Located in West Africa, the Republic of Ghana was one of the first African countries to achieve independence from colonial rule in 1957. The country is known for its rich history, diverse animals, and breathtaking beaches and sunrises; it is also known for being one of the largest gold producers in the world.
Foreigners who want to visit the country and see everything that this country offers must first see if they need a visa to enter the country. If they don’t need a visa, they can enter the country with just a valid passport. Foreigners who need a visa to enter the country can find here all the information needed before applying for a Ghana visa.
Who Needs a Visa for Ghana?
Citizens of the countries listed below can enter and visit Ghana for 90 days without a visa:
- Barbados
- Jamaica
- Senegal
- Benin
- Kenya
- Seychelles
- Burkina Faso
- Lesotho
- Sierra Leone
- Cabo Verde
- Liberia
- Singapore
- Ivory Coast
- Mali
- Sudan
- Eswatini
- Mauritius
- Tanzania
- Gambia
- Niger
- Togo
- Guinea
- Nigeria
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Guinea-Bissau
- Rwanda
- Uganda
- Guyana
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Zimbabwe
Other Visa Extempions
Citizens of other nationalities who fulfill the following criteria do not need a visa to enter Ghana:
- Holders of a Dual Nationality Card issued by the Republic of Ghana.
- Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports issued to nationals of:
- Brazil
- China
- Cuba
- Germany
- Iran
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Turkey
How to Apply for a Ghana Visa?
There are different ways how you can obtain a Ghana visa, such as:
- Apply for a visa online.
- Apply at the port of entry.
- Apply at the embassy/consulate of Ghana in your home country.
Online
American citizens can apply for a Ghana visa online. All they need to do is enter the official page of the Ghana Embassy website in Washington and fill out the application form, download it, print a hard copy, and mail the application with all other requested documents to the embassy of Ghana.
Port of Entry
Citizens of the countries listed below can apply for a Ghana visa at the port of entry. They must enter the country, fill out the application form at the Border Checkpoint, and finish an application visa fee payment.
- Algeria
- Equatorial Guinea
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Angola
- Eritrea
- Seychelles
- Botswana
- Ethiopia
- Somalia
- Burundi
- Gabon
- South Africa
- Cameroon
- Lesotho
- South Sudan
- Central African Republic
- Libya
- Sudan
- Chad
- Madagascar
- Tanzania
- Comoros
- Malawi
- Tunisia
- Republic of the Congo
- Mauritania
- Uganda
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Djibouti
- Namibia
- Egypt
- Rwanda
A visa on arrival is valid for 30 days. However, foreign citizens who want to stay longer than 30 days in the country must apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of Ghana in their home country.
Embassy/consulate of Ghana
Citizens who want to apply for a Ghana visa at the embassy/consulate must follow these steps:
- Contact the embassy/consulate of Ghana and book a visa appointment.
- Fill out the Ghana visa application form.
- Gather all the required documents. See ‘ Ghana Visa Requirements ‘ for further information.
- Submit all the required documents to the embassy of Ghana.
- Wait for a response from the embassy of Ghana with your visa application result.
Ghana Visa Requirements
To apply for a Ghana visa, you must submit these documents:
- A passport that is valid at least six months after the date of return.
- A fully completed and sign Ghana application form. Do not leave any blank spaces while filling out the application form.
- A visa fee payment receipt.
- A flight itinerary with all your personal details, including the date of your flight and the return date.
- An accommodation proof such as a hotel reservation, a rental agreement, or a letter of invitation.
- A letter of invitation from a friend or a family member proving that you have a place to stay while in Ghana.
- A criminal record document issued by the authorities of your home country. These documents must prove that you have a clean criminal record.
- Two passport-sized photos in colors and taken in the last six months. The photos should be in line with Ghana visa photo requirements.
- A bank statement document. This document must prove that you are financially stable and can financially support yourself in Ghana.
Note: The embassy/consulate of Ghana can request other additional documents depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Keep in mind that any false information can lead to your visa refusal.
Duration of a Ghana Visa
The duration of a Ghana visa depends on the type of visa you are applying for and for how long the embassy/consulate of Ghana issues your visa. A Ghana visa allows you to stay between 30 to 90 days. But if the embassy of Ghana issues the visa for one year, you can stay in the country for one year.
Foreign citizens who want to stay longer than three months in the country must apply for a Ghana residence visa.
Ghana Visa Fees
The Ghana visa fees depend on several factors, such as:
- The type of Ghana visa you are applying for.
- Your age.
- The country you come from.
- How long you are planning on staying in the country, etc.
Depending on these conditions, citizens who want to apply for a Ghana visa need to contact the embassy/consulate of Ghana regarding the applicable visa fee amount.
Long-Stay Visas for Ghana
There are different types of Ghana visas, such as:
- Business visa.
- Study visa.
- Employment visa.
Business Visa
Citizens who want to visit Ghana for business purposes must apply for a business visa. In addition to other requested documents, they must submit a letter of invitation from the applicant’s Business Associates in Ghana.
Study Visa
Foreigners who want to study in Ghana must apply for a student visa. To apply for a student visa, they need to have a document proving that they have been accepted at one of the Universities of Ghana.
Employment Visa
An employment visa is issued to foreigners who want to work in Ghana. Applicants who want an employment visa must submit an employment contract and a grant of employment quota in Ghana.
Residence Permit for Ghana
A residence permit is issued to foreigners who want to stay for longer than three months in Ghana. A Ghana residence permit is issued for one to four years in the first instance. But, foreigners who want to stay longer than four years can renew their residence permits and stay in the country for eight years.
Why Should You Visit Ghana?
The Republic of Ghana is a tropical paradise, with sunny weather and breathtaking beaches. Apart from those reasons, here are a few interesting facts you should know before visiting the amazing country of Ghana:
- The country is known for being very rich in gold and diamond. It is rated as one of the seventh countries worldwide for being the highest gold producer.
- Lake Volta in Ghana is the largest artificial reserve in the world.
- Ghana is known for being one of the most peaceful African nations.
- It has different ethnic diversity.
- Ghana is the homebirth to many different amazing styles of music.
- You can go mountain hiking and mountain biking.
- The locals are very friendly and make delicious traditional food such as cassava and plantain.
- Every day you can go to different beach parties.
- The official language spoken in Ghana is English.
- The Republic of Ghana is one of the largest air open markets in West Africa.