VISA REQUIREMENTS & GENERAL INFORMATION YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF BEFORE VISITING GHANA

Ghana has a tropical warm climate all year round together with an extensive wildlife.  There are majestic waterfalls like Tagbo Falls which is the largest in West Africa.  The sandy beaches, mountains and reservoirs and lakes like Lake Bosumtwi are not to be missed.

There are dozens of forts and castles to visit and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites which comprise of nature reserves and national parks are some of the most memorable in Ghana.

Accra is the capital of Ghana and provides a mix of a bustling city centre with a very relaxed coastal atmosphere. While in Ghana, you must sample the local cuisine and take in its various wondrous sites or spend the night dancing to the djembe drums.

Ghana welcomes visitors to a haven that combines the charms of a tropical beach and a fascinating historical heritage with a rich cultural variety, and some interesting wildlife in the national parks.

This information piece tells you everything you need to know about visa requirements for visiting Ghana.

It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit, in particular if you are travelling with minors.

Visa requirements are governed by the Ghanaian Immigration Act and are subject to change without prior notice. Rather check the country’s official website or enquire from a reputable travelling agency or tour operator like MoAfrika Tours what the latest updates or changes to the requirements for a visa application may be.

WHAT IS A VISA?

A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Ghana for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.

A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa.

Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING GHANA

A visa is authorised and issued upon application by a representative of a country’s embassy, mission or consulate after it has been determined that you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.

Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Ghana. Instead, they are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of time relevant to the status of the visitor’s country.

While the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States have a visa waiver system set for their nationals travelling to Ghana, all other visitors to Ghana must be in possession of a Ghana visa (aside from visitors from the nations of Egypt, Hong Kong, Kenya, Mauritius, and Singapore).

Ghana visas may be granted for reasons of tourism, business, study or transit.

COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS

Visas are required by most non-residents except ECOWAS nationals. Ghana Missions and Embassies abroad will assist in issuing individual as well as group visas.

While the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States have a visa waiver system set for their nationals travelling to Ghana, all other visitors to Ghana must be in possession of a Ghana visa.

Visa exempt countries are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritius (60 days), Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Swaziland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago (60 days), Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS

Ghana Tourist Visa

Applicants for the Ghana tourist visa must meet all the necessary requirements, including a passport with at least six months validity on it. Visitors must also have a return or a through ticket to a country which they have the right of admission or may be required to show evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of their stay in the country.

Ghana tourist visas are valid for a period of three months and should be utilised within three months of the date of issue. Applications for further Ghana visa extensions to a visitors’ permit must be made to the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service for consideration.

Tourists may be allowed a period of stay of three months if the Ghana Immigration Service is satisfied that such tourists have sufficient means of financial support.

Additionally, the Ghana tourist visa does not allow the visa holder to engage in any kind of Ghana employment during their stay.

Ghana Business Visa

The same requirements of the Ghana tourist visa are needed for an applicant for the Ghana business Visa. You are required to provide evidence of your purpose, such as a letter from your firm from your country of residence, as well as a letter of invitation from the business you will be visiting in Ghana.

Ghana business visas are valid for a period of three months and must be utilised within three months of the date of issue. Applications for further Ghana visa extensions must be made to the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service for consideration.

The Ghana business visa grants holders gives you the right to attend meetings, conferences and other business-related activities.  Yet, the holder is not permitted to be employed in any capacity during their time in Ghana.

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING GHANA

The processing time for a Ghana visa takes approximately four working days for over the counter applications and 10 working days for postal applications.  However, this is subject to change. 

A Ghana visa’s processing time also depends very much on the type of visa, the nationality of the person applying, the time of year and other variables.  Therefore, it is advised that applicants begin the application process well in advance of your scheduled trip.

You will be able to apply for an online eVisa for Ghana. You will have to check whether your home country is on the list of eligible nationalities for an online visa and proceed to follow the steps that will be established by the Ghanaian government as the eVisa scheme is developed.

Like other nations around the world where eVisa processes have been developed, the Ghana eVisa is likely to speed up the visa application procedure and improve the situation for both Borders Authorities and foreign tourists to the country.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR VISA

A valid passport is mandatory. Visa requirements are subject to change and should be checked prior to traveling to Ghana, but at the time of writing visas are required by most nationalities and must be acquired in advance at a Ghanaian Embassy or High Commission listed below.

The Requirements for a Tourism Visa

• A completed visa application form which will be obtained from any Ghana High Commission.
• Three copies and one original application forms which must be signed by you. Your signature must match the signature in your passport.
• A complete personal history form which must be obtained from any Ghana High Commission.
• Three copies and one original personal history form which must be signed by you. Signatures must match the signature in your passport.
• Four passport-sized photographs
• Original vaccination certificate against yellow fever
• Four copies of certificate of ticket or itinerary or flight confirmation slip or air ticket
• Visa fee
• Original passport: The validity of the passport should be more than six months when you apply for the visa.

COST OF A GHANA VISA

Single Entry Visa (must be used within three months from date of issue) is $60

Multiple Entry Visa costs $100

Single Expedited Visa costs $100

Multiple Visa Expedited costs $200

VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING GHANA

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is often required for a foreign visitor who is travelling from or transiting through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by a certain type of infected mosquitoes. The disease is similar to malaria, but patients become severely jaundiced (a yellow colouring which gives the disease its name). Yellow fever is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.

A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Ghana. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Ghana within the 10-day waiting period.

Ways to avoid getting mosquito bites during your visit:

Insect repellent is your best friend when it comes to avoiding mosquito bites, you can buy insect repellents from the local supermarkets and/or pharmacies and apply to any exposed areas of the skin. Those products, which include DEET, claim to be the most effective, but there are alternatives if you are allergic.

It is a good idea to apply insect repellent before leaving your hotel room/ lodge or chalet for the day.

It is recommended to apply frequently throughout the day and before bed in the evening to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Keep air circulating in your room, mosquitoes aren’t strong flyers (that’s why they are more active during the evening and in the mornings when there is little wind). Using fans is a good way to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito, as it makes it difficult for them to fly near you.

A little-known fact is that wearing light coloured clothing can prevent mosquito bites, they are more attracted to darker colours because of the contrasting that dark-coloured clothes provide against the horizon during dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING GHANA

Precious metals like gold and diamonds and other precious natural resources are subject to strict import and export regulations.

Only agents licensed by the Precious Metals and Mining Commission are accredited to handle import-export transactions of these natural resources. Individuals who commit offences may face prosecution, and penalties include imprisonment.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Smoking is prohibited in public areas, but are sometimes allowed in private businesses, such as bars or restaurants.

Possession of pornographic material is illegal. Wearing military clothing or clothing that has military elements (for example, camouflage) is prohibited.

The official currency is the Ghanaian cedi (GHS) in the country. In urban areas, ATMs are widely available. Most credit cards are accepted at major hotels and some shops.

The export of cedis is prohibited. There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currencies providing they are declared upon arrival and exchanged for local currency only through banks and foreign exchange bureaus.

You should receive an Exchange Control Form T-5 on arrival; if not, you should request it. You must record foreign currency and all transactions made while in the country on this form.

Safely store the form because you may encounter problems if you lose it.

Before you leave Ghana, you must spend unused cedis or reconvert them into foreign currency. The T-5 declaration form must show that the monies obtained while in Ghana were from an authorized dealer in foreign exchange.

Currency transactions with private citizens are illegal.

VISITING GHANA WITH MINORS

Visitors under the age of 18 must also provide a copy of the child’s full birth certificate, as well as copies of the parents’ state-issued IDs or passports.

Parents must sign the visa application for the minor.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN GHANA

Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from Ghana for a period of time, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering Ghana for a prescribed period of time.

Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.

ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN GHANA WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR

MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Ghana. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Ghana who make safety a priority.