Leone without a visa?—
No. UAE nationals are not visa-exempt and must obtain either a visa on arrival or an eVisa before travel.
Is the eVisa mandatory?+
How long can I stay on a single-entry tourist visa?+
How much does the visa cost?+
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?+
How long does the eVisa take to process?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the United Arab Emirates passport

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