Sierra Leone travel advisories compared

Overall ratings side by side

Five governments publish English-language travel advice for Sierra Leone. Each uses its own scale, so the labels do not match one to one ^1,35,67. All dates below are the dates shown on each page when viewed on 24 October 2026.

Crime and unrest

The UK says that in a small number of incidents British nationals have been robbed, sometimes at knifepoint ². It names Congo Cross, Wilkinson Road, Lumley Beach, Aberdeen and beach resorts as places where robberies have taken place ². It says the political situation can change and protests can turn violent ².

The US says robbery and assault are frequent, especially in Freetown, and that police have limited resources for serious crime ³. It says protests can start with little warning and sometimes turn violent ³. It advises extra care at banks and ATMs ³.

On terrorism, the UK says there is no recent history of terrorism in Sierra Leone but attacks cannot be ruled out ².

Roads, night travel and the airport transfer

The US advises against travel outside the Freetown peninsula after dark and says US government employees are barred from it ³. The UK advises completing travel outside the Freetown peninsula in daylight and avoiding taxis, poda-podas, kekes and ocadas ².

The advisories give different road times between Lungi airport and Freetown. The UK says about 3 hours by road and says its staff do not use the route after dark and rarely use it in daylight ². Ireland says the road transfer takes up to five hours and is not recommended after dark ⁷. Ireland recommends the water taxi and says Seabird and Seacoach each cost $50 for a single journey ⁷.

Border areas

Canada says border areas with Guinea and Liberia see ongoing territorial disputes, and that land crossings may close with little notice ⁵. Australia says security in border areas could deteriorate rapidly and that border closures may occur with little notice ⁶. Ireland is the only one of the five to name an area to avoid: the Yenga region in the east, which is disputed with Guinea ⁷.

Health advice

The US says medical facilities, hygiene and pharmacy regulation do not meet US standards and advises insurance that covers medical evacuation ³. Its country page lists a CDC Level 2 notice for poliovirus ⁴. Australia says Sierra Leone has introduced temperature screening on arrival due to an increase in Mpox cases ⁶. Ireland says no Ebola cases or suspected cases from the 2026 outbreak have been reported in Sierra Leone, and lists temperature screening at Lungi airport ⁷. Canada says some countries have imposed entry measures in response to the Ebola outbreak ⁵.

Where the advisories are out of date or disagree

• The US advisory and the US country page give different reasons. The advisory names crime, unrest and health infrastructure ³. The country page names crime, civil unrest and limited circulation of poliovirus ⁴.
• The US country page says inbound and outbound passengers must pay a $25 airport security fee before travel ⁴. The Ministry of Internal Affairs suspended that fee from 6 July 2026 until further notice, as reported by Premier Media ⁸.
• Ireland's overview says the $25 fee is temporarily suspended, but its entry section says it must be paid before travel ⁷.
• Canada says an airport security fee must be paid before arrival or departure ⁵.
• Australia says travellers must pay a US$25 airport security fee before travelling ⁶.