Consular Services PortalMinistry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation · Republic of Sierra Leone
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NCRA national ID card

Request a national ID card from NCRA. You visit the mission once for fingerprints and a photo.

The mission takes your request for a national ID card, checks it and sends it to the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), which produces the card. NCRA needs your fingerprints and photograph, so you come to the mission once in person. When the card arrives, the mission gives it to you.

At a glance

Issued by
National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA)
Processing time
NCRA sets the time it takes to produce the card. Your tracking page shows when the mission sends your request to NCRA and when the card is ready.
Originals and visits
Come to the mission for your fingerprints and photograph. The mission contacts you to book a time.
How you get it
Collect it from the mission.
When you pay
When you apply.

Who can apply

Sierra Leonean nationals abroad who need a national ID card for the first time, or to replace or correct one. Register abroad first if you have not: it speeds up your request.

What you need

Documents to upload

You can upload each of these, or bring or send it to the mission instead.

  • Your passportThe photo page of your Sierra Leone passport, or of the passport you hold.
  • Your birth certificateA copy of your Sierra Leone birth certificate.Needed if you answer “First registration” to “Why do you need a national ID card?”
  • Your current national ID cardBoth sides of the card. Bring the card to your appointment.Needed if you answer “Damaged”, “Expired” or “Correction” to “Why do you need a national ID card?”

To send, bring or do

  • Fingerprints and photograph taken at the missionCome to the mission for your fingerprints and photograph. The mission contacts you to book a time.

Also upload, if you have them

  • Police reportIf you reported the lost card to the police, upload the report.Needed if you answer “Lost” to “Why do you need a national ID card?”

Sending documents

Bring the originals of your documents to your biometrics appointment. They are checked and handed back to you.

The mission then checks

  • NIN checked with NCRA (if you answer “Lost”, “Damaged”, “Expired” or “Correction” to “Why do you need a national ID card?”)

How it works

  1. Request online and upload your documents.
  2. Pay the fee to the mission and submit your receipt details.
  3. The mission checks your request and contacts you to book your biometrics appointment.
  4. Come to the mission for your fingerprints and photograph.
  5. The mission sends your request to NCRA, which produces the card.
  6. The mission tells you when the card has arrived. Collect it at the mission.

Fees and how to pay

You pay the mission when you apply, then send your receipt details with the application or from the tracking page.

The ways to pay depend on the mission. Choose the country where you live to see them.

What the form asks

Have these details ready. You can save the form and finish it later.

Questions