Sierra Leone Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Sierra Leone Business

TL;DR. Sierra Leone’s official company registry is the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG), accessible at oarg.gov.sl. The OARG is a relatively functional registry by West African standards, offering an English-language interface and online company search. Sierra Leone is on the FATF increased monitoring (grey) list as of May 2026. Basic searches are free; certified extracts require a fee and may require a Freetown-based agent for expedited processing.

What is the official Sierra Leone business registry?

Sierra Leone’s company registry is the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG), established under the Companies Act 2009 (and its predecessors) and currently operating under the updated Companies Act. The OARG is based in Freetown and serves as the single point of registration for all companies, businesses, and related legal entities in Sierra Leone. The OARG portal is at oarg.gov.sl.

The OARG administers company incorporation, business name registration, charitable organization registration, and related functions under the Ministry of Finance. It has received development-partner support (IFC, World Bank, and UK government programs) to modernize its digital registration and search capabilities.

Legal entity types registered with OARG under the Companies Act include: private limited companies (Ltd), public limited companies (PLC), companies limited by guarantee (typically NGOs), unlimited companies, external companies (foreign company branches), and partnerships. Sole proprietors and business names are registered under a separate Business Names Ordinance.

Sierra Leone uses the Leone (SLL, subsequently redenominated to NLE in 2022 where 1 NLE = 1,000 SLL) as its currency. [VERIFY: current currency denomination in use and applicable exchange rate at Bank of Sierra Leone, bsl.gov.sl.] Freetown is the capital and primary commercial center.

What can you search?

OARG’s online portal supports searches by:

• Company name (full or partial)
• Company registration number
• Director or shareholder name (where available)

Results typically include: company name, registration number, legal form, registration date, registered address, and status (active, struck off, in liquidation). Director and shareholder data may be accessible in the basic public view or may require a formal extract depending on current portal configuration.

[VERIFY: current data completeness and director/shareholder visibility in the OARG public portal at oarg.gov.sl, as portal functionality has been progressively improved.]

Data freshness follows OARG’s digital filing workflow. New incorporations and amendments processed electronically are typically reflected within 1-5 business days. Pre-2009 Act records from older paper systems may have variable digitization completeness.

How much does it cost?

[VERIFY: current OARG fee schedule at oarg.gov.sl.] NLE/USD: approximately 1 USD = 18-20 NLE (May 2026; verify at Bank of Sierra Leone, bsl.gov.sl). Sierra Leone’s Leone has experienced material depreciation historically; verify the current rate before transaction.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No. The OARG public company search is accessible to international users without registration or a Sierra Leonean national ID. Account creation is required for company formation and annual return filing services, but not for compliance-grade entity lookups.

For certified extract requests, account creation on the OARG portal or engagement with a local Freetown-based legal representative may be necessary depending on the document type.

Is the website in English?

Yes. English is Sierra Leone’s official language; OARG operates entirely in English. All portal navigation, company data, legal form labels, and official documents are in English. This makes Sierra Leone’s registry directly accessible to international compliance buyers without language barriers.

What’s the turnaround time?

Basic name searches on the OARG portal are instant. Certified extract requests processed through the portal or at the OARG office in Freetown typically take 5 to 10 business days under normal operating conditions. For time-critical compliance workflows, a Freetown-based legal representative can follow up directly with OARG.

Is there an API?

No public API is available for the OARG registry as of May 2026. [VERIFY: current API availability.] Compliance platforms must rely on manual portal searches or local partners.

What you legally cannot do

Sierra Leone’s Data Protection Act 2022 governs use of personal data in registry filings. Director names and addresses extracted from OARG records may not be used for unsolicited marketing. Bulk commercial extraction and redistribution of OARG data without authorization is not permitted. Document the purpose of all access for AML/KYC audit trail requirements, especially given the FATF grey list status.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• FATF grey list. Sierra Leone is on FATF’s increased monitoring (grey) list as of May 2026. [VERIFY: current FATF status at fatf-gafi.org.] Enhanced due diligence is required for transactions with Sierra Leonean counterparties under most institutional AML frameworks.
• OARG is functional by regional standards. Despite the FATF grey list, OARG’s registry is a relatively functional system with English-language access and a working online portal. This makes it easier to conduct basic verification than in lower-capacity OHADA jurisdictions. However, the grey list status means that registry access alone is insufficient; supplementary EDD is required.
• Mining sector. Sierra Leone is a major diamond and rutile exporter. Companies in extractive industries, including diamond mining, rutile, bauxite, and iron ore, are common counterparties. The Kimberley Process certification for diamonds and the historical “blood diamond” legacy mean that supply chain due diligence in this sector requires heightened scrutiny of beneficial ownership and licensing status.
• Registration number is the anchor identifier. Sierra Leonean company registration numbers are issued sequentially and are stable across name changes. Always search by registration number when available.
• Data Protection Act 2022. Sierra Leone enacted a Data Protection Act in 2022, creating formal obligations for handlers of personal data. This is a recent development; assess your data handling practices for Sierra Leonean registry data accordingly.
• Annual return compliance. Sierra Leone requires companies to file annual returns with OARG. Check the OARG portal for recent annual return filings as an indicator of active management. Companies with years of unfiled returns may be struck off or at risk of strike-off.

Alternatives if you cannot access OARG directly

• OARG portal (oarg.gov.sl): primary and most reliable source. Free for basic searches.
• Aggregator search: OpenCorporates has limited Sierra Leone coverage. Treat as indicative only.
• Local legal firms in Freetown: recommended for certified extracts, older records, and complex ownership verification.

Local data suppliers

No major international credit bureau operates a standalone Sierra Leone commercial credit reporting service as of May 2026. [VERIFY: local credit bureau availability.] For risk-rated commercial due diligence, engagement with a West Africa-focused due-diligence provider or international law firm with Sierra Leone experience is recommended.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Sierra Leone registry directly?

Yes. The OARG public portal (oarg.gov.sl) is accessible to international users for basic company searches. Certified extracts may require portal account creation or a local Freetown agent.

What entity types are registered with OARG in Sierra Leone?

OARG registers private limited companies (Ltd), public companies (PLC), companies limited by guarantee (NGOs), unlimited companies, external companies (foreign branches), and partnerships under the Companies Act.

Does Sierra Leone have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Sierra Leone does not operate a publicly searchable UBO register as of May 2026. Beneficial ownership requirements exist under Sierra Leone’s Anti-Money Laundering Act and FATF-aligned legislation, but UBO data is held by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) rather than published publicly. Given the FATF grey list status, apply enhanced UBO verification for all Sierra Leone-linked counterparties.

Is Sierra Leone on the FATF grey list?

Yes, as of May 2026. [VERIFY: fatf-gafi.org for current status.] EDD is required for transactions with Sierra Leonean counterparties.

What is the difference between OARG company registration and business name registration?

OARG registers both incorporated companies (under the Companies Act) and business names (trading names of individuals or unincorporated businesses, under the Business Names Ordinance). For counterparty verification, determine whether the entity is an incorporated company (with a Ltd or PLC suffix in its name) or a registered business name (sole trader or unincorporated partnership), as the legal standing and liability regime differs considerably.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: OARG Sierra Leone (oarg.gov.sl), Bank of Sierra Leone (bsl.gov.sl), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.