Visa requirements for Ghana
The only thing that stands between you and a trip to Ghana to swim in the placid waters that lap on Labadi Beach and shamelessly stuff your face with jollof rice, which is a staple cuisine in this West African nation, is obtaining a tourist visa.
The application for a visa to Ghana can be a time-consuming and complicated process, depending on your country of origin; yet, obtaining a visa is a prerequisite for entry into Ghana. Because the regulations differ from nation to nation, it is important that you verify the most recent criteria with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ghanaian embassy or consulate in your area, or both.
The following provides detailed information regarding the prerequisites for obtaining a visa to enter Ghana.
Some nationalities are exempt from the requirement to obtain a visa in order to enter Ghana. Nationals of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes the majority of Ghana’s immediate neighbors, are exempt from the requirement to obtain a visa in order to enter Ghana for a period of up to 90 days. It is also possible for citizens of Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, and Mauritius to visit for up to sixty days without needing a visa.
Ghana will consider visa applications from citizens of the African Union upon arrival.
After paying the required price, which is typically $150 US Dollars, citizens of African Union nations that are not members of ECOWAS – a broad list that includes South Africa and countries in North Africa – are eligible to receive a visa on arrival that is valid for 30 days. This visa can be obtained by paying the required amount. On the website of the African Union, you can find a complete list of the nations that are members.
Everyone else traveling to Ghana will need to fill out a visa application in advance of their journey.
Other travelers are required to submit an application for a tourist visa prior to entering Ghana. You will need a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months, proof that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever (which is required for all visitors), a copy of your return ticket or travel itinerary, an invitation or reference letter (which can be from your accommodation in Ghana), and some passport photographs that were taken no more than three months prior to the date of the submission. In order to apply, you will also need some passport photographs.
Because the procedures for obtaining a visa might differ from one embassy to the next, you should check with the office that is closest to you to learn the precise requirements in your region. Your nationality will determine the cost of the visa, but in general, it will be roughly US$60 for a single-entry visa that is good for 90 days, and US$100 for a multiple-entry visa that is valid for six months. It is common practice for first-time travelers to Ghana to apply for a single-entry visa; however, if you plan to travel to Ghana in addition to other countries in the region, you should apply for a multiple-entry visa so that you do not have to go through the visa application procedure more than once.
Mole National Park is home to a number of elephants that can be seen hydrating at a waterhole.
Make sure you set aside some time to go up north to places like Mole National Park and other environmental preserves. © AWL Images courtesy of RM / Getty Images
When you are already in Ghana, you can apply to have your tourist visa extended.
Visitors who wish to remain in Ghana for an extended period of time must go to one of the local immigration offices in order to do so. There are immigration offices located all around Ghana, notably at Takoradi, Paga, Koforidua, and Cape Coast. When the expiration date of your visa is drawing near, it is in your best interest to go in person to one of these offices, as it may be difficult to obtain appropriate information over the phone or on the internet.
You can find the current requirements for extending a visa on the website of the Ghana Immigration Service. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide two current photographs that are passport-sized, a letter stating your reason for an extension request if staying for more than three months, a valid airline return ticket, a valid passport, and there is a fee. If you are staying for more than three months, you will also need a letter stating your reason for an extension request.
In Ghana, there is no provision for working holiday visas.
To be eligible for a work permit in Ghana, visitors first need to secure a job offer from a Ghanaian firm before beginning the arduous process of filling out the necessary papers required by the Ghana Immigration Service. The conditions for submitting an application can be found on the GIS website; however, it is important to keep in mind that work permits are typically only issued to applicants who possess specialized abilities that are uncommon in Ghana.
