Public Announcements

ID Cards

01/20/04

Greetings from the US Embassy Freetown.   The following message is being sent to all Americans in Sierra Leone on Thursday January 15, 2004.

Since our message of January 8, 2004, regarding national ID requirements, the Government has changed/clarified its policy regarding children under the age of 16 years, who are NOT required to acquire a national ID card.  One caveat: while we urge you to proceed with getting your ID card, the Government has yet to provide us with requested written instruction; in other words, we are passing along what we were told, but to date have nothing in writing. The amended version of the original message, then, is as follows:
 
“The Sierra Leone Government has announced that nationals and aliens MUST obtain a national identity (“ID”) card. This is mandatory.  All aliens with expired identity cards MUST renew them immediately.  The obligation to possess a valid, un-expired national ID card applies to you whether you have dual citizenship or only U.S. citizenship with the exception of children (nationals or non-nationals) under age 16.  Children under 16 years do not need a national ID card.
 
The American Embassy, Freetown is encouraging all American Citizens residing in Sierra Leone to obtain an ID card as soon as possible. ID cards for Americans are obtainable for a fee of Le 150,000.00 at the National Registration Secretariat, 2 Walpole Street, Freetown. There is an additional fee of Le 500 for each application form required.  The Office is located at the corner of Walpole and Wallace-Johnson Streets, near the Embassy. The official hours are Mondays to Fridays, 8:00am-3:00pm (we recommend appearing between 10:00am to 2:00pm). You are required to present a passport, a work permit, and a residence permit in order to qualify for a national ID. Every applicant MUST appear in person as digital computerized photographs are taken. 
 
The Government provided us with the following description of the process.  After completing an application form, the applicant goes upstairs for information verification and interview. All documents (passports, residential and work permits) are presented at the interview. The applicant then goes downstairs to the cashier, who receives the fee and endorses payment. After payment, the applicant goes to one of the operators (sitting in the same room), who enters the information into the computer and takes a computerized photograph and fingerprint of the applicant. It is estimated that this process might take between 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the crowd.
 
PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH AS MANY AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE.
 
We remind that our telephone numbers for American citizen emergencies are 226 481 and after-hours for the Duty Officer, 227 998.