VISAS
In order to travel to Ghana, participants must obtain a valid visa by or before the recommended deadline. Visas are necessary for all travel to Ghana. Participants should begin applying for a visa immediately after being offered admission into the program as it can take several weeks to acquire the necessary application materials and receive approval. We have compiled general information about visa processing however, please note that we do not administer this service. Participants are advised to contact their preferred processing center directly with any questions or concerns as policies and procedures can vary between centers. If you anticipate any delays in obtaining your visa, please inform Star Service & Study Abroad immediately. Star Service & Study Abroad does not offer refunds for denied or late visas.
How does it work??
Visas are given in the form of a stamp on one of the pages inside your passport. Prospective travelers must gather all necessary materials (including a valid passport) and submit them (by mail or in person) to one of the three visa processing centers listed above. Once approved, the processing center will stamp a page in your passport with their nation's seal and the dates that your visa is valid. This stamp inside your passport is your visa. They will then mail your stamped passport back to you. Once you have received a visa stamp inside of your valid passport, you are ready to take off to Ghana!
Who to contact?
Visa applications can be submitted by mail or in person to any Ghanaian embassy or consulate. However, we direct all participants to obtain their visa via mail from the Embassy of Ghana, Washington D.C. All information on this page is correct to the best of our knowledge, however, we are not responsible for any discrepancies or policy changes. For this reason, students are required to be in direct contact with their respective embassy or consulate for all visa related matters.
For More Information
What type of visa should I apply for?
All SSSA participants should apply for a tourist visa. You may choose to do single or multiple entry.
How long does it take?
Standard applications usually take 14 business days to be processed starting from the day that the hard copy was received. This does not include the time it takes for the consulate or embassy to mail your visa back to you. For an additional fee, participants may request expedited processing services (24 and 72 hour services available). Participants should not have to pay additional fees for a rush order if they abide by our deadlines and submit all materials on time. Single entry visas are good for 3 months. Multiple entry visas are good for different amounts of time determined by the consulate.
How much does it cost?
There are two types of visas available to non-Ghanaian citizens, single entry and multiple entry, which cost different amounts to process. Additionally, each visa processing location offers different services (including standard, same day, next day & 72 hour processing). The costs for these services range from each location. All to say, the cost to process a visa can range from $60 to $200 depending on the preferred center and the processing method selected. Please note that the fees do not include mailing fees. For the most accurate and up to date information, please go to the embassy or consulate's website.
What materials do I need to apply?
In order to to successfully submit a completed, error-free application, participants must gather the following materials:
1. An application form
2. A valid passport
(see our Passports page)
3. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required at immigration in Ghana, but not for the Visa application
(see our Vaccinations page)
4. Two passport photographs (must be taken within the last 3 months, see our Passports page)
5. Processing fee Go to the website of the Embassy for instructions.
6. Pre-paid mail service Go to the website of the Embassy for instructions.
7. Flight itinerary Go to the website the Embassy for instructions. It is possible that your application will request your plane ticket prior to applying to show the government that you do not have plans to stay beyond your proposed dates. Please note, for multiple entry visas you will NOT have to submit a flight itinerary as part of your application.
**Like SSSA, the Ghanaian Embassy and Consulates do not grant refunds for denied, late or unused visas so it is very important that all materials are included in your application and all materials are submitted in a timely manner. Star Service & Study Abroad strongly encourages participants to review application materials as stated on the embassy or consulate website. We do not take responsibility for changed policies or misinformation as summarized on this page. We do not administer this service rather we have compiled general application information to help assist participants in their third party application.
