Skip to main content
THE CITIZENSHIP DESK

Liberia

LBR

Liberia is a coastal West African nation with a uniquely American origin: it was founded in 1847 by freed African-American slaves repatriated under the American Colonization Society, making it Africa's first republic. English is the official language, and the capital Monrovia is named after U.S. President James Monroe. After devastating civil wars (1989–2003), Liberia has rebuilt its democratic institutions and in 2018 achieved a peaceful transfer of power. The economy relies on rubber, iron ore, and timber exports. Citizenship is restricted to people of Negro descent under the Constitution, and dual citizenship is not permitted. The Liberian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 50 destinations.

Passport Rank

#94

Visa-Free

50

destinations

Country Details

Capital
Monrovia
Currency
LRD
Languages
English
Population
5,418,000
Tax System
Residence Based
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed
Naturalisation
2 years
Schengen / EU
No
Climate
Tropical; hot and humid year-round, heavy rainy season May–October

Indices

Cost of Living

28

Safety

42

Healthcare

25

Quality of Life

32

Tax Summary

Tax System
Residence Based
Territorial Taxation
No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation
2 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
CityRent 1BR centreRent outsideGroceriesUtilitiesTransit pass
Monrovia————$25
Gbarnga————$12
Buchanan————$10

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Monrovia

26°J
27°F
27°M
27°A
26°M
25°J
24°J
24°A
25°S
26°O
26°N
26°D

Rainfall range: 30–1000 mm/month · Daylight 11.5h (winter) to 12.8h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

  • Tourist
  • Business
  • Resident Permit
  • Work Permit
  • Student
  • Family
  • Investor
Authority
Liberia Immigration Service
Official Portal
www.lis.gov.lr

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years
Language Test
No
Civic Test
No
Oath Required
No
Dual Allowed
No
Fee
—
Processing
—

Safety

GPI Rank

—

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Sources & last verified

  • Last verified 2026-06-15