How to Get a Ghana Visa in 2026: e-Visa, Fees & Visa-Free Countries

Reviewed by the FIRMUS Advisory Immigration & Compliance Team

Summary: Visitors travelling to Ghana can now apply online before they travel using the e-Visa portal. ECOWAS citizens enter visa-free for up to 90 days; all other African passport holders, and nationals of countries with visa-waiver agreements, get a free Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA); everyone else pays for an e-Visa. The eVisa cost from US$260 for a single entry with standard 96-hour processing. An e-Visa must be used within 90 days of issue and allows a stay of up to 60 days, set by the immigration officer at entry. A visa or ETA never allows you to work: to take a job or run a business in Ghana. To work, you need a work and residence permit.

Do you need a visa for Ghana? Quick check

ECOWAS citizens (Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, etc.): No visa needed; stay up to 90 days

Other African passports and visa-waiver countries: Free ETA online before you travel

All other Nationals (US, UK, EU, Canada, India, China, etc.): Paid e-Visa online, from US$260 single entry

Processing Time: Standard 96 hours · Priority 48 hours · Express 5 hours

Validity: e-Visa: up to 60 days, set at entry; use it within 90 days of issue

Requirements: Passport valid 6+ months with 3 blank pages, yellow fever certificate, return ticket and accommodation

Coming to work or invest?: You also need a Ghana work and residence permit

What Changed in 2026: Ghana’s e-Visa and Free Entry for Africans

On 25 May 2026 (Africa Day), Ghana moved visa applications online and stopped charging African passport holders for entry. If you read an older guide on getting into Ghana, most of it no longer applies; these were two of the biggest changes to Ghana’s immigration system in years.

The e-Visa. You now apply on the Ghana Immigration Service’s official portal, evisa.immigration.gov.gh, instead of sending your passport to an embassy or writing to immigration. You fill in your details, upload your documents, pay if your nationality requires it, and your eVisa arrives by email. You show the approval, printed or on your phone, when you check in and when you arrive.

Free entry for Africans. Every African passport holder can now enter Ghana without paying a visa fee. ECOWAS citizens remain visa-free; other Africans apply online for a free ETA. Before this, African travellers paid US$200 for a visa on arrival. One caveat: free doesn’t mean automatic. You still apply online and pass security screening. Also note that a visa or ETA never guarantees entry, because the immigration officer at the border has the final say.

Because of these changes, the routine paid visa on arrival has ended. If a website still tells you to write to the Comptroller-General and pay US$200 as the normal route, it is out of date.

Do You Need a Visa for Ghana? Visa-Free, ETA or e-Visa

Whether you need a visa, and whether you pay, depends on the passport you travel on:

Who you are	What you need	Stay
All ECOWAS citizens: Example – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo	No visa required to enter Ghana (all passport types)	Up to 90 days
All other African passport holders (for example Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Rwanda, Ethiopia)	Free ETA, applied for online before travel	As stated on the ETA; set at entry
Countries with visa-waiver agreements: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago	Free ETA, applied for online before travel	As stated on the ETA; set at entry
Holders of Ghana’s Dual Nationality Card, and Right of Abode holders	No visa	No limit for Right of Abode holders
All Other Nationals For example US, UK, EU, Canada, India, China, etc.	Paid e-Visa: B1 business or B2 tourist	Up to 60 days, set at entry

Source: Ghana e-Visa applicant guide; Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), s. 18 (Right of Abode).

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger left ECOWAS in January 2025. ECOWAS has said free movement for their citizens continues for now, but confirm their status before travelling.

Which Ghana Visa Do You Need to Work, Invest or Live in Ghana?

The right visa depends on the purpose of your travel to Ghana. For anything longer than a visit the visa is only the first step.

Purpose of Travel	What visa to apply for	What comes next
Holiday, or visiting family and friends	B2 tourist e-Visa (or ETA, or no visa if you’re from ECOWAS)	Nothing further, as long as you leave within your permitted stay
Business meetings, conferences or negotiating a deal	B1 business e-Visa with your Ghanaian host’s documents	Nothing further; a business visa does not allow you to work
Taking a job in Ghana	Enter on a B1 e-Visa, an ETA or visa-free	Your employer applies for a work and residence permit; you can apply while in Ghana
Setting up a company or investing	B1 business e-Visa for your set-up trips	Register the company and register with GIPA as a foreign investor, then apply for quota work permits
Joining a family member who has a permit – for children or parents	Enter as a visitor	Apply for a dependant residence permit; it does not allow work
Studying at a Ghanaian institution	Enter as a visitor with your admission letter	Apply for a student residence permit
Person of African descent settling in Ghana	Enter on your usual route	Apply for Right of Abode, which lets you live and work in Ghana without a work permit

Whichever route you take, plan the permit early: our step-by-step Ghana work permit guide covers the documents, fees and timelines.

How to Apply for the Ghana e-Visa: Step by Step

Applying takes about 25 minutes once your documents are ready.

1. Check your eligibility. Go to evisa.immigration.gov.gh and select your nationality to see whether you need an e-Visa, an ETA or nothing at all, and what you’ll pay.

The official Ghana e-Visa portal: start with Check Eligibility.

1. Create an account with your email address. Use an address you check often, because every update and your eVisa once approved will be sent by email.

Creating an applicant account on the e-Visa portal.

1. Choose the application type: an individual application, or a group application where several travellers share one visa type and pay once. Drafts are kept for three days.

Choosing an individual or a group application.

1. Select the visa type: B1 business visa for meetings, conferences and other permitted business activities, or B2 tourist visa for holidays and family visits.

Selecting the visa type on the e-Visa portal.

1. Enter your details and upload your documents exactly as they appear in your passport (see the checklist below). You cannot edit or withdraw an application after you submit it, so check every field first.

Entering personal and passport details.

1. Pay online, if applicable. African passport holders pay nothing. Others pay by card; tell your bank before you pay, because international payments to government portals are often blocked as suspected fraud.
2. Submit, then track your application. Standard processing takes up to 96 hours, priority 48 hours and express 5 hours. If the Ghana Immigration Service asks for more information, you have 3 days to respond.
3. Receive and verify your approval. Your e-Visa or ETA arrives by email. Print it or keep it on your phone, and check it on the official verification page.

From our expereince we recommend you apply at least a week before you travel, and two to three weeks ahead in December and other peak periods. Pay for express only if you really need it. Ensure all information and documents are accurate to prevent any delays.

Ghana e-Visa Fees and Processing Times (2026)

A standard single-entry e-Visa costs US$260 and takes up to 96 hours; African passport holders pay nothing. The same flat fees apply to every nationality that pays:

Processing	Procssing Time	Single entry	Multiple entry
African passport holders (ETA)	Instant	Free	Free
Standard	Up to 96 hours	US$260	US$468
Priority	Within 48 hours	US$338	US$608
Express	Within 5 hours	US$442	US$796

Source: Ghana e-Visa applicant guide (single-entry fees and times). Multiple-entry fees as announced at launch in May 2026; confirm the amount on the portal before paying.

Fees are generally non-refundable, including when an application is refused, except for system errors or duplicate payments. A single-entry e-Visa must be used within 90 days of issue and you are allowed to stay up to a maximum of 60 days in Ghana upon arrival.

Ghana e-Visa Requirements: Document Checklist

Every applicant needs a valid passport, a compliant photo, a return ticket and proof of accommodation; tourists add proof of funds and business visitors add their host company’s documents.

All applicants

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay, with at least three blank pages
• A recent passport photograph – A recent colour photo. size 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, plain white or light background. No glasses, filters, shadows or dark and textured backgrounds.
• Confirmed return or onward travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation for your whole stay, such as a hotel booking or host letter
• An active email address
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate (checked at check-in and on arrival)
• Educational Certificate (Optional)

Tourist visa (B2): also include

• Proof of sufficient funds, such as bank or credit card statements covering the last three months

Business visa (B1): also include

• A signed invitation letter from the host company, with the signatory’s identification
• Certified company registration documents of the host
• The host company’s Tax Clearance Certificate
• Host details and proof of accommodation

If someone in Ghana is hosting you

• A Ghanaian host provides their Ghana Card or passport bio-data page and a signed letter
• A non-Ghanaian host resident in Ghana provides their passport bio-data page, valid residence permit and a signed letter

Why Ghana e-Visa Applications Are Delayed or Refused

Most delays and refusals come from a handful of avoidable mistakes:

• Names that don’t match. The passport, payment card and supporting documents show different spellings, name orders, hyphens or married names.
• A rejected photo. Wrong size, an old photo, glasses, shadows or a dark background.
• A blocked card payment. Your bank stops the payment to a foreign government portal. Call your bank before paying.
• An invitation letter without the host’s ID. Business visitors and diaspora travellers staying with family often miss the host’s identification.
• Too little proof of funds. Tourists need statements covering the last three months.
• A missed request for information. You have 3 days to respond. Check your email, including the spam folder, every day after you submit.
• A mistake you can’t fix. Applications cannot be edited after submission, so an error usually means a new application and a new fee.

How to Track, Verify or Appeal Your Ghana e-Visa

Track your application on the official Track Application page with your reference number and a verification code sent to your email; don’t rely on the approval email alone. Once approved, anyone, including your airline, can confirm your visa on the Visa Verification page.

If your application is refused, you may use the appeal process or submit a new application where permitted. Fees are generally not refunded. For help, contact the e-Visa support team at support.evisa@immigration.gov.gh or +233 (0) 308 249 682; support runs 24/7 and typically replies within one to two business days.

e-Visa vs ETA

	e-Visa	ETA
Who it’s for	Most non-African nationals	Other Africans and visa-waiver countries
Fee	From US$260	Free
How to apply	Online at evisa.immigration.gov.gh	Online at evisa.immigration.gov.gh
Photo and yellow fever	Photo and yellow fever certificate uploaded	Passport details; yellow fever checked at entry
Stay	Up to 60 days, set at entry; use within 90 days of issue	As stated on the ETA; set at entry

Source: Ghana Immigration Service, Fees and Charges (EEV US$200); Ghana e-Visa applicant guide.

What each document looks like

Visa on arrival / Emergency Entry Visa

e-Visa

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Redacted samples from FIRMUS client files. Personal details have been removed.

Arriving in Ghana: Yellow Fever, Airport and Currency Rules

Your airline checks your documents at check-in, and Port Health checks your yellow fever certificate before you reach immigration, so carry printed copies of everything.

• Passport: valid for at least six months beyond your stay, with at least three blank pages.
• Yellow fever: a valid vaccination certificate is mandatory for all travellers over nine months of age. It is the requirement travellers most often forget, and it is checked both at check-in and on arrival.
• Printed copies: your e-Visa or ETA approval, return or onward ticket, and hotel booking or invitation letter.
• Airport: Ghana’s main gateway, formerly Kotoka International Airport, was renamed Accra International Airport in February 2026. The airport code is still ACC.
• Cash: you can bring in up to US$10,000, or its equivalent, without declaring it. Above that, declare the full amount on arrival with proof of where the money came from (Bank of Ghana rules from 1 September 2025).

A visa or ETA does not allow you to work. Working in Ghana requires a work and residence permit, and working without one can lead to fines and deportation.

How to Extend Your Stay in Ghana (and Overstay Penalties)

Apply for an extension at a Ghana Immigration Service office before your permitted stay runs out; staying on without one costs GH¢300 a month for most nationals. You will generally need an application form, passport photographs, a letter explaining why you need more time, proof of return travel, your passport and the fee.

Per month	ECOWAS nationals	Other nationals
Extension of a visitor’s permit	GH¢39	GH¢65
Penalty for an expired visitor’s permit (overstay)	GH¢200	GH¢300

Source: Ghana Immigration Service, Fees and Charges (schedule effective 15 May 2025). Ghanaians with a foreign passport pay GH¢26 and GH¢52.

An overstay can also complicate future trips. For every other charge, from transit permits to residence permits, see our full list of Ghana immigration fees.

Transit, Diaspora and Dual Nationals

Transit: if you connect through Accra without leaving the airport, check the rules with your airline. If you need to pass through Ghana, ask GIS whether a transit permit (US$50) or your usual e-Visa or ETA applies to your trip.

Ghanaians abroad: holders of Ghana’s Dual Nationality Card do not need a visa. Ghanaians by birth who hold only a foreign passport apply under the rules for that passport.

The diaspora: people of African descent who hold Right of Abode can enter, live and work in Ghana without a visa or work permit (Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), section 18).

How FIRMUS Advisory Helps

We’ve helped travellers and businesses navigate Ghana’s entry rules for the past 15 years, and our clients consistently tell us the same thing: it’s the speed and the stress-free paperwork that make the difference. We handle e-Visa and ETA applications, emergency entry visas where they apply, and the work that often follows a business visit: work permits, residence permits and company registration. If you’re a Ghanaian company bringing in a guest, we’ll prepare the sponsorship documents so your visitor isn’t left guessing.

Travelling to Ghana soon? Let FIRMUS take the visa paperwork off your plate. Contact FIRMUS Advisory · WhatsApp +233 57 646 1118 · info@firmusadvisory.com · 17 Swaniker St, Abelemkpe, Accra

Ghana Visa FAQs

Do I need a visa to enter Ghana?

It depends on your passport. ECOWAS citizens enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Other African passport holders and nationals of visa-waiver countries need a free online ETA. Everyone else applies for a paid e-Visa online before travelling.

Is Ghana visa-free for Africans in 2026?

African passport holders pay no visa fees from 25 May 2026. ECOWAS citizens need no visa at all; other Africans apply online for a free ETA and go through security screening, so entry isn’t automatic.

How much does a Ghana visa cost?

African passport holders pay nothing. Others pay US$260 for a standard single-entry e-Visa (US$338 priority, US$442 express) or US$468 for a standard multiple-entry e-Visa. The fees are the same for every paying nationality.

How do I apply for a Ghana e-Visa?

Apply online at evisa.immigration.gov.gh: check your eligibility, create an account, choose the application and visa type, enter your details, upload your documents, pay if required, and receive your decision by email.

How long does the Ghana e-Visa take?

Standard processing takes up to 96 hours. Priority takes 48 hours and express 5 hours, at a higher fee. Apply at least a week before you travel.

How long can I stay in Ghana on an e-Visa?

Up to 60 days. The e-Visa shows a duration of stay, the officer at entry has the final say, and a single-entry e-Visa must be used within 90 days of issue. ECOWAS citizens can stay up to 90 days without a visa.

What is an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?

A free online authorisation, introduced on 25 May 2026, that African passport holders outside ECOWAS and nationals of visa-waiver countries must obtain before travelling. It is linked to the passport you applied with; if you get a new passport, apply for a new ETA.

Do US citizens need a visa for Ghana, and how much is it?

Yes. US citizens apply for an e-Visa online: US$260 for a standard single entry or US$468 for a standard multiple entry.

Do UK citizens need a visa for Ghana?

Yes. British citizens apply online for an e-Visa, from US$260 for a standard single entry.

How much is a Ghana visa for Canadians?

Canadians pay US$260 for a standard single-entry e-Visa or US$468 for a standard multiple-entry e-Visa, applied for online.

Do Indians need a visa for Ghana?

Yes. Indian passport holders apply online for an e-Visa, from US$260 for a standard single entry.

Do Nigerians need a visa to enter Ghana?

No. Nigeria is an ECOWAS member, so Nigerians can enter Ghana visa-free with a valid passport and stay up to 90 days. They still need a work and residence permit to work.

Do South Africans need an ETA for Ghana?

Yes. South Africans, like other African passport holders outside ECOWAS, apply online for a free ETA before travelling.

Which countries can enter Ghana without a visa?

Only ECOWAS citizens, Dual Nationality Card holders and Right of Abode holders enter with no authorisation at all. Countries that used to be visa-exempt, such as Kenya, South Africa, Singapore and Trinidad and Tobago, now need a free ETA.

What documents do I need for a Ghana e-Visa?

A passport valid for six months with three blank pages, a recent passport photo, a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and a yellow fever certificate. Tourists add three months of bank statements; business visitors add the host company’s invitation, registration documents and tax clearance.

What photo size does the Ghana e-Visa need?

About 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, in colour, taken within the last six months, on a plain white or light background, with no glasses, filters or shadows.

How do I track my Ghana e-Visa application?

Use the Track Application page on the official portal with your reference number and the verification code sent to your email.

Is the Ghana e-Visa fee refundable?

Generally no, even if the application is refused. Refunds are considered for system errors or duplicate payments.

What should I do if my Ghana e-Visa is refused?

Find out the reason, then use the appeal process or submit a new application where permitted. Fix the problem first; common causes are mismatched names, a rejected photo or missing host documents.

Do I still need a yellow fever certificate for Ghana?

Yes. A valid yellow fever certificate is mandatory for all travellers over nine months of age and is checked at check-in and on arrival.

How much cash can I bring into Ghana?

Up to US$10,000, or its equivalent, without declaring it. Larger amounts must be declared in full on arrival, with proof of where the money came from.

Do I need a transit visa for Ghana?

Not if you stay inside the airport, but confirm with your airline. If you need to pass through Ghana, check with GIS whether a transit permit (US$50) or an e-Visa or ETA applies.

Do Ghanaians with a foreign passport need a visa?

Not if they hold Ghana’s Dual Nationality Card. Otherwise they apply under the rules for the passport they travel on.

What happens if I overstay my Ghana visa?

You pay GH¢300 per month of overstay (GH¢200 for ECOWAS nationals), and an overstay can cause problems on future trips. Apply for an extension, at GH¢65 a month (GH¢39 for ECOWAS nationals), before your permitted stay expires.

Can my company sponsor a visitor’s visa to Ghana?

Yes. The Ghanaian company provides a signed invitation letter with the signatory’s ID, its certified registration documents and its Tax Clearance Certificate.

Can I work in Ghana on a business visa or ETA?

No. Visas and ETAs do not allow employment. Working without a permit attracts sanctions; you need a work and residence permit from the Ghana Immigration Service.

Can I apply for a work permit after entering Ghana on a visitor visa?

Yes. You can apply for a work and residence permit while you are in Ghana, but you must not start work until it is approved.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Visa rules, fees and procedures change often. Always confirm current requirements with the Ghana Immigration Service, the official e-Visa portal (evisa.immigration.gov.gh) or a Ghana mission, or speak to FIRMUS Advisory, before you travel.