Customs at Freetown International Airport

What you must declare

The UK government says Sierra Leone has strict rules on goods taken into or out of the country ¹. Travellers must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty ¹.

The Customs Act, 2011 lets passengers and travellers lodge a goods declaration orally to an officer ². The person who lodges a declaration must answer the officer's questions about the goods ². The Act counts baggage and currency as goods ². It received assent on 11 August 2011 ², and WIPO records it as Act No. 9 of 2011 ³.

Duty-free allowances

No allowance table from the National Revenue Authority was found online for this page. The figures below come from the IATA Travel Centre, a provider page that carries no date ⁵. Check them with the airline or with customs before travel.

Prohibited and restricted goods

Section 63 of the Customs Act lets the state prohibit imports and exports to protect public morals, human, animal or plant life and health, the environment and national treasures, and for security, such as arms ². Where prohibited goods are found, a customs officer may arrest the persons involved and shall detain and seize the goods ².

The US International Trade Administration says importers may need licences or permits for restricted goods such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, arms and farm products, issued by bodies like the Pharmacy Board or the Ministry of Agriculture ⁴. That guide was last published on 23 January 2026 ⁴.

Gold, diamonds and precious stones

The UK government says you need an export licence to leave Sierra Leone with precious stones ¹. It advises caution with gems or minerals offered at prices that seem too good to be true ¹.

The US Department of State says all mineral resources, including gold and diamonds, belong to the state ⁶. It warns of advance-fee schemes in which people urge US citizens to buy diamonds ⁶.

Searches and what customs can do

Section 65 of the Customs Act allows an officer to search a person arriving in or leaving Sierra Leone where there are reasonable and probable grounds to suspect concealed goods ². The search must be done by a person of the same gender ². Goods kept on board an aircraft for passengers and crew are exempt from duties in reasonable quantities ².

Rules on carrying cash are covered on the money and payments page. The penalty sections of the Customs Act could not be read in the online copy used for this page ².