Visa Requirements and Entry Arrangements for ICIC/IDUAI 2026 Freetown Participants
In preparation for the upcoming ICIC/IDUAI 2026 Conference, scheduled to take place in Freetown in September 2026, the host institution, the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) of Sierra Leone, is actively engaging relevant government authorities to facilitate smooth entry procedures for all international participants.
As part of these efforts, RAIC is currently in discussions with immigration authorities to secure Visa on Arrival arrangements and other special considerations such as airport tax fee waiver exclusively for registered conference participants. It is important to note that these facilitation measures would be strictly contingent upon early registration, and participants are therefore strongly encouraged to complete their registration processes well in advance.
Visa Application Process
Participants who require visas to enter Sierra Leone are advised to apply online through the Sierra Leone eVisa System. Applicants will be issued an Application ID only after successful online submission, payment, and approval. This Application ID must be presented upon arrival at the immigration desk, along with the same passport used during the application, for the printing and issuance of the eVisa.
Visa on Arrival
As indicated earlier, there is also possibility for visas to be granted on arrival at the Freetown International Airport for those who would prefer that option. However, for a participant to benefit from receiving their visa on arrival they would need to register early for the conference and inform the conference secretariat accordingly by completing the conference registration form with this information.
Visa Fees
Visa processing fees are categorized as follows:
1. African Union (AU) Nationals – Fee: $25
Nationals from the following AU member states are required to pay a visa fee of $25:
Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Western Sahara.
2. Non-African Union Nationals – Fee: $80
Participants from non-AU countries are required to pay a visa fee of $80. This applies to nationals from countries including (but not limited to):
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, إيران, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vietnam, and others listed in the official schedule.
Visa Fee Exemptions
Nationals of certain countries are exempt from visa fees upon arrival, based on reciprocal agreements with Sierra Leone. These include:
Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Fiji, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Visa Exemptions for Certain Countries
It is important to note that nationals of countries not listed in the above categories may not require a visa to enter Sierra Leone.
In particular, citizens of member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are generally exempt from visa requirements when traveling within the sub-region. This exemption is in line with ECOWAS protocols on the free movement of persons, goods, and services among member states.
Countries benefiting from this arrangement include, but are not limited to: Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau.
Participants from these countries can therefore enter Sierra Leone without a visa, provided they present a valid travel document such as a passport or recognized ECOWAS travel certificate.
Additional Services
Support services, including immigration consulting and passport photo services, are available to assist applicants throughout the visa process where necessary.
On arrival at Sierra Leone Iinternational Airport, Lungi, ferry services are available as an alternative sea transportation option to Sea Coach and Sea Bird. Pickups would only be provided for guests that stay in the designated hotels.
