SIERRA LEONE FREEZES WORK AND RESIDENT PERMITS AS GOVERNMENT PREPARES DIGITAL MIGRATION
Government of Sierra Leone has announced a temporary suspension of all new and renewal applications for resident and work permits, effective immediately, to pave the way for a comprehensive digital overhaul of its immigration and labour systems.
The decision allows officials to move the entire process online. A new digital platform for all permit applications and renewals is expected to launch at the start of the new year, on January 1, 2026.
The immigration department and the ministry responsible for labour confirmed the move. They called it a short-term but necessary step. They further explained that the goal is to ensure a smooth shift to the new system without technical glitches.
For foreign workers and businesses that employ them, this means a waiting period. Anyone with a permit that expires during this transition has been granted an automatic extension. Their documents will stay valid until the new online system goes live.
The government is modernizing the permit process to improve efficiency and data sharing. A contract for the new digital platform was awarded to a private company, Constrat Systems. Starting in January, all applications must be filed through the new website.
This reform is a key part of a broader plan to digitize government services. People with questions are advised to contact the Commissioner of Labour or the Chief Immigration Officer directly.
