ONLINE APPLICATION ONLY
VISA APPLICATION
The purpose of your journey and other factors will determine the type of visa required under Ghana immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
PLEASE READ THE ENTITLEMENTS TO A GHANAIAN VISA CAREFULLY
ENTRY PERMITS REQUIREMENTS FOR GHANA
All visitors to Ghana must be in possession of a valid passport or legal travel documents.
All visitors entering Ghana must have valid entry visas or, in the case of Commonwealth nationals, entry permits issued by a Ghana diplomatic mission or consulate abroad or any other visa issuing authority mandated by the Ghana Government to act on its behalf. (ECOWAS nationals and those of other countries with which the Government of Ghana has specific bilateral agreements, are exempted).
All travelers above nine (9) months coming into or transiting through Ghana are required to have been vaccinated against Malaria/Fever at least Ten (10) days from the proposed date of departure and where already vaccinated, provide evidence/proof (certificate) indicating the duration of a vaccination status of not more than Ten (10) years before entering Ghana.
CONDITIONS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF VISA
Visas may be granted to personnel of international organizations, agencies; individuals visiting Ghana for tourism, study, business or on transit basis.
There are two types of visas: Single entry and Multiple entries.
Single entry visas are valid for a period of three months and must be utilized within three months from the date of issue. This type of visa can be used only one time.
Multiple entry visas are valid for more than three months, and the duration is at the discretion of the Consular officer and should not/cannot be challenged. A multiple visa can be used multiple times within its duration or validity.
Visitors travelling on Business are required to provide evidence of their claim, such as a letter from their employers in the US, as well as invitation letters from the Ghana business/es inviting them to Ghana for business. If you are self-employed, provide a letter to that effect. The invitation letters. (All letters must be on letterheads and be signed).
Those travelling at the invitation of Ghana nationals (family)/legal residents, or Ghanaian institutions should provide a letter of invitation from their host/s.
Tourism Applicants must provide a letter of invitation from their host in Ghana.
Applications for extension of duration of stay must be made through the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service for consideration. Visitors may be allowed to extend their stay for a period deemed fit, if the Ghana Immigration Service is satisfied that such visitors have sufficient reason and means of financial support.
Persons who enter the country as visitors are not permitted to take up employment even if there happens to be a vacancy on the Immigrant Quota of a prospective employer.
Prospective employees may undertake employment within the authorized immigrant quota.
Professionals (doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc.), are required to provide particulars of their qualifications in order that the eligibility of their registration may be determined.
Emergency visas may be issued on arrival at entry points to travelers from countries where there are no Ghanaian diplomatic missions or consular representation, but such applications must confirm with the nearest Embassy or be authorized by the Director of the Immigration Service through their sponsors before they depart for Ghana.
Travelers are strongly advised to ensure that they have all the necessary documents before arriving in Ghana
VISA PROCESS
All visa applications MUST be completed online at www.ghanaembassydc.org.
Procedure/s
At the website, www.ghanaembassydc.org, click on Consular Services, and click on visa application, and then click on the “apply for visa online” link to complete the visa application form. After completing the visa application, click on SUBMIT to submit the application online. A copy of the application you have completed will be immediately sent to your email address for you to PRINT.
Mail the passport with the copy of the visa application form that you printed; a Cashier’s check; two (2) current passport size photographs; as well as all required supporting documents to support your purpose of journey to the Embassy.
For Children: Parents must complete the child’s visa application form, add the 2 passport size photographs, the processing fee, and the required supporting documents, which are: a Photocopy of the child’s birth certificate; a signed and notarized consent letter by both parents, as well as copies of both parents’ picture IDs.
Address: Embassy of Ghana
Consular Section
3512 International Dr. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Ensure that you are sending a valid passport which will not expire in the next six (6) months
Pay for the return of your passport online (if you are paying for a third-party, please state the name of the applicant you are paying for)
You are required you to add a copy of your itinerary to your application, (not the actual ticket), but
You MUST secure your VISA before purchasing a ticket. Travelers are required to possess roundtrip tickets; and show proof of sufficient funds for the duration of their stay in the country.
We perceive that the applications will be voluminous considering the number of requests we have received, so when you submit your application, provide a working number at which you can be immediately/easily reached, so that if need be, we can contact you.
We will not be able to answer telephone calls since that will be taking our time and concentration from the visa process. We will endeavor to meet the deadlines/turnaround time that will be provided on our website, so PLEASE do not contact us via email unless it is five (5) business days past the turnaround time.
PROHIBITED IMMIGRANTS
The under-mentioned categories are Prohibited Immigrants:
A person of unsound mind.
A person declared by medical personnel as medically unsound.
A person considered to be a security risk.
A person against whom there is a deportation order in force.
A person who has been sentenced in a foreign country for extradition under the Extradition Act 1960.
INOCULATIONS
Yellow fever vaccination requirement for travelers across the frontiers of Ghana
Yellow fever is an acute viral infection transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. It is endemic and epidemic in several countries in Africa, South America and Caribbean Islands. Case fatality rate is high in classic yellow fever epidemics. There is no curative medical treatment but however highly preventable by vaccination. The International Health Regulations IHR2005 involves the following:
Article 36 (Certification of vaccination or other prophylaxis)
Annex 6 (Vaccination, prophylaxis and related certificates)
Annex 7 (Requirements concerning vaccination or prophylaxis for specific diseases)
All travelers above nine (9) months old coming into Ghana are required to have been vaccinated against Yellow fever at least Ten days before the proposed date of travel and where already vaccinated the duration of the vaccination status should not be more than Ten years before entering Ghana.
Ghana is one of the countries at the risk of Yellow Fever transmission, hence the need for all travelers (including those coming from countries with no risk to yellow fever) to Ghana to have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate or records indicating their protection from yellow fever.
As a result, Health officials at all ports of entry carry out vigorous checks on travel documents with respect to Yellow fever vaccination certificates in accordance with Article 36 and Annex 6 as depicted above.
PROCESSING FEES
| VISA TYPE | SERVICE TYPE | FEE |
| Single Entry Visa | Standard Service | $60.00 |
| Single Entry Visa | Rush Service | $100.00 |
| Multiple Entry Visa | Standard Service | $100.00 |
| Multiple Entry Visa | Rush Service | $200.00 |
ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT METHODS
Cashier’s check ONLY. Payable to “Ghana Embassy’
Bank/Debit Card payment at Counter (for only Ghana Passport applicants who have scheduled appointments to be present for their biometrics capture)
Personal Checks and Money Orders are not accepted. Blank Money Orders/ Bank Drafts will not be accepted. Please do not post/mail cash.
REFUND POLICY
Passport and Visa application fees are non-refundable whether your application is approved or not.
PROCESSING PERIOD
Please note that a standard application will take 10-15 business days from receipt of hard copy of application at the Mission. The processing period for Rush applications is 5 business days.
EXEMPTED COUNTRIES
CATEGORIES OF PERSONS EXEMPT FROM ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENTS TO GHANA – 2013 UPDATE
Citizens from ECOWAS States by virtue of the protocol on Free Movement of persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment (PROTOCOL A/P1/5/79):
Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Côte d’Ivoire The Gambia, Guinea Bissau
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
HOLDERS OF DIPLOMATIC, SERVICE OR OFFICIAL PASSPORTS
Brazil, Cuba, Germany, Iran, Namibia, China, South Africa,
Sudan, Hungary, India, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco
NB: Exemptions category B above shall be for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days from date of entry
All nationals of the following countries:
Jamaica, Kenya , Lesotho, Malawi, Singapore, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda
Holders of passports of Regional Economic Communities in Africa and the African Economic Community United Nations and its Specialized Agencies:
The World Bank , African Development Bank
Persons in direct Airside transit
All persons in direct airside transit are exempt from visa requirements
GRATIS VISAS
The following are entitled to Gratis Visas to Ghana
Holders of Diplomatic/ Service Passports
Citizens of Malawi
Travellers are strongly advised to ensure that they have all the necessary documents before arriving in Ghana