By June Kanu
Sierra Leone has begun nationwide enforcement of its unified residence and work permit system following the expiry of a 90-day grace period, with authorities warning of penalties of up to $5,000 for non-compliance.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Immigration Department and private partner Constrat Systems, aims to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of residency and employment regulations.
At a ceremony held at the Youyi Building in Freetown, officials unveiled 17 vehicles and 20 motorbikes to support field operations, improve mobility for compliance teams and enhance inter-agency coordination.
Labour Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray said the rollout reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening institutional systems and building a more transparent labour market.
“This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building responsive, transparent systems aligned with national development priorities,” he said.
The digital permit platform, which went live on Jan. 1, is integrated with the National Civil Registration Authority to streamline identification and processing of permits.
Chief Immigration Officer Moses Tiffa Baio described the deployment as a major step in modernizing migration management, adding that integrating digital systems with enforcement would improve compliance and security oversight.
The enforcement drive follows parliament’s ratification last year of a 15-year Build-Operate-Transfer agreement to support implementation of the system.
From April 1, all non-citizens are required to hold valid resident and work permits or face penalties of up to $3,000 for residence violations and up to $5,000 for work permit breaches, applicable to both employers and employees.
Authorities said only biometric permits are now legally recognized, marking the end of the transition from paper-based documentation.
The government said the unified permit system is part of broader efforts to improve transparency, reduce fraud and strengthen labour market regulation, signalling a shift toward stricter compliance and modernized immigration controls.
