Visa Requirements For Ghana (Visa-on-arrival December 2024 Update)

Travel TipsAccra

Dec 1

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

Get a visa on arrival in Ghana (December 2024 - January 2025)

The Ghana Tourism Authority has instated a temporary non-pre-approval visa-on-arrival policy for the past two years to accommodate the high tourism season each December and simplify entry. The policy is an element of their ‘December in GH’ campaign and the 10-year ‘Beyond the Return’ initiative. The tourism authority recently announced that this policy will apply for the 2024 season. From December 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, international travelers can travel to Ghana without pre-approval and purchase a visa-on-arrival at Kotoka International Airport.

Ghana visa requirements for US citizens

US citizens must apply for a tourist visa outside of the holiday period before traveling to Ghana. To apply, you’ll need a passport valid for at least six months, proof of a yellow fever vaccination, a copy of your return flight or a travel itinerary, an invitation letter (a hotel booking confirmation can be used to fulfill this requirement), and two passport photos taken no more than three months before your application submission. You may not apply for a Ghana tourist visa sooner than three months before your intended arrival.

Buoyant Tip: If you’re in the US, drugstores, like CVS, can take passport photos for you using the correct dimensions to include in your visa application.

If you’re visiting Ghana from a country other than the US, check with your local embassy before traveling, as requirements and costs may vary slightly from country to country.

In the US, a Ghana tourist visa typically costs USD 60 for a single-entry visa and USD 100 for a multi-entry visa. Most first-time visitors to Ghana will opt for a single-entry visa. However, if you’re planning to visit Ghana multiple times or want to leave and return while visiting other countries in the region, apply for a multi-entry visa to avoid going through the visa application process again or having issues at the border.

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 you may be tempted to extend your visa 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 pay a fee.

GET THE GHANA TRAVEL GUIDE

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.