The Government of Liberia introduced a Visa on Arrival (visaonarrival.lis.gov.lr) and Re-entry Permit (reentryvisa.lis.gov.lr) issuing system to facilitate travel in and out of the country.
By: Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, Liberia, March 13, 2025—The Liberian government has officially launched a Visa on Arrival (VOA) program to facilitate travel and attract more investors and tourists.
The Acting Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Elijah F. Rufus, made the announcement at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT) press briefing on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Commissioner General Rufus explains that though the program was introduced last month, technical issues delayed its full rollout.
Re-entry visa specimen
However, he says that those problems have been resolved for now, and the government is ready to implement the system.
“For years, many travelers, including business investors, tourists, and Liberians living abroad have struggled to get visas due to Liberia’s limited number of embassies. The new system allows them to get visas upon arrival, making travel easier and more convenient”, he says.
He adds that the Government of Liberia has decided to launch this project so that people can easily access visas upon arrival rather than face difficulties at embassies abroad.
The Visa on Arrival service will first be available at Roberts International Airport (RIA) here, and it is planned to expand to seaports and land borders soon.
Commissioner Rufus highlights that the new system will provide several advantages, including better security, more revenue, and faster processing.
On the question of security, he reveals that authorities can track travelers in real time, improving border control and preventing illegal entry.
Additionally, he says the program will generate income for the government and help boost the economy, while shifting from paper-based to digital visa processing will make travel clearance quicker and more efficient.
The Acting Immigration boss urges the public, media, and business community to spread awareness about the program. He assures travelers that the Liberia Immigration Service will provide support to ensure a smooth transition.
“This project is designed to benefit the Liberian people, our business partners, and visitors. We urge everyone to support and cooperate in this new era of immigration reform,” he pleads.
Meanwhile, in an official press release, the Government of Liberia says the new Visa on Arrival (visaonarrival.lis.gov.lr) and Re-entry Permit (reentryvisa.lis.gov.lr) issuing system is a collaboration involving the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and the project contractor – consortium CETIS, one of Europe’s leading companies in security printing and identity management, and ZIP SOLUTIONS, launched on 11 March 2025.
It followed the successful launch of the modern digitalized Work Permit Issuing System in 2022. T
The new system marks another significant step forward in Liberia’s efforts to modernize and digitalize public administration. It is designed to simplify the process for foreigners entering Liberia and enhance the effectiveness of border controls at Monrovia-Roberts International Airport—whether as tourists, business visitors, or investors. These initiatives are expected to result in increased tourism and business travel, which are crucial to the country’s economic growth.
“We firmly believe this initiative will play a significant role in Liberia’s ongoing modernization and digital transformation. To ensure the successful implementation of this ambitious project, led by the Liberian Immigration Service and project contractor – the consortium CETIS and ZIP SOLUTIONS – we have combined the expertise of our local professionals with the global experience”, Acting Commissioner General Rufus says.
He notes that CETIS Group, one of Europe’s leading companies in security printing and identity management solutions, has been a trusted partner to governments worldwide, bringing valuable international expertise to this crucial initiative, saying, “This project is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together with a shared vision. It also marks the next major step toward Liberia’s final goal – a complete Liberian central register. Beyond improving efficiency, this project also boosts government revenues that can be reinvested into Liberia’s development, while creating new job opportunities.”
The Executive Director of CETIS, Roman Žnidarič, expresses gratitude to the Acting Commissioner-General for the opportunity and trust to contribute to Liberia’s digitization efforts.
“With over 200 years of experience and a reputation for meeting the most demanding international security and quality standards, CETIS has been a trusted partner to governments worldwide”, Mr. Žnidarič says.
He notes that for over a decade, CETIS has closely followed Liberia’s development to gain a deep understanding of the country’s challenges. He adds, “Today, we are proud to launch this important long-term project, made possible by the trust of the Liberian government, strong cooperation with LIS, and valuable partnership with our local partners.”
Mr. Žnidarič continues that they are proud to contribute by providing secure, efficient, and transparent issuance of the new Visa on Arrival and Re-entry Permit. “We have invested significantly in this project, employed local experts, and shared our know-how with the local team. Moving forward, we remain committed to continuously improving and updating the system.”
The new Visa on Arrival and Re-entry Permit Issuing System provides many benefits for travelers to Liberia, Liberians abroad, companies and the government, including faster and simplified application process, increased effectiveness of border controls, cost reduction for Visa on Arrival, support for diaspora return initiative, boosting foreign investment and tourism, enhanced security and transparency, while promoting regional cooperation and strengthening economic growth. Editing by Jonathan Browne
