Sierra Leone Citizenship by Investment Program – apply with an official partner
Sierra Leone has launched a unique citizenship program in the African context, whereby investors who submit a donation to the government may obtain naturalization as citizens of the country in as little as 90 days.
It is open to citizens of all countries and a substantially discounted option is available to individuals who can prove African genetic heritage through a DNA test submission.
Donation amounts start at $95,000 for an individual, or $140,000 for a main applicant with dependents. For families where the main applicant is of African descent, the main applicant price starts at $120,000. The Wandering Investor does not charge any additional agency fees as a licensed partner of this program.
The Wandering Investor is an official agent of the Sierra Leone CBI.
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This program has issued passports to several dozen individuals already approved since the program’s inception, including clients of The Wandering Investor.
Here are Marc and Maggie receiving their passports directly from the hands of His Excellency the Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in Freetown.
As official agents of the Sierra Leone CBI we can help you apply and complete the process entirely remotely. Our dedicated representative will help you assemble your application for no additional cost.
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What are the benefits of the Sierra Leone CBI program?
- Efficient processing time of 90 days to approval
- No unreasonable bureaucratic hurdles or exhaustive documentation
- Visa-free access and simplified residency in the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) community
- Can apply and receive approval entirely remotely. There is no need to travel to Sierra Leone, or even visit an embassy
- Once a citizen, you can open non-CRS bank accounts in Sierra Leone – the program office includes a bank account and local company registration as a courtesy to new citizens.
- Investment and application fees can be paid in cryptocurrency
- Ability to add an broad range of dependents including children, siblings, multiple legal spouses and grandparents
- Citizenship is inherited by your future generations
- Ability to add a business partner or co-investor as a plus one for an additional fee
- Name changes allowed for an additional fee
- Program fees for each successful application include the option for a limited liability company and bank account in Sierra Leone
Visa-free access to ECOWAS
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) consists of 12 member states: Benin, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Documents Required
To apply for citizenship by investment in Sierra Leone you must obtain the following documents:
- Completed application form
- Copy of passport data page
- High-quality biometric passport photo
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Proof of residential address
- DNA test results proving African ancestry from Living DNA (for Heritage Citizenship option applicants only)
- Signed and notarized Oath of Allegiance to Sierra Leone (physical copy must be mailed at end of application process)
- Signed and notarized Section 9 declaration of financial self-sufficiency (physical copy must be mailed at end of application process)
Important Notes:
- There is no need to notarize or apostille any documentation yourself. The program will arrange a video call with a partner legal firm to certify all of your documents as true copies.
- Translations of documents to English should be provided.
- Everything can be submitted entirely remotely and you do not have to travel to Sierra Leone in order to receive your naturalization documents and passport. Passports can be sent to you via courier, or also picked up in person in Sierra Leone or Hong Kong.
- If you do visit the country and wish to obtain a local identification and National ID card, you will be required to submit fingerprints that will be embedded in your biometric profile. Appearing in-person in Sierra Leone is necessary if you wish to obtain the National ECOWAS ID card.
Application Process
- Gather all the relevant documentation listed above
- Submit your passport data page to the online application portal for an initial KYC check
- Certify the documents as true copies using an appropriate authority or using the online portal provided by the program office
- Submit all documentation via a secure, fully-automated online application portal
- Receive request for funds and escrow agreement
- Wait for due diligence and background checks to be completed
- Once approved, funds are released from escrow and you may submit your Oath of Allegiance and Passport Application
- Receive your passport, naturalization certificate and tax number by mail within 90 days of approval
Solo Entrepreneur Option – $95,000
This option is the best pathway for individuals applying without dependents. It allows one main applicant to apply at a very competitive price, starting at $95,000 plus a $5,000 diligence fee, meaning a single applicant can now obtain citizenship in Sierra Leone for $100,000 all-in. Please note that you may not add any additional dependents to this option.
Enterprise Citizenship Option – $160,000 for two people
This option is the optimal pathway for two unrelated individuals to apply applying without dependents. It allows two main applicants to apply at a discounted price of $80,000 per person plus a $5,000 application and diligence fee. This means the total cost for two people comes in at $165,000 all-in. As with the Solo Entrepreneur pathway, you may not add any additional dependents to Enterprise Citizenship applications beyond the two main applicants.
Fast-Track Citizenship Option – $140,000 plus dependent fees
This option is the optimal pathway for families to apply. This option starts at $140,000 for the main applicant, with additional charges for normal and special dependents (see below).
Heritage Citizenship Option – $120,000 plus dependent fees
This option offers a discounted price for a main applicant of African descent who wishes to apply with dependents. To qualify for the discounted price, the main applicant should prove continental African descent through a DNA test by a designated provider called LivingDNA. Normal and special dependent charges listed below also apply per eligible dependent (see below).
Eligible Dependents for Fast-Track and Heritage Pathways
Normal Dependents – $10,000 program fee per applicant
- Spouse
- Children under the age of 18
- Parents of main applicant
- Grandparents of main applicant
Special Dependents – $20,000 program fee per applicant
- Adult children of main applicant
- Additional multiple legal spouses
- Siblings of main applicant under the age of 30
- Spouse of main applicant’s included sibling
- Children of included sibling under the age of 18
- Last remaining relative of main applicant
Plus One Option
You are permitted to add one unrelated individual to Fast-Track or Heritage applications. No family relation is required – in fact, you are not permitted to have a familial relation to this person.
Plus One Dependent Fee – $30,000 contribution fee per person.
If you are two unrelated applicants, then the total price before adding dependents would be:
- $140,000 main applicant + $30,000 Plus One + $5,000 due diligence = $175,000 for two, plus any additional dependent charges
- If the main applicant is a Heritage applicant then $120,000 main applicant + $30,000 Plus One + $5,000 due diligence = $155,000 for two, plus any additional dependent charges.
Please note that the Plus One may not add any of their own dependents to the application.
Costs & Processing Time
Their are several pricing options for the Sierra Leone CBI depending on your eligibility.
Option 1: Solo Entrepreneur
One main applicant without dependents (90-day processing time)
- $95,000 USD for main applicant
- No dependents allowed for this option
- Due-diligence fee: $5,000
- Legal change of name: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Tax residency certificate issuance: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Option to have a complimentary bank account and local company registration included (maintenance fees apply after first year)
Option 2: Enterprise Citizenship
Two unrelated main applicants (90-day processing time)
- $160,000 USD for TWO main applicants
- No additional dependents allowed for this option
- Due-diligence fee: $5,000
- Legal change of name: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Tax residency certificate issuance: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Option to have a complimentary bank account and local company registration included (optional, maintenance fees apply after first year)
Option 3: Fast Track Citizenship
Main applicant + dependents (90-day processing time)
- $140,000 USD for main applicant
- $10,000 USD for each normal dependent
- $20,000 USD for each special dependent
- $30,000 USD for a Plus One
- Due-diligence fee: $5,000
- Legal change of name: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Tax residency certificate issuance: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Option to have a complimentary bank account and local company registration included (maintenance fees apply after first year)
Option 4: Heritage Citizenship
Main applicant of African descent + dependents (90-day processing time)
- $120,000 USD for main applicant
- $10,000 USD for each normal dependent
- $20,000 USD for each special dependent
- $30,000 USD for a Plus One
- Due-diligence fee: $5,000
- Legal change of name: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Tax residency certificate issuance: $10,000 USD (optional)
- Option to have a complimentary bank account and local company registration included (maintenance fees apply after first year)
How does the escrow process for the Sierra Leone CBI work?
You have three options when choosing your escrow agent:
- Sierra Leone – USD and crypto accepted
- Client Attorney – USD and maybe USDT crypto accepted. It depends on the lawyer selected as the escrow agent.
The escrow procedure is as follows:
- The client completes and signs the Application Form which contains all the operating service terms.
- The client then submits the signed form along with the supporting documents and indicates the preferred escrow option and the accompanying details
- The application center then prepares a request for funds addressed to the client’s designated Escrow Funds Holder.
- The three-party escrow agreement is executed. The client then dispatches the funds to the Escrow Funds Holder who then certifies their arrival, and the application office then proceeds to procure the agreed immigration status.
- $5,000 is lifted from escrow to initiate the due-diligence process, which is carried out by Harod Associates in the U.K.
- The application office will work to procure the naturalization certificate following approval, which serves as the anchor document to solicit documents such as passports, ID cards and add-on services such as name changes. Upon issuance of the naturalization certificate, funds may be released from escrow.
In summary, your program fees are sent to the escrow agent while your application receives due diligence. Upon successful approval of your application and issuance of your naturalization certificate, the funds are released. In case of failed applications, 100% of the donation funds are returned from escrow (the application and diligence fee is non-refundable in all cases).
Video: On-the-ground Diligence for the Sierra Leone CBI
Apply through The Wandering Investor
The Wandering Investor is an official partner of the Sierra Leone Citizenship by Investment Program. We do not charge any extra fees for processing applications beyond the standard application and donation fees.
Sierra Leone Citizenship by Investment
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FAQ
Can I include my dependent siblings on my application?
Yes, you may add siblings of the main applicant to Fast-Track and Heritage applications for $20,000 per person.
How do I prove my relationship to my dependent parents?
You must provide the birth and marriage certificates of you and/or your spouse indicating the relationship.
What is the process for changing my name as part of the application?
The name change procedure is as follows:
You first obtain your naturalization certificate through the Fast Track or Heritage naturalization pathways. This can be used to change your name by Deed Poll (at a Notary or Commissioner of Oaths). An announcement of the name change is published in the national gazette after which a new name certificate is issued, and the national registry is updated. You can then pursue issuance of a new passport reflecting the name change, and update your name on your tax number, national ID, etc.
The name change process takes approximately two weeks and can be done 100% remotely.
How much African heritage do I need? Do all countries in Africa count?
Any continental African heritage going back up to 5 generations that is demonstrated in your DNA test.
Do I need to provide a DNA test for the Heritage pathway if I am a black citizen of an African country already?
No, black citizens of African countries do not need to provide a DNA test to apply through the heritage naturalization pathway.
Can my passport be issued remotely?
Yes.
Is the passport biometric?
Yes, but you only need to provide a high-quality biometric passport photo.
Does Sierra Leone share their biometric data internationally?
No.
Can I remotely obtain a driver license upon receiving my citizenship?
Unfortunately, to obtain a driver license and National ID you need to provide biometric fingerprinting in country in Sierra Leone. The program office can assist when needed.
Am I required to obtain a National ID card?
No. There is no firm legal requirement to obtain a national ID until you decide to reside in Sierra Leone.
How is the place of birth recorded in the Sierra Leone passport?
The place of birth information will be mirrored from the passport you use to apply.
Are there any official nationality-based restrictions for this program?
North Korean nationals are excluded from applying.
Can I apply with another country's passport also acquired through citizenship by investment?
Yes.
What additional fees might I be responsible for?
Depending on the escrow service you select, a $2000 escrow fee may apply.
Can the client use an escrow service if they go the 'client lawyer' pathway? Or does it have to be a lawyer?
If a client has counsel of his own that wishes to pay or use as his escrow agent, the credentials of said escrow agent are important. To qualify as an escrow funds holder, the escrow agent must be:
- Known to client and charge fees directly to client
- Regulated by a professional body
- Able to satisfy the AML/CTF requirements of the banking jurisdiction where funds are escrowed.
Are there any additional fees for paying with crypto?
Paying by USDT (preferred) incurs no additional charges. If paying by BTC, there will be a requirement to compensate for any shortfall in USD equivalence by the time the naturalization certificate is issued.
What are the conditions for tax residency through this program?
There are no physical presence requirements. You must simply spend $10k to receive a tax certificate. The use of this certificate is limited and would depend on your personal circumstances, and it would not necessarily free you from tax obligations in other countries. It may be helpful if you are highly nomadic and require a tax residency certificate.
What are the KYC and Source of Funds requirements?
You only need to provide source of funds if you choose to use the Hong Kong escrow option.
Are naturalized citizens' names published or available as public record?
No. Presently, only birth certificates can be searched publicly and CBI applicants will not have those registered in Sierra Leone. Eventually there will be a register of naturalized citizens, but for the moment it does not exist in the law.
Are name changes as part of this program published?
Name changes undertaken as part of the Sierra Leone CBI are published in a small circulation newspaper in the country with no online version.