Sierra Leone officially joined Egypt as the second African country to offer citizenship investment by announcing its new fast-track citizenship route on 2 January 2025. Launched a month after its GO-FOR-GOLD (GFG) Permanent Residency Program, the new option allows investors to gain citizenship in as little as 60 days, adding an alternative to the long-standing eight-year residency requirement for naturalization.
Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, Alusine Kanneh, highlighted that the country is modernizing its immigration framework by following smaller nations using their institutions, resources, and human capital to grow and modernize. “The land beneath our feet and the human capital of our people are abundant with wealth, and these new pathways to citizenship are designed to unlock that wealth for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans.”
Fast-Track Citizenship Requirements
Dubbed “facilitated naturalization” by the Government of Sierra Leona, it’s essentially a direct citizenship route similar to other citizenship by investment programs.
The program has two main investment routes:
Fast-track naturalization
The fast-track naturalization option is available to all foreign nationals. It requires a minimum investment of $140,000, which includes all program fees, legal costs, and due diligence fees. Fast-track naturalization is granted without 90 days.
Heritage naturalization
The heritage naturalization option is available to the African diaspora with lineage proven by DNA testing. It requires a minimum investment of $100,000, which includes all program fees, legal costs, and due diligence fees. Heritage naturalization is granted without 60 days.
Family inclusion
Both routes allow applicants to add qualifying dependents for an additional $10,000 per dependent. Qualifying dependents include:
- Dependent children under 18
- Spouses (including legal second spouses)
- Dependent parents of any age
Investors can apply for GO-FOR-GOLD second citizenship without first getting permanent residency. Those who choose permanent residency rather than citizenship can still apply for fast-tracked naturalization under the program, but the government is fine-tuning that process.
Find out more about Citizenship by Investment Countries and Programs for 2025
Sierra Leone Passport Power
Despite not being particularly strong, the Sierra Leone passport has steadily increased its visa free travel options from 57 in 2015 to 68 in 2025. Visa free countries include Ghana, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. As one of the 15 ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) member states, a Sierra Leone second passport allows holders to travel freely and establish residency in 15 member countries.
Economic and Social Impact
The Government of Sierra Leone sees the fast-track citizenship initiative as part of Sierra Leone’s overall economic reform agenda. Stephen Barnes, co-developer of the program, emphasized that the investor visa program is a roadmap to achieve the nation’s development goals. “This program is not just about citizenship – it’s about funding critical projects for sustainable economic growth.”
By attracting international investments, Sierra Leone will fund infrastructure development, social programs, and other projects to drive long-term economic stability and prosperity.
