In January 2025, Sierra Leone, a small country in West Africa, officially launched its citizenship by investment program with a minimum contribution of USD 140,000. The estimated processing time for obtaining a passport is approximately three months.
Passport Value
Although the Sierra Leonean passport is relatively weak in terms of travel freedom — currently providing visa-free access to only 66 destinations in Africa and Asia — we believe it will still attract demand in the second citizenship market in 2025. The reason is straightforward: several traditional options, including the five Caribbean island states (such as Dominica and St. Kitts & Nevis), have stopped accepting applications from Russian nationals due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russians are not the only affected group; other nationalities have also been restricted.
Advantages
- Citizenship is granted for life
- Family members may be included in the main application for additional fees
- Sierra Leone is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), allowing residency rights across 15 West African countries
- Applicants may officially change their name for an additional USD 10,000
- Tax residency certificates are available if required
- Local bank accounts may be opened and used for asset diversification; Sierra Leone is not a participant in the Automatic Exchange of Bank Information system
Citizenship by Investment – Two Options
- Fast-Track Naturalization
Citizenship is granted within 90 days for a contribution of USD 140,000. This amount includes all fees and due diligence costs. - Naturalization by Descent
Available to applicants of African descent based on DNA heritage verification. Citizenship is granted within 60 days for a contribution of USD 100,000.
All investment amounts are stated in US dollars. Although officially defined as “investments,” they are effectively non-refundable donations to support national development.
Family Members
Family members may be included in the application for an additional fee of USD 10,000 per dependent. Eligible dependents include the spouse, children under 18, and parents of any age who are financially supported by the main applicant.
Gold Club
Participants in the program are eligible to join the GO-FOR-GOLD (GFG) Club, which provides services such as personalized travel and concierge support, business registration assistance, tax residency facilitation, in-country banking, and early access to investment opportunities. Members may purchase Sierra Leonean gold bars at a 2% discount below market price (up to 20 kg over five years). Proceeds from these purchases are directed to small-scale gold miners to support the local mining sector.
Sierra Leone Citizenship by the Regular Path
The new investment scheme serves as an alternative to the standard naturalization process, which normally requires eight years of physical residence in Sierra Leone along with evidence of integration into local society.
Professional Services
At Elma Capital, we are ready to assist you in acquiring citizenship by investment — not only in Sierra Leone but also in other jurisdictions offering similar passport programs — under the best available market conditions. If you have any questions, please contact us today.
When sending us an email, please include your citizenship, country of residence, and the age of each family member to be included in the application. This information is necessary to provide an accurate estimate of the applicable fees and expenses.