Australian visa outcomes for citizens from Sierra Leone

How does the Department of Home Affairs treat visa applications from Sierra Leone? See real processing times, approval rates, and what your citizenship means for your application.

Your country score

18

/ 100

Higher risk

Compared against 173 countriesHow is this calculated?

How fast are applications processed?No dataWe don't have enough data for Sierra Leone to compare processing times reliably.

What are the approval odds?57% of applications are approvedGlobal average: 92%About half as likely as average

How many people from Sierra Leone apply?

Low volume

Ranked #163 of 173 countries (6th percentile)

What this means for you

Approval rates for your country are lower than most, which means you'll face more scrutiny.

You'll need strong, consistent evidence and careful preparation to give yourself the best chance.

A well-prepared application can still succeed. We've helped many applicants from higher-risk countries get approved by focusing on what case officers actually look for.

Which visa do Sierra Leone passport holders need?

Visiting AustraliaSierra Leone passport holders apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600), for tourism, family visits, or business.

Government charge: from AUD $250. Tern prepares and submits it for AUD $160.

Looking for a partner, student, or skilled visa instead? See all Australian visas

Get your personalised estimate

Processing times vary significantly based on your citizenship and location. Find out what the wait really looks like for someone like you.

Free. Based on FOI data from 4.5 million visa decisions.

How your citizenship affects Australian visa outcomes

Why your nationality matters

The Department of Home Affairs doesn't treat all applications equally. Your country of citizenship affects both how long you'll wait and how likely you are to be approved. This isn't random. It reflects historical compliance rates, the volume of applications from each country, and how complex it is to verify documents and claims.

Understanding the country score

The country score ranks your citizenship against all other nationalities based on two factors: processing speed and approval rates. Approval rates are weighted more heavily because that's ultimately what matters most. Scores range from 0-100, with higher scores meaning faster processing and better approval odds compared to other countries.

Where this data comes from

Our reports are based exclusively on official government data obtained through Freedom of Information requests to the Australian Department of Home Affairs: visa refusal rates (FOI Reference DA24/02/00115) and processing times (FOI Reference DA25/10/00449). We calibrate this data monthly against the Department's published processing times to keep it current.

What this means for Sierra Leone citizens

With a country score of 18, applicants from Sierra Leone may face additional scrutiny and longer processing times. The approval rate for Sierra Leone is 57%, which is 38% lower than the global average.

Need help with your application?

Applicants from Sierra Leone face more scrutiny from the Department, with lower approval rates and longer processing times. A well-prepared application with comprehensive supporting documentation is essential.We've helped many applicants from higher-risk countries get approved by focusing on exactly what case officers look for. Our platform flags issues before you submit, so a case officer doesn't find them first.

Compare other countries

Curious how other nationalities are treated? Use our Country Risk tool to explore visa outcomes for any country.

Want to understand this better?

For a deep dive into how country risk works, what the Department considers, and how nationality affects your visa journey, read our comprehensive guide to country risk.