canivisit.com
Beta — verify with official sources⌘K
Home/from/ca/to/sl
🇨🇦CANADA
🏳SLCA-SL

Do Canada passport holders need a visa to visit SL?

Canadian passport holders need a visa for Sierra Leone. The recommended route is an eVisa applied for online before travel; a visa on arrival is also available but riskier. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry. A Canadian ordinary passport holder requires a visa to enter Sierra Leone for tourism. Sierra Leone offers an electronic visa (eVisa) through the Sierra Leone Immigration Service portal, which the Government of Canada recommends applying for before departure. A visa on arrival at Freetown's Lungi International Airport is also available, but pre-applying online is the safer, recommended option. The tourist visa is single-entry, allows a stay of up to 30 days, and the visa is valid for 90 days from issue. Fees for non-African nationals are typically around USD 80-100 depending on whether applying directly or via a facilitation service. All travelers must present proof of yellow fever vaccination, and an airport security/handling fee is also payable. Passport should be valid for at least 6 months with blank pages.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
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.
Canada (PR)Living in Canada as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
eVisa (single-entry tourist visa); visa on arrival also available
Maximum stay
Up to 30 days
per entry
Entries
Single entry
from issue date
Visa fee
Approx. USD 80-100 (eVisa); plus airport security fee
consular fee only
Processing time
Typically 3-5 business days
standard track
Validity
90 days from date of issue
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm passport and yellow fever readiness
Ensure your Canadian passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond entry with blank pages, and obtain a yellow fever vaccination plus the international certificate well before travel.
· Passport 6+ months· Yellow fever card required
/02
Open the official eVisa portal
Go to the Sierra Leone Immigration Service eVisa site (evisa.sl) and create an applicant account. Avoid unofficial third-party sites that add markups.
· evisa.sl· Official portal
/03
Complete the application form
Fill in personal details, passport data, travel dates, and accommodation information for your tourist visit.
· Tourist purpose
/04
Upload documents and pay the fee
Upload a passport bio-page scan, photo, and yellow fever certificate, then pay the visa fee online by card.
· ~USD 80-100
/05
Receive and print the eVisa approval
Wait for processing (typically a few business days) and download/print the eVisa confirmation to present at the airline check-in and on arrival.
· Print confirmation
/06
Pay airport security fee and enter
Pay the required airport security/handling fee online or at the airport, and present your eVisa, passport, and yellow fever card at immigration.
· Airport fee
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Canadian passport valid 6+ months with at least 2 blank pages
required
Approved Sierra Leone eVisa printout
required
Yellow fever vaccination certificate
required
Passport-style digital photo
required
Proof of accommodation / hotel booking
required
Return or onward flight ticket
recommended
Airport security fee payment receipt
required
Credit card for online visa payment
required
Proof of sufficient funds for the stay
recommended
Travel/medical insurance
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
eVisa fee (non-African nationals)USD 80-100Varies by direct application vs facilitation service
Visa on arrival feeUSD 80Alternative to eVisa; less recommended
Airport security/handling feeUSD 25Payable online or at the airport, separate from visa
Total estimateUSD 105 — USD 125incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

eVisa (online, before travel)
3-5 business days
Apply on the official Sierra Leone Immigration Service portal and receive the visa by email. Recommended by the Government of Canada.
Visa on arrival
At the airport on arrival
Available at Lungi International Airport but carries risk of delays or refusal; pre-applying online is safer.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
No visa-waiver agreement
Canada and Sierra Leone have no mutual visa-exemption arrangement, so Canadian tourists must obtain a visa.
High
/02
Tourism is not a visa-free category
Sierra Leone does not grant visa-free entry to Canadian ordinary passport holders for short tourist stays.
High
/03
Health entry control
Yellow fever vaccination proof is mandatory and tied to visa/entry, requiring advance preparation.
Medium
/04
Stay exceeds permitted period
The single-entry tourist eVisa caps stays at 30 days; longer visits need a different visa.
Low
/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
2026-05-30
Canada to Sierra Leone route verified
Confirmed eVisa requirement for Canadian ordinary passport holders against Government of Canada travel advisory and the official Sierra Leone Immigration eVisa portal; visa on arrival remains available as an alternative.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do Canadians need a visa for Sierra Leone?—
Yes. Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa. The recommended option is an eVisa applied for online before travel, though a visa on arrival is also available.
Can I get a visa on arrival instead of an eVisa?+
How long can I stay on a tourist eVisa?+
Is a yellow fever vaccination required?+
How much does the eVisa cost?+
How long does eVisa processing take?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the Canada passport

🇨🇦⇄
Compare the Canada passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇨🇦◐
Canada visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇨🇦▤
Canada passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
See something wrong on this page?
Policies change. If something looks off, tell us — we review every report within 48 hours.