Sources and methodology

Last reviewed 27 October 2026

Where the facts come from

I use primary sources first. The main ones:

• The Sierra Leone Citizenship Act 1973 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2006.
• The Sierra Leone Immigration Department: its press release of 2 January 2025, read in a copy because the website did not open directly.
• ECOWAS member states and EU Regulation 2018/1806 on visa requirements.
• Practice notes and data published by BRIDGES: the Sierra Leone programme page, the country page, the Sierra Leone guide, the cost article, the Passport Index and the comparison with Vanuatu.

How I check and date information

• Each article shows an "Updated" date. It changes only when the facts are reviewed.
• I keep three levels apart: the law in force, the 2025 announcement and market figures. Figures from BRIDGES are labelled as approximate.
• Where sources differ, I show both, for example the number of visa-free destinations (63 in the Passport Index, about 60 in older articles) and ECOWAS membership (12 on the ECOWAS website, 15 on older pages).

Facts I could not confirm in official sources

• the GO-FOR-GOLD amounts and the terms for storing and returning gold;
• timelines of 40 to 90 days;
• the list of family members and about $10,000 per dependant;
• due diligence from about $5,000;
• a section 27A and a 2026 investor regulation;
• state and passport fees;
• the DNA test, the absence of a medical examination and remote processing without residence;
• the commencement order of the 2006 Act;
• whether GO-FOR-GOLD is a residence or a citizenship programme (SLID calls it residency, BRIDGES articles call it citizenship).

How often the guides are updated

All articles are reviewed at least once a quarter, and immediately if Sierra Leone publishes rules for the investor or heritage route.

Corrections

If you find an error, please tell us through the contact page. Corrections are made and the update date is changed.