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Sierra Leone and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

Sierra Leone has allowed dual citizenship since 2006, so the Russian passport stays. You can get a local one within months without visiting the country, but since 2026 it closes the road to the US.

In short

Yes. Since 2006 Sierra Leone has allowed dual citizenship with no need to give up a previous passport, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.

Previous passport on naturalisationKept
Country ruleNo need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basisSierra Leone Citizenship Act
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Both countries allow a second passport. For a Russian citizen Sierra Leone is interesting mainly for fast citizenship through investment: no residence, no exam and not even a visit, as the oath is taken by video. The price of that speed is the passport's narrow reach.

What Sierra Leone requires on naturalisation

The 1973 Citizenship Act historically tied citizenship to African descent. Ordinary naturalisation requires 8 years of residence for people of African descent and at least 15 years for everyone else. So for most foreigners only the investment route is realistic.

Accelerated naturalisation under the programme costs $140,000 for the main applicant, plus $10,000-20,000 per family member and due diligence from $5,000. From 1 October 2026 there is a solo route for $100,000 including checks, without family, and a heritage route for people with African roots confirmed by a DNA test for $120,000. The stated timeline is 60-90 days, 3-6 months in practice. You do not have to give up your Russian passport.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Choose the route: accelerated naturalisation with family, the solo route or the heritage route.
  2. Gather documents: passports, certificates, a criminal record certificate, proof of the source of funds; English translations with an apostille.
  3. Pass due diligence: background, sanctions lists, source of money.
  4. Sign the declaration and take the oath by video.
  5. Collect the Sierra Leonean passport; the Russian one stays valid.
  6. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

The programme payment and the due diligence fee sit in an escrow account until the decision. You do not need to travel to the country, but the source of funds documents are checked seriously.

What happens to children

Since the 2017 amendments, a mother passes Sierra Leonean citizenship to children born abroad on equal terms with the father. The programme application can include not only a spouse and children but also parents, grandparents and other relatives. A child with Russian and Sierra Leonean citizenship keeps both passports.

Taxes and military service

A Sierra Leonean passport does not change your taxes: tax residence is determined by where you live and your centre of interests. If you do not move to Freetown, your taxes stay where they were. Russia has no double tax treaty with Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone has no compulsory military service. A Russian citizen's military duty remains.

Common mistakes

  • Treating the passport as an upgrade on the Russian one. It opens 63 destinations against 114 for the Russian passport.
  • Planning trips to the US. Entry for Sierra Leonean citizens has been suspended since 2026.
  • Failing to document the source of funds: due diligence looks at it first.
  • Missing the notice to the Russian Interior Ministry about Sierra Leonean citizenship: the deadline is 60 days.

How to get Sierra Leonean citizenship

For Russian citizens the realistic route is the investment programme: from $100,000 solo or from $140,000 with family, without visiting the country. The passport opens 63 visa-free destinations, its main advantage being the Economic Community of West African States, while entry to the US has been suspended since 1 January 2026.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Sierra Leonean citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

The main risks are a narrow passport and a strict check on money

The law does not stop you from applying for Sierra Leonean citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the contribution: an unproven source of funds at due diligence, documents without translation and apostille, expectations of US and Schengen travel the passport does not give, a missed notice to the Russian Interior Ministry. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists match your goal with what the passport can do, choose the route, prepare the file and proof of the source of funds and run the application to the oath. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.

The support fee depends on the route and family size; a manager will calculate it in chat.

Find out the support fee

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Sierra Leonean and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes. Since 2006 Sierra Leone has allowed dual citizenship with no need to give up a previous passport, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Sierra Leonean citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Does Sierra Leone allow dual citizenship?
Yes, since 2006. You do not have to give up a previous citizenship.
How much does Sierra Leonean citizenship cost?
Accelerated naturalisation is $140,000 plus $10,000-20,000 per family member and due diligence from $5,000. The solo route from 1 October 2026 is $100,000 including checks.
Do you have to travel to Sierra Leone to get citizenship?
No. There is no residence or exam requirement, and the oath is taken by video.
Can you enter the US with a Sierra Leonean passport?
No. Entry for Sierra Leonean citizens has been suspended since 1 January 2026.
Will a child get Sierra Leonean citizenship?
Yes, through the father or the mother, including when the child is born abroad. Children can be included in the programme application.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

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