Sierra Leone has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its Citizenship‑by‑Investment (CBI) program, aiming to make the offering more flexible and attractive to foreign investors.
Revised fee structure
- Primary applicant: US $140,000 (unchanged)
- Standard dependents (spouse, children under 18, and now grandparents): US $10,000 each
- Special dependents (additional spouses, their children, and other extended family members): US $20,000 each
- Business‑partner “plus‑one” option: US $30,000, allowing an unrelated partner to be added to the same application
With the plus‑one option, two unrelated applicants can obtain citizenship for a combined cost of roughly US $175,000 (including due‑diligence and other fees), positioning Sierra Leone as one of the most affordable CBI programs for joint applicants.
Expanded family eligibility
The program now recognizes broader family structures beyond the nuclear model, accommodating multiple spouses and extended relatives common in regions such as the Middle East and Africa. This change is intended to prevent family composition from becoming a barrier to investment.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) access
Citizenship grants:
- Residency in Sierra Leone
- Freedom of movement across ECOWAS member states, a bloc of more than 450 million people, including Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and others
Investors cite the ability to travel and conduct business within ECOWAS as a primary motivator, especially where visa requirements are otherwise restrictive.
Integrated business setup
Every successful applicant receives:
- A locally incorporated company at no additional cost
- A guaranteed bank account for that company with a partner bank (options include a government‑owned commercial bank and Access Bank, a Nigerian‑listed institution with ~63 million customers)
The banks accept the CBI due‑diligence report as sufficient KYC documentation, streamlining account opening.
Fully online application
All stages—document submission, verification, notarisation—are now conducted digitally via video calls and secure portals. Applicants no longer need to travel for in‑person notarisation, making the process one of the most paper‑light CBI pathways available.
Practical considerations
- Due‑diligence: Applicants must pass the standard background and source‑of‑funds checks required by Sierra Leone’s chief immigration officer.
- Timeline: The online system reduces processing time, though exact durations depend on the completeness of documentation and the speed of due‑diligence verification.
- Risk: As with any CBI scheme, investors should assess political stability, legal protections for foreign investors, and the long‑term value of ECOWAS mobility.
- Decision criteria: Cost per applicant, ability to include extended family, access to a corporate entity and bank account, and ECOWAS travel benefits are key factors when comparing Sierra Leone to other CBI jurisdictions.
