Ghana visa requirements for US Citizens: A comprehensive guide
Types of Visas
Ghana offers various types of visas to accommodate different travel purposes. For US citizens, the most common types of visas include:
Tourist Visa: Ideal for travelers planning to visit Ghana for leisure or recreation.
Business Visa: Required for individuals traveling to Ghana for business-related activities, such as meetings, conferences, or negotiations.
Student Visa: Necessary for US citizens enrolling in educational institutions or participating in academic programs in Ghana.
Transit Visa: If you’re passing through Ghana on your way to another destination and will not leave the airport, you may need a transit visa.
Application Process:
The process of applying for a Ghanaian visa as a US citizen is typically straightforward. However, understanding all the nuances and where to go to access the documents you need can get overwhelming. I promise by the end of this article you will have the blueprint you have been looking for.
In this article, we’ll talk exclusively about the Tourist Visa option since this is the one my family and I applied for. So take a breath, stop stressing, and follow my below to-do’s so you can put all the red tape behind you and focus on what matters most. The experience you and your loved ones (or maybe just you!) are about to have.
Complete the Ghana Visa Application Form
Your first step in obtaining a visa to Ghana is to fill out the visa application form from one of the Ghanaian embassies or consulates within the U.S. While there is an embassy in D.C. my personal recommendation is to opt for a smaller office like the one located in Little Rock Arkansas.
Back in August of 2023 my family and a few close friends were planning a trip to Ghana, about a month before our trip my friends and I realized we needed to pre-apply for visas. In the past, I had only ever been to countries where they issue visas on arrival so this process was all new to me. I reached out to the consulate in DC and we got an estimate of 4-6 week processing. Because our flight was in 4 weeks’ time, I was undoubtedly stressed. Once we realized that there was a consulate in Arkansas, we decided to send our application and documents there.
We figured processing there had to be quicker since the volume of applications would not be as high as the D.C office.
Amazingly enough, we got our passports back with our Ghana visas within a week! I could not believe it. Now, you can avoid all of this chaos by planning ahead and being aware of your options (unlike me lol). Keep in mind that single-entry visas are good for 90 days. So you will want to choose the timing in which you file your application carefully based on your trip dates.
Gather Required Visa Documents
Along with the application form, you must submit supporting documents, such as your passport (valid 6 months after your return date), passport-sized photos, proof of travel arrangements, proof of accommodation in Ghana, and any other documents specific to your visa type.
Yes, you will need to physically mail your passport to the consulate! If this feels weird to you, don’t be alarmed, that’s exactly how I felt. This is a part of the process, and because you are mailing such valuable documents it’s worth it to pay a little extra for Priority Mail.
Never send official documents to the consulate (birth certificate, SS number, etc)…like I did. They will only need copies of the required documents. In addition, to your documents, you will need to provide the consulate with proof that you have accommodations. This can be something as simple as printing off your hotel reservation or sending in the address of the family member or place where you will be staying along with their invitation letter.
Depending on your Tourist Visa type you may need to show proof of travel arrangements. For single-entry visas do not purchase your ticket until you get approved. For multiple entry visas, there is no proof of travel required. For my proof, I simply printed off my emailed purchase receipt from Expedia and added it to my required docs.
Ghana Visa Fee
Ghanaian visa fees vary depending on the type of visa and the duration of stay. Fees are nonrefundable so make sure you choose the correct visa type for your trip and pay the correct amount. Payment forms accepted include Money Orders, Postal Orders, or Cashier’s Checks and can be made payable to the “Embassy of Ghana”. If you are traveling with a family do not submit payment all in one money order. Each application is separate and payments need to be kept separate as well.
- Non-rush single entry tourist visa – $60
- Non-rush multiple entry tourist visa – $100
- Rush single entry visa – $100
- Rush multiple entry visa – $200
Submitting your application
Once you’ve completed the application form and gathered all the necessary documents you will need to mail them to the Ghana Embassy/Consulate. When mailing your documents you will want to consider priority/overnight shipping, you may even want to consider extra insurance. Yes, this can be expensive but losing these documents and checks can be even more expensive in the long run. Keep in mind that when mailing documents you will also need to mail a pre-filled out and paid return envelope. Once they are done processing your application they will send all your documents and your stamped passport back to you in this envelope.
Processing and waiting times…
This depends on a lot of different factors such as time of year (December is busy!), the size of family or group going, which consulate you send in your application to, etc. My recommendations are that you:
- Submit your application 5-7 weeks before your trip
- Submit your application to the consulate in Arkansas if you are looking for a quicker turnaround (D.C Embassy is fine too, but may take longer to process your application)
- Unsure if you should send a certain document? Send a copy of it any way! Better for them to have more than what they need than less and cost you more time and money.
- Quadruple check that you have all required documents and that all money orders are filled out correctly and signed on both sides.
If you follow the above you can expect to have your visas back anywhere from 1-3 weeks. I’ll need to submit a new application for my Ghanaian visa soon since my passport expires and best believe I will be doing all the above just the same!
Additional Requirements and Considerations:
Yellow Fever Vaccination: US citizens traveling to Ghana are required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon entry into the country based on multiple sources. These are some of the most expensive shots my family and I have ever gotten, and most insurance plans do not cover them. For my family of 3 it cost us a whopping $687.27!
When boarding our flight to Ghana I just knew the gate attendant would ask for proof of the vaccine, but no. When we landed in Ghana I was expecting the same, no again. During our 21-hour travel day not one single soul asked for proof of YF. I was shook.. and at the same time thinking about what else we could have spent the money on. If your finances allow, I HIGHLY suggest getting the shot, it’s better to be safe than sorry. However, if you are already strapped for cash (because hey, this trip is not cheap) then this could be something you skip. If you do get the shot be sure to sign the YF booklet and keep it with you while you travel.
With proper preparation and adherence to the above-listed guidelines obtaining your Ghana visa is a manageable process. Familiarizing yourself with the visa types, application process, and additional requirements will ensure a seamless travel experience with low stress. Be sure to prioritize this because once you land in the Motherland all you will want to do is worry about immersing yourself in its rich culture, history, and natural beauty.