Sierra Leone’s citizenship‑by‑investment program will introduce two new routes for applicants without dependents on 1 October, lowering the cheapest single‑applicant option to US $95,000. At the same time, the DNA‑based “Heritage” route for people of African descent will increase by US $20,000.
New solo and partnership routes
| Route | Main applicant fee | Dependent allowance | Due‑diligence fee | Total cost (incl. due diligence) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Entrepreneur | US $95,000 | No dependents allowed | US $5,000 | US $100,000 |
| Enterprise Citizenship | US $80,000 per applicant (two unrelated main applicants) | No dependents allowed | US $5,000 shared | US $165,000 total |
| – Additional notary session (Enterprise) | +US $1,000 per applicant | – | – | – |
The Enterprise route replaces a previous two‑partner option (late‑2025 expansion) that priced each partner at US $85,000.
Family‑oriented routes
-
Fast‑Track Citizenship – remains at US $140,000 for a single main applicant and permits dependents without a DNA test. Dependent fees:
- Spouse, minor children, parents, grandparents – US $10,000 each
- Adult children and siblings under 30 – US $20,000 each
-
Heritage Citizenship – main applicant fee rises from US $100,000 to US $120,000; DNA test required to prove African ancestry. Dependent fees are unchanged.
-
Plus One Business Partner – formerly “+1 Business Partner,” retains a US $30,000 fee, allowing a Fast‑Track or Heritage main applicant to add one unrelated adult. Company incorporation, previously bundled, is now optional.
Cost comparison for families
- A single applicant of African descent using Heritage pays US $125,000 (including due diligence), US $25,000 less than the Solo Entrepreneur route and avoids the DNA test.
- A Heritage family of four (spouse + two minor children) now costs US $155,000 (up from US $135,000). The same family via Fast‑Track would pay US $175,000.
- Two unrelated applicants where one qualifies for Heritage, with a Plus One, total US $155,000 (including due diligence). Enterprise Citizenship for the pair costs US $165,000, and Fast‑Track with a Plus One reaches US $175,000.
Program focus
The government targets roughly 4,000 families over five years, emphasizing entrepreneurs, investors, and high‑net‑worth families who can contribute capital, business expertise, and international networks. Twice‑yearly investor delegations are intended to connect new citizens with decision‑makers and facilitate direct economic participation.
Legislative background
- The GO‑FOR‑GOLD program launched as a gold‑backed residency scheme in December 2024 and added citizenship options in January 2025.
- A late‑2025 expansion introduced extended‑relative eligibility.
- Citizenship is granted under Section 27A of the Citizenship Act 1973, which gives the President discretionary authority. Formal codification through a Citizenship (Special Naturalization) Regulation, 2026 is still pending.
These changes create a tiered structure that separates solo investors from family‑based applicants, offering lower entry costs for single entrepreneurs while maintaining higher fees for routes that include dependents or require ancestry verification.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
