Sierra Leone's citizenship by investment program now has a lower entry price for people applying alone, according to new pricing from an agent-run program website. The pricing, published at the end of September 2026, lists a new solo route at US$95,000, plus a US$5,000 due diligence fee, for a total of US$100,000 for one applicant with no dependants.
The update also adds an enterprise route for two principal applicants who apply together, and sets the main-applicant price of the DNA-based heritage route, for people of African descent, at US$120,000. The standard route for families stays at US$140,000.
The figures below come from pricing published on SLCBI, an agent-run program website, as of early October 2026. They are not from a government source. Sierra Leone's Immigration Department announced the investor and heritage naturalization routes in January 2025, but its official website did not publish a fee schedule for them when this article was prepared, so applicants usually confirm current amounts with an authorized agent and the Sierra Leone authorities.
Key takeaways
- A single applicant can now apply through the solo route for US$95,000 plus US$5,000 due diligence, a total of US$100,000.
- The enterprise route lets two principal applicants apply together at US$80,000 each, with one shared US$5,000 due diligence fee, for US$165,000 in total. Neither route allows dependants.
- The heritage route, which requires DNA evidence of African ancestry, costs US$120,000 plus US$5,000 for the main applicant and allows family members.
- The program is new, approval is discretionary, and the passport offers far less visa-free travel than Caribbean or European options.
Sierra Leone's citizenship routes at a glance
| Route | Who it is for | Main applicant | Due diligence | Total for the base case | Dependants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | One applicant | US$95,000 | US$5,000 | US$100,000 | Not allowed |
| Enterprise | Two principal applicants, such as business partners | US$80,000 each | US$5,000 shared | US$165,000 for both | Not allowed |
| Heritage | Applicants with DNA evidence of African ancestry | US$120,000 | US$5,000 | US$125,000 | Allowed, extra fee per dependant |
| Standard | Applicants and families without the DNA route | US$140,000 | Other fees may apply | From US$140,000 | Allowed, US$10,000 standard dependant category |
Source: published pricing on SLCBI, an agent-run program website with offices in Hong Kong and Freetown, as of October 2026. No official government fee schedule was available to confirm these figures. Other government, document, passport and professional costs can apply.
What changed
The main change is a cheaper door for people who apply on their own. Until now, the standard route at US$140,000 was the main option for a single applicant without DNA evidence of African ancestry. The solo route is US$45,000 lower before fees.
The enterprise route is designed for pairs, such as co-founders or business partners. Each applicant must meet the eligibility, identity, source of funds and due diligence requirements on their own, and one applicant's approval does not extend to the other. Splitting a single US$5,000 due diligence fee makes the per-person cost US$82,500.
The heritage route now sits above the solo route for a single person. An applicant of African descent who applies alone would pay US$125,000 including due diligence through the heritage route, against US$100,000 through the solo route. The heritage route's advantage is for families, because it accepts dependants and the solo route does not.
How the program works
Sierra Leone's investor routes are run as a naturalization framework under the country's citizenship laws, with final approval at the government's discretion. According to the program's materials, applicants do not need to live in Sierra Leone for several years first, and the process can be handled remotely, subject to document, DNA and compliance formalities.
The heritage route builds on Sierra Leone's long-running outreach to people of African descent abroad. For this route, eligibility rests on prescribed DNA evidence of African ancestry. Applicants do not need a Sierra Leonean parent or grandparent, and the ancestry does not need to trace to modern Sierra Leone. Program materials warn that a consumer ancestry test may not meet the required evidence standard.
All routes require identity and civil-status documents, source of funds evidence where requested, and a due diligence check. Payment alone does not establish eligibility. Our guide to source of funds for investment migration explains what these checks usually involve.
Points to weigh
Sierra Leone is now one of the lowest-priced citizenship by investment options. As of October 2026, the five Caribbean programs require at least US$200,000 for a donation, so the gap is large. Price is only one factor, though.
- Track record. The program is much newer than the Caribbean programs, and its own materials say so. Its routes and prices are still evolving, as this update shows.
- Travel access. A Sierra Leone passport does not give visa-free access to the Schengen area, the UK or the US. Sierra Leone nationals need a visa for short stays in the Schengen area under the EU's visa policy. Under a US proclamation of December 2025, Sierra Leone nationals also face a full suspension of US entry, with limited exceptions. Sierra Leone is a member of ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, whose rules support free movement within West Africa.
- Discretion. Approval depends on the government's decision in each case, and the program's legal framework is less tested than older statutory programs.
- Dual citizenship. Sierra Leone permits dual citizenship, but the applicant's current country must also allow it. Our list of countries that allow dual citizenship covers the main rules.
- Long-term security. As with any investor citizenship, the status depends on the issuing state's law. Our guide to citizenship by investment revocation risk explains how revocation works in different programs.
For a wider comparison of entry prices, see our list of the cheapest citizenship by investment programs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Sierra Leone citizenship by investment cost in 2026?
The lowest published price is US$100,000 for one applicant through the solo route: US$95,000 plus a US$5,000 due diligence fee. Two applicants can apply together through the enterprise route for US$165,000 in total. Families usually use the standard route from US$140,000 or the heritage route from US$120,000 plus fees.
Can I include my spouse or children on the solo route?
No. The solo and enterprise routes do not accept dependants. Families need the standard route or, if the main applicant qualifies through DNA evidence of African ancestry, the heritage route. Both charge extra for each dependant.
Do I need to live in Sierra Leone to qualify?
According to the program's materials, there is no multi-year residence requirement, and applications can be handled remotely. Applicants still have to meet document, due diligence and, for the heritage route, DNA requirements.
Does a Sierra Leone passport give visa-free travel to Europe?
No. Sierra Leone nationals need a visa to visit the Schengen area. The passport's main mobility benefit is within West Africa through ECOWAS.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.