London, 31 July 2025 — The Sierra Leone High Commission in the United Kingdom has issued a firm denial of recent social media claims suggesting that the UK and European Union have revoked visa privileges for Sierra Leonean nationals due to extradition-related issues.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the High Commission described the reports as “entirely false and without foundation,” stressing that visa services for Sierra Leonean travellers remain fully operational and unchanged.
“We wish to assure all concerned that visa application and processing services for Sierra Leonean travellers to the UK and EU remain active and uninterrupted,” the statement read.
Reaffirming this position, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) informed the High Commission that, “Visa offices and visa processing remain open for business as usual. Visitors from Sierra Leone are welcome to apply for holidays, work, or studies.”
The denial comes in response to a viral online article that falsely claimed the UK and EU had imposed visa bans on Sierra Leoneans in retaliation for Freetown’s alleged refusal to extradite convicted Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers.
The article alleged sweeping punitive measures including the suspension of student and work visas, deportation of Sierra Leonean nationals, and travel bans for government officials.
The High Commission has dismissed these allegations as entirely baseless, pointing out that there is no official communication from the UK Home Office, the European Commission, or any EU member state to support such claims. Visa eligibility for Sierra Leoneans under both the UK and Schengen systems remains unchanged, with no modifications to categories, procedures, or travel advisories.
Additionally, the article references fabricated individuals such as “EU Commission President Annika Vogt”—a person who does not exist. The current President of the European Commission is Ursula von der Leyen, who has issued no such statements regarding Sierra Leone.
The High Commission also noted that the article misleadingly connects unrelated U.S. travel restrictions to the Leijdekkers case—claims that are inaccurate and irrelevant to the current visa processes for the UK or EU.
The public has been urged to disregard unverified reports and rely solely on official sources for accurate information. Updates and verified communications can be found through the High Commission’s official platforms.
