South Africa to Sierra Leone visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders need a visa for Sierra Leone. The recommended route is the official Sierra Leone eVisa (evisa.sl) applied for before travel. As an African Union member state, South Africa also qualifies for visa on arrival (around USD 25), but airlines may refuse boarding without a pre-approved visa, so the eVisa is the safer choice. There is no visa-free access for South African (ordinary) passport holders to Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's visa policy offers two practical channels for South Africans: an online eVisa obtained in advance through the official portal at evisa.sl, and a visa on arrival available to African Union member-state nationals (South Africa qualifies, as it is not an ECOWAS state and not among the excluded countries Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea or Ethiopia). The visa on arrival costs roughly USD 25 and is valid for a 30-day stay. The eVisa is a single-entry tourist visa typically valid 90 days from issue with a maximum stay of 30 days; African Union nationals pay a reduced fee (around USD 25-35 versus roughly USD 80-100 for non-Africans). Because some airlines refuse boarding without an approved visa, and to avoid uncertainty at the port of entry, the eVisa applied for in advance is the recommended option for short tourist visits. Passports must be valid for at least six months and travelers should carry proof of onward travel and a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Sierra Leone is in West Africa and has no connection to the Schengen area; ETIAS and the Schengen 90/180 rule do not apply. Figures verified against the Sierra Leone Immigration Department visa policy, the official eVisa portal, the Wikipedia visa policy summary, and visa-service references as of 30 May 2026.