GoSierra Leone Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1、 Visa Notice
The Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone on Mutual Exemption of Visa for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders has come into effect on December 24, 2018. Chinese citizens holding valid diplomatic, official, or service ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements when staying in Sierra Leone for no more than 30 days. If staying for more than 30 days, they must complete the residency procedures.  
Chinese nationals holding diplomatic, official, or service ordinary passports who are permanent residents of diplomatic, consular, and international organizations in Sierra Leone, including their family members holding diplomatic, official, or service ordinary passports, are exempt from visa requirements for entry, transit, and stay in Sierra Leone during their term of office. However, they must complete the appointment procedures within 30 days of their first entry.
Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports entering Sierra Leone do not enjoy visa free treatment:
（1） Applying for a business visa: Provide a note from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an invitation letter from relevant departments in Sierra Leone, as well as an official letter from the applicant's enterprise or institution.
（2） Applying for a tourist or family visit visa: round-trip airfare or an invitation letter from the applicant's relatives in Serbia should be provided.
（3） Applying for a business visa: An invitation letter from the relevant department or company, proof of the applicant's company, and bank statement should be provided.
Please note: Starting from September 5, 2019, Sierra Leone has implemented a visa on arrival policy for China (details can be found at: http://slid.gov.sl/visa-on-arrival/ ）The visa fee is $80.

2、 Entry and Exit Notice
Valid travel documents, International Travel Health Certificate, and International Vaccination Certificate are required. For any matters not covered, please consult the Serbian Embassy in China:
Address: No.7 Dongzhimen Outer Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: 65321222 (Front Desk Reception) 65322174 (Ambassador's Secretary) 65321446 (General and Visa Affairs)
Fax: 65323752
Email:slembbj@qq.com

Customs epidemic prevention and control

1、 Customs regulations
（1） On December 23, 2020, the Central Bank of Sierra Leone announced the lifting of restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that individuals and businesses within Sierra Leone can hold, allowing the public to hold foreign currencies exceeding $10000 or its equivalent outside the banking system. In addition, the $10000 threshold for customers holding foreign currency has been abolished by commercial banks. However, any individual, business entity, or organization carrying any foreign currency exceeding $10000 or its equivalent into Sierra Leone must declare the excess foreign currency in accordance with the regulations of the Customs and Immigration Department; Anyone carrying foreign currency exceeding the prescribed limit into Sierra Leone must deposit the excess foreign currency into a commercial bank or other licensed financial institution within 3 working days.
It is prohibited to bring light weapons, explosives, prescription drugs, and animals into the country.  
It is prohibited to carry light weapons, explosives, cultural relics, unprocessed diamonds and gold, wild animals, sea cucumbers, seahorses, ivory, etc. out of the country.
（3） At present, the main taxes and tax rates levied by Sierra Leone Customs are as follows:
Import taxes: 0%, 5%, 15%, and 20%, depending on the imported goods;
Import sales tax: 15% of the CIF price of imported goods;  
Domestic consumption tax: 30% of the ex factory price of goods;  
Domestic sales tax: 15% of the ex factory price of the goods plus domestic consumption tax;  
Taxation on member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): 0.5%.
2、 Epidemic prevention requirements
Vaccination is required for diseases including cholera, meningitis, hepatitis A, and yellow fever, and an International Certificate of Vaccination must be presented upon entry

Residency and Naturalization

1、 Residence
To stay in Serbia, one should apply for a foreigner's residence registration certificate. For example, to engage in production and business operations, one should also apply for a work permit. Applicants are required to provide proof of income, residence, business registration, employment relationship, and other relevant documents based on their reasons for non cohabitation. The validity period of a residence permit is generally one year and can be extended in advance.
2、 Naturalization
Serbia recognizes dual nationality. The following situations are eligible to apply for citizenship: non Serbian women who marry Serbian male citizens; African Americans born in Serbia; One parent is of African descent and has resided continuously in Serbia for no less than 8 years as a fully capable person; Both parents are not of African descent, and I am a fully capable person who has resided continuously in Serbia for no less than 15 years; Individuals born outside of Serbia and under the age of 21, if one of their parents was already registered in Serbia before their birth, may still apply for citizenship based on their continuous residency.

public security

The public security situation is average, and robbery and theft cases occur from time to time. Try not to carry large amounts of cash and valuables when going out, and it is best not to go out alone at night.

natural disaster

During the rainy season (May to October each year), there are frequent natural disasters such as mudslides and floods. When going out, attention should be paid to personal safety and corresponding preventive measures should be taken.

FDA

Poor food hygiene conditions, try to eat less raw and cold food, and boil tap water before drinking.

Urgent Help

General alarm phone number: 112
First aid for COVID-19 and Ebola: 117
Traffic accident: 244
Electricity Distribution and Supply Bureau: 672
Fire Brigade: 999
The above are official emergency call numbers, but they are often unreachable. In case of emergency, you can also call:
Medical Assistance: 076270270
Bandit police: 076319981
Traffic accident: 076218697
The following are the emergency phone numbers for major regions:
Longji Airport: 079685356
Freetown City: 076504131
Bocheng: 078676702
Kenema City: 076986793
Markney City: 076822729
Luoke Port: 076596233
Please refer to the contact information of police stations and sub bureaus in various provinces and regions of Serbia for detailshttps://www.police.gov.sl/freetown-west-2/）

air traffic

There are no direct flights from Sierra Leone to China, and layovers are required in Paris, Brussels, Accra, or Nairobi. Lungi Airport is the only international airport in Serbia. From Lungi Airport to the capital city of Freetown, it is possible to drive (about 3 hours) or take a ferry (about 40 minutes, with a one-way fare of 800 Lyon or $45).

land transport

The road conditions from the capital to various provincial capitals are relatively good, but the streets in Freetown are narrow and severely damaged, resulting in chaotic traffic. Sierra Leone has no railway transportation.
Chinese driver's license cannot be used locally. If you need to drive, you need to obtain a local driver's license.
The traffic rule is to drive on the right side and right-hand drive vehicles are not allowed on the road.

water communication

You can take a ferry between the capital city of Freetown and Lungi International Airport.

Urban transportation

The main modes of transportation in Freetown are minibuses, taxis, and motorcycles.

major city

1、 The capital city of Freetown is the largest city in Serbia, located at the top of the Sierra Leone Peninsula in western Serbia, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. The urban area is about 68 square kilometers and the population is about 610000. It is the political, economic, and cultural center of Serbia and a famous natural harbor in West Africa. Freetown was founded in 1792. Small light industries include beer, soft drinks, flour, soap, cement, coatings, etc. The main agricultural products include coffee, cocoa, peanuts, pine nuts, cashews, etc. The oldest institution of higher education in West Africa, the Farawan College (founded in 1827), is located in the city and is now an important part of the University of Sierra Leone.
In March 1984 and September 2010, Freetown became sister cities with Hefei and Ganzhou in China, respectively.
2、 Bo Cheng is the second largest city in Serbia, the capital of the Southern Province, and the largest city in southeastern Serbia. It is located 249 kilometers southeast of Freetown and is another educational, transportation, commercial, and cultural center after Freetown, with a population of 306000. Engala University is located in the city.
3、 Kenema is the capital of the Eastern Province, located 298 kilometers southeast of Freetown, with a population of approximately 200000. It is the main diamond trading center and economic and financial center of eastern Serbia.
4、 Makeni is the capital of the Northern Province, the largest city and economic center in northern Serbia, located 177 kilometers northeast of Freetown, with a population of 126000.
5、 Port Loko is the capital of the Northwest Province, named after the Loko people and established by Portuguese merchants. It is now home to a diverse population. Agricultural activities are the main source of the province's economy, and the supply of natural resources such as gold, aluminum, and bauxite has also contributed to the local economic development.

Commodity prices

Starting from July 1, 2022, the Bank of Sierra Leone will issue a new version of legal tender to replace the old currency that has been in circulation for decades. The old and new versions of currency will circulate simultaneously, with a transition period from July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. The old currency will cease to be legal tender from October 1, 2022.
Rich in mineral deposits, mainly including diamonds, gold, bauxite, rutile, iron ore, etc; The fishery resources are abundant, mainly including Bangka fish, tuna, yellow croaker, green croaker, lobster, etc; The national forest area is about 320000 hectares, which is rich in redwood, redwood, and other woods; The main crops include cocoa, cassava, coffee, rice, sweet potatoes, peanuts, corn, etc; Animal husbandry mainly focuses on raising cattle, sheep, and chickens.
The supply of materials is tight, with a limited variety and high prices of daily necessities and food. The average price is usually three to four times the price level in China.
The currency is Leone, with RMB 1 equivalent to approximately 2.6 Leone (as of December 2022).
In January 2010, the Sierra Leone government began implementing Goods and Services Tax (GST), replacing the previous indirect tax, domestic and imported goods consumption tax, catering tax, information tax, professional services tax, hotel accommodation tax, and entertainment tax. GST is similar to value-added tax (VAT) in other countries, which is an additional tax added to the price of goods, wholesale and retail, and services. The standard tax rate is 15%. Goods and services exempt from GST include unprocessed rice, agricultural inputs (fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, etc.), water, printed materials (books and newspapers), textbooks, medical services and drugs, crude oil and hydrocarbons, financial services, disability goods, machinery (agricultural, processing and mining machinery and equipment), etc.
The main payment method is cash, and some places can use MASTER or VISA credit cards for payment.
The main banks in Sierra Leone include Bank of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, and United Bank for Africa.

Insurance Medical

Medical conditions are outdated, and the mortality rates of infants, young children, and pregnant women are high. The average life expectancy for women is about 62 years and for men it is about 56 years.
The Serbian government requires employers to purchase medical insurance for their employees based on their wages. The company also provides certain medical subsidies to employees based on their operating conditions. Ordinary citizens in Serbia can purchase commercial medical insurance from the national insurance company, but due to the low income level of most citizens and the unresolved issue of food and clothing, only a few wealthy people purchase commercial medical insurance.
I need to receive relevant vaccines and carry corresponding medications before departing as a citizen from Serbia, as there are infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis, and pneumonia in Serbia; After arrival, attention should be paid to preventing mosquito bites, and if necessary, medical treatment can be sought at our aid medical team and local hospitals with better conditions.
The main hospitals in Serbia include: China Serbia Friendship Hospital (the hospital where the Chinese aid medical team is located, with a medical team duty phone number of 00232-88-899630); Choithram Memorial Hospital (a private hospital in India, phone: 076-888-880); Emergency hotline: 076-960-000); Connaught Hospital (with a focus on general practice, particularly surgery); 34 Military Hospital (COVID-19 designated hospital for emergency and critical care, Tel: 078-641-536); Princess Christian Maternity Health Hospital; Ola During Children's Hospital; King Harman Road Government Hospital.

Customs taboos

Main festivals: Independence Day (April 27th), Christmas, Easter, and Eid al Adha.
Dietary habits: Enjoys spicy and sweet foods.
Customs: 60% of residents believe in Islam, 30% believe in Christianity, and the rest believe in fetishism; Funerals are grand and complex, often held in churches.

Communications Power

1、 Communication Network
Communication is outdated, there are fewer fixed telephones, and local people tend to use mobile phones. The cost of mobile phone calls between local telecommunications companies is about 7 RMB per minute (one-way charge), and making calls to Sierra Leone from domestic mobile phones is 2.99 RMB per minute. There are two mobile phone standards, 3G and 4G, and Chinese mobile phones are compatible with both of these standards. The Internet is backward, the signal is unstable and the network speed is slow.
2、 Power supply voltage
The power interface type is British standard plug (cross shaped plug), with a standard voltage of 230 volts.

contact information

Longji Airport Bandit Police Phone: 079685356
Immigration Office Phone: 076100481
Duty phone number of China Serbia Friendship Hospital: 088899630
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Sierra Leone: 076680775 (Address: 29 Spur Loop), Wilberforce, Freetown, Sierra Leone）