It is important to distinguish between the application process, Sierra Leone Immigration Department (SLID) approval and the subsequent presidential signing process.
GO-FOR-GOLD, as facilitator of the CBI Program, manages the application process through to the preparation and submission of the required documentation to the Sierra Leone Immigration Departmen.
SLID, under the Chief Immigration Officer (CIO), processes the application and conducts the required government review and Due Diligence.
The CIO's formal approval constitutes the approval of the application and enables the applicant to proceed to citizenship documentation and passport issuance.
Following approval, applicants may obtain and use their Sierra Leone passport for international travel and are recognised as citizens of Sierra Leone.
The President subsequently participates in scheduled citizenship signing ceremonies, at which the formal Letter of Naturalisation and Oath of Allegiance are signed. These ceremonies provide the formal documentary completion of the naturalisation process.
The distinction is therefore important: SLID/CIO approval is the substantive approval of the application; the subsequent presidential signing ceremony formalises the naturalisation documentation.
Certain in-country citizenship-related documents, including the National ID card, ECOWAS card and PCC, require the President-signed Letter of Naturalisation and therefore become available following completion of the relevant signing process.
Approval, Naturalisation and Citizenship via the GO-FOR-GOLD Program