Visa Requirements For Ghana

Travel TipsAccra

Dec 17

Before you head to Ghana to experience the best things to do, see, and eat, you must get a tourist visa. Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply with your local embassy, or if you’re lucky, Ghana may allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel for citizens of your country. The rules and application requirements vary from embassy to embassy, so we recommend checking with your local Ghanaian embassy or Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

Here’s everything you need to know about the visa requirements for visiting Ghana

woman wearing traditional Ghanaian dress and gold bangles — Emmanuel Offei/Unsplash

Applying for a visa in advance before visiting Ghana

Most travelers must apply for a tourist visa before traveling to Ghana. Applicants must have a passport valid for at least six months, proof of a yellow fever vaccination, a copy of their round-trip flight, and a travel itinerary. Ghana’s tourist visa applicants will also need an invitation or reference letter to apply. A copy of a hotel reservation can fulfill this requirement. Last, travelers will need two passport photos taken no more than three months before their application submission date. If you’re in the US, stores like CVS can take passport photos for you using the correct dimensions to include in your visa application.

Check with your local embassy before traveling, as requirements vary slightly from country to country. The cost of a Ghana tourist visa differs depending on nationality. However, it typically costs USD 60 for a single-entry visa and USD 100 for a multi-entry visa; both are valid for six months when your visa is approved. Most first-time visitors to Ghana will opt for a single-entry visa, but if you’re planning to visit Ghana multiple times or plan to leave and return to Ghana while visiting other countries in the region, apply for the multi-entry visa to avoid having to reapply.

How to extend a tourist visa once you’re in Ghana

Ghana is a beautiful place with a lot to do, see, eat, and experience, so it’s no wonder some travelers may want to extend their visas while in Ghana. To do so, head in person to one of the immigration offices throughout the country, which have many locations, including Takoradi and Cape Coast.

The latest visa extension requirements are on the Ghana Immigration Service website. You will need to complete an application form, provide two current passport-sized photos, a letter stating your extension request (if staying for more than three months), a valid return flight confirmation, and a valid passport, and you’ll need to pay a fee.

Travel To Ghana With Us

Some nationalities can travel to Ghana visa-free

ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nationals, which includes most of Ghana’s neighboring West African countries (like Nigeria and Senegal), can travel to Ghana and visit without a visa for 90 days. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and Mauritius can visit without a visa for 60 days.

African Union nationals from countries not a part of ECOWAS (there’s a long list, including South Africa and many North African countries) can obtain a visa on arrival valid for 30 days, typically costing US 150.

Visa on arrival is available during December in Ghana

2019 marked the ‘Year of Return’ in Ghana, and Black travelers from across the diaspora have been flocking to Ghana for a reconnection with our ancestral homeland ever since. While travelers plan trips year-round to Ghana, December in Ghana is a popular time to visit. In 2022 and 2023, Ghana enacted a temporary visa-on-arrival process for a 45-day visa for travelers entering Ghana between December 1 and January 15. This particular visa was designed to accommodate those traveling to Ghana during the peak of December in Ghana. Contact your local Ghanaian embassy for the latest information on this temporary visa on arrival.