Category: Travel Tips. Facts checked against official sources on 17 October 2026. Entry rules change, so always confirm on the official portal before you apply.
Akwaaba! If you’re planning a trip to Ghana (maybe for Detty December, maybe for a quieter visit in the new year), the visa is the first thing to sort out. The good news: since 25 May 2026 Ghana has an official online e-Visa, so the old paper process is no longer the only route. Here’s what you need to know, in order.
Step 1: Check whether you need a visa at all
- UK, Irish, EU, US and most other non-African passports: yes, you need a visa, and it must be arranged before you fly. There is no visa on arrival for these passports.
- African passport holders: since 25 May 2026 you are exempt from visa fees, but you still apply online before travel (a free e-Visa/ETA on the same portal). The old visa on arrival for African passports has been discontinued.
- ECOWAS citizens: visa-free entry, as before.
- Dual Ghanaian nationals: if you hold a Ghanaian dual-nationality card or a Ghanaian passport, you don’t need a visa.
Not sure? Use the eligibility checker on the portal for your nationality.
> Thinking longer term? Right of Abode (permanent residence for people of African descent in the diaspora and former Ghanaians) is a separate Ghana Immigration Service application with its own fees: https://gis.gov.gh/service/right-of-abode/. More on our Year of Return page.
Step 2: Get your yellow fever vaccination (do this early)
A yellow fever certificate is mandatory for every traveller aged 9 months and over. You upload it with your visa application, and it’s checked again on arrival by Port Health. One dose is valid for life, but you need it at least 10 days before travel, from a registered yellow fever centre.
While you’re at the travel clinic, ask about malaria tablets. A GP or clinic visit 6-8 weeks before you fly is the usual advice.
Heads-up: in early October 2026 Ghana’s Ministry of Health declared a yellow fever outbreak in the Upper West Region (Sissala West and Wa West districts). If you’re vaccinated, you’re protected. It matters most if you’re heading to the far north-west. Check the CDC Ghana page and your own government’s health advice.
Step 3: Check your passport
Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip, with blank pages.
Step 4: Gather your documents
For a tourist visa (type B2), have these ready to upload:
- Your passport (valid 6+ months beyond the trip, blank pages)
- Proof of accommodation (a hotel booking, or details of where you’re staying)
- A return itinerary
- A recent bank statement
- Your yellow fever certificate
It’s one online form. Having everything scanned before you start makes it much smoother.
Step 5: Apply on the official portal only
Apply at https://evisa.immigration.gov.gh. It is run by the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can also go through a Ghana embassy or high commission.
Never use unofficial “visa agency” websites. If a site isn’t the portal or an embassy, skip it.
If you get stuck, the portal’s help address is support.evisa@immigration.gov.gh.
Small note: if your government’s travel page still describes the old paper process, the e-Visa portal is the newer source.
Step 6: The fee
The fee announced at the May 2026 launch was around US$260 for applicants from outside Africa (standard single entry). Other tiers are shown inside the portal. Confirm the current amount on the portal when you apply.
Step 7: Give yourself time
Standard processing is stated as 96 hours. Our advice: apply a few weeks ahead, not the week you fly. If you’re coming for December, flights and rooms are best booked 4-6 months ahead anyway, so sort the visa as soon as your accommodation and return flight are confirmed.
How long can you stay?
The e-Visa is valid for 90 days to enter Ghana. Your actual stay (up to 60 days) is set at the border. You can extend it at the Ghana Immigration Service for a monthly fee. Don’t overstay: overstaying is fined per month.
What happens when you land
At Accra International Airport (ACC, which most people still call Kotoka):
- Immigration: your e-Visa is checked
- Port Health: they check your yellow fever certificate
- Baggage
- Customs
As of October 2026 there’s no arrival or departure tax and no online pre-registration or health form for visitors. If you’re carrying more than US$10,000 (or the equivalent) in cash, you must declare it on customs form FX-5.
When you’re through, go only with the driver you booked, or order an Uber or Bolt in the app. Ignore people in the terminal offering rides.
Quick checklist
- [ ] Checked whether my passport needs a visa
- [ ] Yellow fever vaccine done (10+ days before travel)
- [ ] Passport valid 6+ months beyond the trip, with blank pages
- [ ] Accommodation booked
- [ ] Return flight booked
- [ ] Recent bank statement downloaded
- [ ] Applied on evisa.immigration.gov.gh, a few weeks ahead
Need help planning the rest?
Once the visa’s sorted, the fun part starts. Read our Plan a trip to Ghana guide and our safety guide, or browse the ready-made itineraries.
Want ideas for your own dates? Our trip-planning help is free, with no obligation. Send your dates, group size and interests through the trip questionnaire, by email at info@cometoghana.com, or on WhatsApp at +233 50 315 3321, and a person from our team will reply with ideas.
We’re a travel inspiration site, not an immigration service. For anything about your specific case, the official portal and the Ghana Immigration Service have the final word.
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