Whether you’re visiting for "Detty December" or charting the Gold Coast for the first time for holiday with friends and family, one thing you’ll definitely need to take flight to Ghana is an official visa.
Edit: As of January 26, 2024, Ghana' announced that the country will remove visa requirements for all Africans by the end of 2024. This will allow visa-free travel to Ghana for Africans starting in 2025
Getting a visa can seem like a daunting process at first, especially with all the requirements you must fulfill and all the documents you have to provide in your application. Worry less — we're here to break the process down in layman’s terms and give you a few tips to make the process easier along the way. Keep reading for all the details.
Setting the Stage: Your Ghana Tourist Visa Essentials
Before we delve into the details, let's start with the essentials that will set you on the path to a Ghana experience that will, very likely — make your entire year. In this post, we’ll assume you’re a Ghana visitor applying for a single entry visa.
Visa Type: Single Entry Ghana Visa
Visa Cost: $60 USD ($100 for expedited service)
Processing Time: 15-20 business days (7 days for expedited service)
Pro Tips:
Hold off on purchasing your flight to Ghana until your visa application has been approved and you receive your passport back from the embassy.
Mail-in and mail-out are not included in the processing period. Leave an extra week before and after the processing time to ensure you receive your visa well before your departure.
Step 1: Preparing Your Documents
As you begin putting your visa application together, make sure you fulfill the following entry requirements:
A passport with at least 6 months validity
Yellow Fever vaccination at least ten (10) days from their departure date
A completed Ghana Visa application form. This can be found on the Ghana Embassy site
Recent passport photos with a crisp white background
A letter of invitation, especially if you’re going for business or work purposes.
Proof of your planned accommodation in Ghana
Relevant identification and residency documents
A demonstration of your finances and travel dates
Pro Tips:
Having a letter of invitation is also helpful if you’re a first time visitor intending on staying in Ghana for over a month. You can get this from a family member, or if you don’t have family in Ghana, from the host of the airbnb/accommodations you’re staying at.
Have your accommodation address and host phone number on hand, even when you’re arriving in Ghana. There are documents that will require you to provide this information as you enter the country.
Step 2: Tips For Assembling Your Visa Package
The passport photo: You can easily go to your local Walgreens or CVS to get a professional colored passport photo taken for about $15. You can also save a coin by using passport photo hacks you can find on TikTok. If you decide to take the DIY route, make sure the homemade passport photo is between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels.
Upload your passport photo in your visa application process. The uploaded image size should be 140 x 170 pixels.
Include a copy of the bio data pages of your passport.
Be very careful to include all the right documentation. All incomplete/missing documents will be returned to you at your expense.
Pro Tips:
When does your passport expire? Visas will not be issued in passports that expire in less than six months. Don’t be a victim — Make sure you're renewed!
COVID-19 tests are currently not required to enter Ghana. However, it doesn’t hurt to have your
vaccination certificate stapled to a page in your passport anyway.
Step 3: Sending Your Visa Application In the Mail
Mail the physical passport, your printed application and all the required supporting documents to the Embassy.
You can pay for your visa application online or grab a cashier's check at your local grocery store. If you pay online, print the receipt/confirmation and add it into your final package. If you pay using a cashiers check, make sure it’s made out to the Embassy of Ghana.
You’ll also need to pay for return postage from the Embassy. This can be purchased on the Ghana embassy website. Complete the process online then, print your receipt and include it in your package.
Your visa is your key to immersing yourself in Ghana and having a smooth experience. Follow these steps and you should be good to go. Safe travels — Your Ghana getaway awaits.
Disclaimer: This guide is based on The Gold Variety's insights and information available on the Ghana Embassy website at the time of writing. For the most up-to-date visa requirements and travel information, we recommend consulting official sources.
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