Sierra Leone customs rules & duty-free allowances
Sierra Leone's customs service is small, cash-focused and strictest about undeclared foreign currency. The biggest risk for arriving travellers is not the modest duty-free allowance but the currency declaration: officers at Lungi frequently spot-check bags and count cash, and undeclared excess is confiscated with a fine. Duty is assessed on the spot, must be paid in leones, and receipts help lower the valuation. Rules apply to all non-resident adult travellers arriving at Freetown International Airport (Lungi) or by land from Guinea and Liberia.
Duty-free allowances
Prohibited — banned from import
- Narcotics and psychotropic substances (cannabis, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine) — penalties up to life imprisonment
- Counterfeit currency and counterfeit goods
- Pornographic materials and obscene publications
- Firearms, ammunition and explosives without a police permit
- Raw meat, poultry, unpasteurised dairy and fresh produce from countries with animal diseases
- Live animals and birds without a veterinary import permit
Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration
- Prescription medicines and controlled drugs — need a doctor's letter and, for controlled substances, prior approval from the Pharmacy Board
- Satellite phones and radio transmitters — require a licence from the National Telecommunications Commission
- Drones — must be declared and require a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority
- Plants, seeds and soil — require a phytosanitary certificate
- Gold and diamonds — must be declared and can only be exported with a Kimberley Process certificate
Arriving: red vs green channel
At Lungi Airport you fill in a Customs Declaration Form before landing. There is no red/green channel; everyone walks through the same line and hands the form to an officer. If you have nothing to declare, you still hand in the form and proceed. If you have goods above the allowance or cash over 10,000 USD, tell the officer and you will be directed to a side desk to pay duty or complete a currency declaration.
Bringing medication
Bring personal medication in original packaging with a doctor's letter or prescription. You can bring up to a 3-month supply for personal use. Controlled drugs (opioids, benzodiazepines, amphetamines) require prior written approval from the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone. Codeine is prescription-only and often seized if not declared. Do not bring more than 3 months' worth of anything.
Food, plants & animal products
All meat, poultry, dairy, fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, soil and plants are prohibited without a phytosanitary certificate from the Sierra Leone Ministry of Agriculture. Processed and packaged foods are usually allowed if sealed and declared. Raw agricultural products are confiscated and destroyed on arrival.
Rules worth knowing
Currency declaration is enforced
Sierra Leone has no limit on how much cash you can bring in, but anything over 10,000 USD equivalent must be declared. Customs officers at Lungi frequently spot-check bags and count cash. Undeclared excess is confiscated and you can be fined up to 25% of the amount. Declare first, even if it means a longer wait.
Duty is calculated on the spot
There is no fixed duty table at the airport. Officers assess the value of your goods based on receipts or, if you have none, their own estimate. The rate is 30% import duty plus 10% sales tax. Bring receipts for anything valuable — it usually lowers the assessment.
Leones only for duty payments
Customs at Lungi does not accept US dollars, euros or credit cards for duty payments. You must pay in Sierra Leonean leones. There is a currency exchange desk in the arrivals hall, but the rate is poor. Change a small amount before you reach the customs desk if you expect to owe duty.
Second-hand goods are scrutinised
Sierra Leone restricts imports of used clothing, used tyres and used electronics to protect local industry. If you arrive with large quantities of second-hand items, even for personal use, expect them to be seized or heavily taxed. One used laptop or phone is fine; a suitcase of used clothes is not.