Sierra Leone is expanding its citizenship offering with two new options designed specifically for applicants without dependents, while simultaneously increasing the amount required under its Heritage Citizenship route.

The changes are scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026. They introduce a Solo Entrepreneur route starting at US$95,000 and an Enterprise Citizenship option for two unrelated applicants, while the main applicant amount under Heritage Citizenship will increase from US$100,000 to US$120,000. 

The restructuring creates a clearer distinction between options intended for individual applicants, business partners and families, and gives single applicants a substantially lower entry point than the existing Fast-Track Citizenship route.

New Solo Entrepreneur Route Starts at US$95,000

Under the new Solo Entrepreneur option, a single main applicant will be able to apply for US$95,000. Dependents cannot be included under this route.

A separate US$5,000 due diligence fee applies, bringing the reported total program amount for a single applicant to US$100,000. Until this change, an applicant who could not qualify for the ancestry-based Heritage route generally faced the US$140,000 Fast-Track option as the principal direct citizenship pathway. 

The distinction between the advertised US$95,000 amount and the US$100,000 figure including due diligence is important. Applicants and advisors comparing the new route with other programs should therefore consider the complete fee structure rather than the headline figure alone.

Enterprise Citizenship Creates an Option for Two Unrelated Applicants

Sierra Leone is also introducing Enterprise Citizenship, designed for exactly two unrelated main applicants applying together.

Each applicant contributes US$80,000, while the pair shares one US$5,000 due diligence fee. This results in a combined reported program amount of US$165,000 for the two applicants. Neither applicant can add dependents. 

An applicant requiring a separate notarial session may face an additional US$1,000 charge. The Enterprise option replaces an earlier two-partner structure introduced during the program’s 2025 expansion, under which each applicant paid US$85,000. 

The structure effectively gives business partners or other unrelated applicants an alternative to submitting two separate individual applications.

Heritage Citizenship Increases to US$120,000

While Sierra Leone is reducing the entry point for applicants using the new Solo route, it is increasing the main applicant amount for Heritage Citizenship.

From October 1, the Heritage option will rise from US$100,000 to US$120,000 for the main applicant. Applicants using this pathway must demonstrate African ancestry through DNA testing. With the US$5,000 due diligence fee, a qualifying single applicant would therefore face a reported program amount of US$125,000 before any additional external costs associated with DNA testing or document preparation. 

This creates an unusual change in the program’s pricing structure. For an applicant traveling alone, Heritage Citizenship will no longer represent the lowest-priced citizenship option. The new Solo Entrepreneur route will be US$25,000 lower when the standard due diligence fee is included.

For families, however, the comparison is different because the Solo and Enterprise routes do not permit dependents.

Family Applicants Still Have Heritage and Fast-Track Options

Fast-Track Citizenship remains priced at US$140,000 for the main applicant and continues to provide an option for applicants who want to include dependents without meeting the African ancestry requirement.

Spouses, minor children, parents and grandparents can reportedly be added for US$10,000 each. Certain other relatives, including adult children and siblings under 30, fall within a special dependent category carrying a US$20,000 fee. 

Heritage Citizenship retains the same dependent fee structure despite the increase in the principal applicant amount.

For example, a Heritage application consisting of a main applicant, spouse and two minor children would reportedly total US$155,000 including the standard due diligence charge. The comparable Fast-Track application would amount to US$175,000. 

This means the Heritage route may continue to provide a lower program amount for qualifying families even though it has become more expensive for the main applicant.

The Plus One Business Partner Option Remains

Another element of Sierra Leone’s structure, previously known as the +1 Business Partner option, is being renamed Plus One.

The US$30,000 fee remains unchanged. The option allows a principal applicant using either the Heritage or Fast-Track route to include one unrelated adult in the application. 

Company incorporation, which had previously been bundled with approved citizenship applications, will also become optional under the revised structure.

The change is notable because Sierra Leone is increasingly separating its citizenship offering according to applicant profile. Solo applicants, two-person business applications, families and applicants seeking to include an unrelated partner now have distinct structures rather than being pushed into essentially the same route.

Sierra Leone Has Expanded the Program Rapidly Since 2025

Sierra Leone introduced its GO-FOR-GOLD initiative as a gold-backed permanent residency program in December 2024 before adding accelerated citizenship pathways in January 2025. The program was expanded again later in 2025 to accommodate a broader range of relatives and business partners. 

The latest restructuring represents another significant change in less than two years, this time focusing primarily on applicants who do not require family inclusion.

According to Stephen Barnes, one of the program’s architects, the longer-term target is approximately 4,000 families over five years, with the initiative positioned around attracting entrepreneurs, investors, international networks, skills and business activity into Sierra Leone. Those objectives are statements from the program’s architect rather than independently established economic outcomes. 

The broader program materials similarly position citizenship and permanent residency as part of Sierra Leone’s effort to encourage foreign investment and deeper economic engagement with the country.

What Changes on October 1?

The October restructuring makes Sierra Leone’s offering more segmented.

A single applicant who does not need to include family members will have access to the new US$95,000 Solo Entrepreneur route, or US$100,000 including the reported standard due diligence fee. Two unrelated applicants will be able to use Enterprise Citizenship for a combined US$165,000 including due diligence.

Heritage Citizenship, meanwhile, becomes more expensive at US$120,000 for the main applicant but continues to provide a comparatively lower family structure for applicants able to demonstrate African ancestry.

Fast-Track Citizenship remains at US$140,000 and continues to serve applicants who want to include family members without an ancestry requirement.

Rather than simply lowering its overall citizenship threshold, Sierra Leone is therefore creating different pathways for different applicant profiles. From October 1, whether an applicant is applying alone, with a business partner or with family will play a much larger role in determining which route and fee structure applies.