Authorities in Sierra Leone have introduced a new digital “unified permits platform” to strengthen the regulation of residence and work permits. This new measure digitally streamlines all applications and registrations for both residence and work permits across the country, according to a joint statement from the country’s Labour Ministry and Immigration Department.
The move is intended to improve immigration management, enhance compliance with national laws, and ensure that employment opportunities are properly regulated.
Under the new measures, all foreign nationals seeking to live or work in the country are required to regularize their immigration status through the appropriate residence and work permit processes. Authorities say the initiative will help address irregular migration, improve data collection, and ensure that expatriates working in the country do so legally.
Authorities say that employers also bear a responsibility to ensure that foreign employees possess valid work permits before engaging them, adding that failure to comply with the new requirements could result in penalties, including fines or other legal actions.
“The Government of Sierra Leone urges all non-nationals to regularize their status without delay and encourages full cooperation from all employers to ensure a lawful, orderly and transparent immigration and labour management systems to avoid interrupted travels, violation of the law and penalties,” the statement reads.
Government officials noted that the reforms are part of broader efforts to protect national security, promote fair labour practices, and create an orderly system that benefits both citizens and lawfully resident non-citizens. The measures are also expected to contribute to improved revenue generation and more effective monitoring of the expatriate workforce.
The public has been urged to cooperate with immigration authorities and to take advantage of the designated application channels to avoid sanctions.
You can access the unified permits platform here.
