Freetown, Sierra Leone – April 8, 2026 – The Government of Sierra Leone has issued a stern public notice confirming that, with effect from April 1, 2026, only the new Biometric Residence and Work Permit Cards are legally recognized for non-nationals in the country.
According to the official notice released by the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security and the Sierra Leone Immigration Department on April 7, 2026, all previous paper-based residence and work permits are no longer valid for identification, residency, or employment purposes.
The transition was first announced via a press release on January 16, 2026, granting non-nationals an initial 45-day period to replace their old permits. This grace period was later extended by an additional month to allow more time for compliance. Despite these extensions, the government has now ended the transition phase and moved into full enforcement.
Key Points of the Directive:
– Biometric cards are mandatory: From April 1, 2026, only biometric permits issued by the authorities will be accepted as proof of legal residency and work authorization.
– Paper permits invalidated: All old paper-based documents have lost their legal status.
– Nationwide enforcement: Verification checks are actively being conducted at airports, border entry points, workplaces, and through field inspections across the country.
– Consequences of non-compliance: Failure to comply may result in denial of entry or exit at borders, administrative sanctions, penalties, or revocation of residency or work authorization.
– Obligations for employers: Employers are reminded that engaging non-nationals without valid biometric permits constitutes a violation of national regulations.
The notice urges all non-nationals and their employers to regularize their status immediately, warning that no further extensions will be granted.
Support and Application Process
To facilitate the transition, the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security and the Immigration Department have made offices operational in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Kono, and Port Loko. Trained personnel are available to assist applicants with new applications, renewals, and verifications.
Applications and verifications can also be completed online through the official portal: www.unifiedpermit.gov.sl.
The government emphasized its commitment to building a “secure, transparent, and efficient migration management system” in Sierra Leone.
For further information, the public is advised to contact the offices of the Commissioner of Labour at the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security or the Chief Immigration Officer at the Sierra Leone Immigration Department.
This move forms part of broader efforts by the Sierra Leonean authorities to modernize immigration control, strengthen border management, and ensure that only authorized individuals reside and work in the country.
