Visa Application - Embassy of Ghana, Washington DC (original) (raw)

Please read all the requirements first before going to the application form

Link to Visa Application form is at the bottom of this page.

Scroll to the bottom of Page and click APPLY ONLINE

ONLINE APPLICATION ONLY – NO IN-PERSON SERVICE AT THE EMBASSY Read more

VISA APPLICATION

The purpose of your journey and other factors will determine the type of visa required under Ghana immigration law. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the visa category for which you are applying.

PLEASE READ THE ENTITLEMENTS TO A GHANAIAN VISA CAREFULLY

ALL APPLICANTS MUST PAY FOR RETURN MAIL POSTAGE ONLINE Read more. The Embassy will not be responsible for use of self addressed return envelopes and would not keep or provide a tracking number. You do so at your own risk.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR GHANA

All visitors to Ghana must be in possession of a valid passport or legal travel documents.

All visitors entering Ghana must have valid entry visas or, in the case of Commonwealth nationals, entry permits issued by a Ghana diplomatic mission or consulate abroad or any other visa-issuing authority mandated by the Ghana Government to act on its behalf. (ECOWAS nationals and those of other countries with which the Government of Ghana has specific bilateral agreements, are exempted).

All travelers above nine (9) months coming into or transiting through Ghana are required to have been vaccinated against Yellow Fever

CONDITIONS FOR THE ISSUE OF VISA

Visas may be granted to personnel of international organizations, agencies; and individuals visiting Ghana for tourism, study, business or on transit basis.
There are two types of visas: Single entry and Multiple entries.
Single-entry visas are valid for three months and must be utilized within three months from the date of issue. This type of visa can be used only one time.

Multiple entry visas are valid for more than three months, and the duration is at the discretion of the Consular officer and should/cannot be challenged. A multiple visa can be used multiple times within its duration or validity.
Visitors travelling on Business are required to furnish evidence of the fact, such as a letter from their firm, while those traveling at the invitation of Ghanaian nationals/residents, or Ghanaian institutions should furnish a letter of invitation from their hosts.
Tourism Applicants must provide a letter of invitation from their host in Ghana. They are required to provide a roundtrip ticket; and show proof of sufficient funds for the duration of their stay in the country.
Prospective employees may undertake employment within the authorized immigrant quota.
Emergency visas may be issued on arrival at entry points to travelers from countries where there are no Ghanaian diplomatic missions or consular representation, but such applications must be confirmed with the nearest Embassy or be authorized by the Director of the Immigration Service through their sponsors before they depart for Ghana.
Applications for extension of duration of stay must be made through the Director of the Ghana Immigration Service for consideration. Visitors may be allowed to extend their stay for a period deemed fit if the Ghana Immigration Service is satisfied that such visitors have sufficient reason and means of financial support.
Persons who enter the country as visitors are not permitted to take up employment even if there happens to be a vacancy on the Immigrant Quota of a prospective employer.
Professionals (doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc.), are required to provide particulars of their qualifications so that the eligibility of their registration may be determined.
Travelers are strongly advised to ensure that they have all the necessary documents before arriving in Ghana

VISA PROCESS

All visa applications MUST be completed online at www.ghanaembassydc.org.

Procedure/s

• On the website, www.ghanaembassydc.org, click on VISA & PASSPORTS and click on visa and passport application to complete the form.
• There are 6 Steps to the visa application form
• The questions with the Red asterisks are mandatory. If there are no red asterisks (*) you can put a checkmark on the NA box on the right-hand side..
• After completing the visa application, download and print the application.
• Mail the actual passport with the printed copy of the visa application, one (1) current passport-size photograph, and all the required supporting documents to the Embassy.
• Please print your payment receipts. ( Visa Application fee and Return Postage) and attach to your visa application form
• • For Children: Parents must complete the child’s visa application form, add the 1 passport-size photograph, and the required supporting documents, which are: a Photocopy of the child’s birth certificate; a signed and notarized consent letter by both parents, as well as copies of both parents’ picture IDs.
  • Your package should be mailed to either one of the following addresses (Regular or Expedited Service)
    Address:
    Embassy of Ghana
    Consular Section (Expedited)
    3512 International Dr. NW
    Washington, DC 20008
    Embassy of Ghana
    Consular Section (Regular)
    3512 International Dr. NW
    Washington, DC 20008
  • NOTE: Visas will not be issued in passports which will expire in less than six (6) months.

PROHIBITED IMMIGRANTS

The under-mentioned categories are Prohibited Immigrants:

A person of unsound mind.

A person declared by medical personnel as medically unsound.

A person is considered to be a security risk.

A person against whom there is a deportation order in force.

A person who has been sentenced in a foreign country for extradition under the Extradition Act 1960.

INOCULATIONS

All travelers above nine (9) months old coming into Ghana are required to have been vaccinated against Yellow fever.

Yellow fever is an acute viral infection transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. It is endemic and epidemic in several countries in Africa, South America and Caribbean Islands. Case fatality rate is high in classic yellow fever epidemics. There is no curative medical treatment but it is highly preventable by vaccination. The International Health Regulations IHR2005 involves the following:

Ghana is one of the countries at risk of Yellow Fever transmission, hence the need for all travelers (including those coming from countries with no risk to yellow fever) to Ghana to have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate or records indicating their protection from yellow fever.

As a result, Health officials at all ports of entry carry out vigorous checks on travel documents with respect to Yellow fever vaccination certificates in accordance with Article 36 and Annex 6 as depicted above.

PROCESSING FEES

ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT METHODS

Pay the passport application fee online ( https://ghanaembassydc.org/visapay)
Please print and attach the receipt to the application form when mailing

Personal Checks and Money Orders are not accepted. Blank Money Orders/ Bank Drafts will not be accepted. Please do not post/mail cash.

REFUND POLICY

Passport and Visa application fees are non-refundable whether your application is approved or not.

PROCESSING PERIOD

Please note that a standard application will take 15-20 business days from receipt of a hard copy of the application form, passport picture and actual passport at the Mission.
The processing period for Rush applications is 7 business days.

EXEMPTED COUNTRIES

CATEGORIES OF PERSONS EXEMPT FROM ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENTS TO GHANA – 2024 UPDATE All ECOWAS Passport Holders:
Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Côte d’Ivoire The Gambia, Guinea Bissau
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo

HOLDERS OF DIPLOMATIC, SERVICE OR OFFICIAL PASSPORTS

Brazil, Cuba, Germany, Iran, Namibia, China, South Africa,
Sudan, Hungary, India, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco

NB: Exemptions category B above shall be for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days from date of entry

All nationals of the following countries: Jamaica, Kenya , Lesotho, Malawi, Singapore, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda

Holders of passports of Regional Economic Communities in Africa and the African Economic Community United Nations and its Specialized Agencies: The World Bank , African Development Bank

Persons in direct Airside transit All persons in direct airside transit are exempt from visa requirements

GRATIS VISAS

The following are entitled to Gratis Visas to Ghana

Holders of Diplomatic/ Service Passports

Citizens of Malawi

Travelers are strongly advised to ensure that they have all the necessary documents before arriving in Ghana

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