Sierra Leone is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille achieves nothing. What the embassy does instead is authenticate documents issued by the authorities in Sierra Leone — birth certificates, death certificates, educational and business documents, even driving licences — for use here.
Quick facts
That authentication service is the useful direction for most people here: a Sierra Leonean degree certificate or birth certificate that an American employer, university or immigration lawyer needs to trust.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication of a Sierra Leonean document | Published tariff | Embassy of Sierra Leone |
| State certification for U.S. documents | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State |
| Federal authentication | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| Consular legalisation | Published tariff | For use in Sierra Leone |
| Funeral documents | $100 | Money order to the embassy |
Documents going the other way, from the United States for use in Sierra Leone, follow the usual chain: notarisation where needed, the Secretary of State, federal authentication, then the embassy.
How to prepare a document
- Establish which direction you need: authentication of a Sierra Leonean document, or legalisation of an American one.
- For Sierra Leonean documents, bring the original issued by the relevant authority.
- For U.S. documents, complete the state and federal stages first.
- Attend during consular hours or post the file with a prepaid envelope.
- Pay by money order made out to the embassy.
- Keep copies of everything before it leaves your hands.
Required documents
- Original document to be authenticated or legalised.
- U.S. certifications already attached, where applicable.
- Copy of your identification.
- Money order for the fee.
- Prepaid self-addressed envelope for postal filings.
What the embassy does
It issues passports and emergency travel certificates, provides notarial services and civil registration for nationals abroad, authenticates Sierra Leonean documents, handles visas and issues the documents needed to repatriate remains.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
An apostille will not work
If a service offers one for Sierra Leone, they have not checked. The country is outside the convention.
Educational documents
The embassy authenticates these specifically, which matters for anyone converting a Sierra Leonean qualification into a job or a place at an American institution.
Repatriating remains
Funeral documentation is a defined service at $100 by money order, with a prepaid express envelope. Knowing the figure in advance spares a family one decision at a hard moment.
Order two copies
Documents obtained from Freetown take time to replace.