By Salifu Tarawallie
National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has announced an increase in the cost of its multi-purpose and securitised biometric identity cards, effective Feb. 23, 2026, citing adjustments linked to prevailing exchange rates set by the Bank of Sierra Leone.
In a statement, the Authority said the revised fees were in line with provisions contained in an agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and Constrat Systems SL Ltd, ratified by Parliament in March 2022.
The agreement allows for periodic reviews of pricing based on currency fluctuations, the NCRA said, adding that the adjustments were necessary to reflect changes in the exchange rate environment.
The biometric identity cards, introduced as part of efforts to modernise civil registration and identification systems, serve multiple functions including national identification and access to public services.
The Authority did not immediately provide further details on the scale of the increase but said the new fees would take effect nationwide from Feb. 23.
The move comes amid broader economic pressures in Sierra Leone, where exchange rate volatility has affected the cost of goods and services across sectors.
