Liberia is modernizing its immigration system with the imminent launch of an electronic Visa On Arrival system. This initiative will simplify procedures for international travellers and enhance the effectiveness of border controls.
Liberia will shortly be taking a major step towards modernizing its immigration services with the launch of an electronic visa-on-arrival system at Monrovia-Roberts International Airport.
This initiative, which has been in the pipeline for several years and aims to facilitate access to the country for international travellers, is part of a drive to improve the visitor experience while enhancing the security and efficiency of entry procedures.
“The Liberia Visa on Arrival (VoA) allows travelers to obtain a Visa upon arrival in Liberia by plane. Travelers must pre-apply for the visa online through a dedicated portal, enabling them to complete the application from the comfort of their homes,” announces the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) on its dedicated portal visaonarrival.lis.gov.lr.
Immigration adds that on arrival at the airport, “travelers present the Visa on Arrival confirmation form, complete the application process through biometric data collection, and receive a visa sticker in their passport”.
Procedure for applying for an electronic visa on arrival in Liberia
Once the portal is up and running, travelers will be able to obtain their e-Visa before arriving in Liberia. This system will reduce waiting times at the airport and avoid the hassle of traditional visa applications.
The application process involves several steps:
- Creating an account: Travelers must first create an account by providing their first and last name and e-mail address. Once the e-mail address has been verified, the account is activated.
- Documents preparation: The following documents are required:
- Scan of passport, valid at least 6 months upon entry (max. 2 MB, accepted formats: PDF, BMP, JPG, JPEG, PNG).
- Recent passport photo with neutral background (max. 2 MB, accepted formats: BMP, JPG, JPEG, PNG).
- Scan of airline ticket (optional, same specifications as passport scan).
- Submitting the application: Fill in the online application form with the required information.
- Payment of fees: The eVisa on arrival fee is US$102.50, payable by Visa or Mastercard.
- Application status notification: After submission and payment, a payment confirmation is sent by e-mail. Applicants are advised to check the status of their application regularly.
- Receipt of confirmation: Once the application has been approved, a confirmation with a QR code is sent by e-mail. It is recommended to print this document or to have it accessible on a mobile device.
- Obtaining the visa at the airport: On arrival at Monrovia-Roberts International Airport (ROB), travelers present their QR code confirmation at the dedicated counter. An immigration officer collects biometric data (fingerprints and facial recognition), then affixes the visa to the passport.
Who can benefit from an e-Visa on arrival in Liberia?
The Liberian authorities recommend applying for an e-visa between 7 and 30 days before arrival in the country. “Please note that the Visa on Arrival is valid for a maximum of 30 days from the date of issuance,” explains immigration.
The e-Visa on arrival is only valid for a single visit to Liberia. Once in the country, visitors can apply for a Re-entry Permit for multiple entries.
The validity of the visa on arrival will be determined by the airport agent according to the estimated duration of the visit to the country (30 or 90 days).
The E-Visa on Arrival system is designed for travelers of various nationalities wishing to visit Liberia for tourism, business or transit purposes.
With the exception of nationals of ECOWAS member countries, all travelers to Liberia require a visa.
