GO-FOR-GOLD Permanent Residency Program

Sierra Leone's GO-FOR-GOLD Permanent Residency Program is a gold-backed investment pathway to lifetime permanent residency, launched on 1 December 2024. Administered by the Sierra Leone Immigration Department under the Non-Citizens (Registration, Immigration and Expulsion) Act, 1965, the program targets high-net-worth individuals and international investors seeking permanent residency without any physical presence requirement. Participants purchase certified Sierra Leonean gold bullion stored in Central Bank of Sierra Leone vaults for five years, in addition to paying program fees. The program forms part of Sierra Leone's broader GO-FOR-GOLD initiative alongside the Citizenship by Investment pathways.

• Open to all nationalities
• Must pass independent due diligence screening and source-of-funds verification conducted by a UK-based investigative firm
• Clean criminal record required
• No educational or professional qualifications required
• No prior residency in Sierra Leone required
• Gold must be 99.99% purity (four nines fine), fully certified to LBMA Good Delivery List Standard

• Single applicant — USD 65,000 program fee + USD 5,000 due diligence fee + 1 kg gold bullion
• Nuclear family (spouse and children under 18) — USD 75,000 program fee + USD 10,000 due diligence fee + 1 kg gold bullion
• Extended family (up to 8 people) — USD 100,000 program fee + 2 kg gold bullion
• Additional normal dependants (spouse, minor children, parents, grandparents) — USD 10,000 each
• Additional special dependants (adult children, siblings under 30, sibling spouses, last remaining relatives) — USD 20,000 each
• Business partner — USD 30,000 for one, or USD 85,000 each for two
• All program fees are held in escrow and released only after formal approval by the Chief Immigration Officer
• GFG Club membership included, with option to purchase up to 19 kg additional certified gold bullion at 2% below market rate over five years

• Certified copy of passport
• Two digital photographs
• Proof-of-family documentation (where applicable, certified copies)
• Financial documentation for source-of-funds verification

The entire process is conducted remotely — no visit to Sierra Leone is required at any stage:

1. Pre-screening and application submission via the GO-FOR-GOLD online portal
2. Document preparation and certification
3. Escrow payment of program fees and gold purchase
4. Independent due diligence review by UK-based investigative firm
5. Government review and approval by the Chief Immigration Officer
6. Issuance and delivery of permanent residency documentation

Processing takes approximately 40 days from submission to approval.

The nuclear family package includes the main applicant, spouse, and children under 18. The extended family package covers up to 8 people, including parents and other relatives. Additional normal dependants (spouse, minor children, parents, grandparents) can be added at USD 10,000 each. Special dependants (adult children, siblings under 30, sibling spouses, last remaining relatives) can be added at USD 20,000 each. Applications with more than three dependants require additional approval. All dependants are subject to independent due diligence screening.

Sierra Leone does not impose national taxation on foreign income and assets for permanent residents who do not reside in the country. Tax residency certification is available.

Permanent residents may enter and reside in Sierra Leone at any time, with no minimum stay requirement. There are no ongoing residence, reporting, or registration obligations. The program also provides a pathway to full citizenship through the companion GO-FOR-GOLD Citizenship by Investment program. Each approved applicant receives an incorporated Sierra Leone company with a corporate bank account as part of the package. Permanent residents benefit from Sierra Leone's ECOWAS membership, which facilitates movement across West African member states.