Monrovia

Passport validity requirements

To enter Liberia, your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements 

You must have a visa to enter Liberia.

Applying for a visa 

Apply for a visa to visit Liberia through the Liberian Embassy in the UK. Your passport must have at least 6 months validity remaining when you make your application.

Once in Liberia, you can apply for an extension of your existing visa for a maximum of 60 days. To apply for an extension in Monrovia, you should visit the Immigration Office at Gbarngaye’s Town, 24th Street, Sinkor. You’ll need to take your passport and pay a fee of 25 US dollars.

If you’re staying outside Montserrado County, contact your local Immigration Office to get a visa extension authorised by the Immigration County Commander.

To stay longer you must apply for a Liberian residence permit.

Vaccine requirements

As part of the visa application process, you need to provide a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.

For more details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, including yellow fever, see TravelHealthPro’s Liberia guide.

Ebola Screening

On 25 May, the Liberia Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute issued a Travel Advisory note announcing heighted health screening measures for travellers arriving into Liberia, due to outbreaks of Ebola in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) have declared this a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Liberia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Taking money into Liberia 

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 US dollars or more.

Taking money out of Liberia 

You cannot take more than 7,500 US dollars in cash out of the country.

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Liberia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Taking money into Liberia 

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 US dollars or more.

Taking money out of Liberia 

You cannot take more than 7,500 US dollars in cash out of the country.

Emergency services in Liberia

Police: +231 770 800 911 

Emergency services are unreliable in Liberia.

Contact your travel provider and insurer 

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do. 

Refunds and changes to travel 

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first. 

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including: 

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider 
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim 

Support from FCDO 

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including: 

• finding English-speaking lawyers and funeral directors in Liberia
• dealing with a death in Liberia 
• being arrested or imprisoned in Liberia 
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime 
• what to do if you’re in hospital 
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack 

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call  FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Before you travel 

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance 

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID 

Carry photo ID with you at all times, such as your driving licence or a copy of the photo page of your passport. You may be asked to show it at any time by immigration officials or the police. 

Drug trafficking and diamond smuggling 

Drug trafficking and gold and diamond smuggling are illegal. If convicted, you will get a long prison sentence. Local prison conditions are harsh. 

LGBT+ travellers 

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Liberia.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers. 

Adoption in Liberia 

The Ministry of Justice in Liberia can issue a decree of adoption if all legal requirements are met. However, adoption orders from Liberia are not recognised in the UK. If you’re returning to live in the UK, you’ll need to apply for entry clearance for the child as a Liberian child coming for adoption in the UK. 

Money 

Liberia remains a predominantly cash-based society, especially with street vendors.

Credit and debit cards are not generally accepted in Liberia, except for a few of the major hotels and some larger supermarkets. They may be unable to process card payments when internet connections are poor. Not many places accept travellers cheques. Mobile money apps offer an alternative way to make payments, but not all vendors use these.

There are a few ATMs that accept Visa cards in Monrovia, including in the two main hotels used by international visitors. ATMs often run out of money or only have certain denominations.

Foreign exchange and banking facilities are limited. Western Union and MoneyGram can transfer money from the UK, although there are very few offices outside Monrovia.

Liberia’s banks can experience cash shortages of both US dollars and Liberian dollars. Banks and foreign exchange facilities may not be able to pay out transferred funds or fulfil ATM withdrawals. Bring sufficient funds, in US dollars, to cover all expenses.