How to Apply for a Ghana Visa in New York

New York is America’s most-populous city, and its metropolitan area has over 20 million people.  New York City contains the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx.  The New York metropolitan area includes New York City, Long Island, and the Mid and Lower Hudson Valley.  It also includes several large cities in New Jersey such as Newark, Edison, Elizabeth, Paterson, Jersey City, and Hoboken, along with several large cities in Connecticut that include New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford.  New York is one of the most important economic regions in the world and has the highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the United States. It is also one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world with over 600 languages spoken in the metropolitan area.  Nearly 5% of New York’s immigrants come from Africa, and Ghanaian tribal languages such as Twi, Ewe, Ga, and Fante are spoken here.  There are well over 35,000 Ghanaian immigrants living in New York City and nearly double that number living throughout the state of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.  The Bronx has over 20,000 Ghanaian immigrants and is home to “Little Ghana”, one of the largest Ghanaian immigrant communities in the United States.  

Ghana is a West African nation of 31 million people that has over 100 ethnic groups speaking nearly 80 languages.  The country has 335 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean, and it shares a border with Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Togo.  Ghana has a proud history and rich culture that is one of the most influential on the African continent.  Led by Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and icon of the Pan-Africanism Movement, this was the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain full economic and political independence during the era of European colonialism.  New York tourists will enjoy visiting sites such as Cape Coast Castle, Independence Square, the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, and the Manhiya Palace Museum (in Kumasi) to learn about the history of Ghana.  Others will enjoy the natural attractions of Ghana such as Kakum National Park, Mole National Park, Wli Waterfalls, and the numerous beautiful beaches in the Western Region near Takoradi.  On the business front, Ghana’s economy has been on a tear in recent years and it will continue to grow with the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), making Africa the largest free-trade area in the world and a growing market for New York businesses and investors.    

Obtaining a Ghana Visa from New York

Visas for Ghana are issued by the Ghanaian government in the United States.  The government of Ghana is represented by their embassy located in Washington, D.C. and two consulates located in New York City (on E 47th Street in Manhattan) and Little Rock, Arkansas.  To apply for a Ghana visa from New York, you have two options:

1) You can fill out the visa application online through the Ghana embassy website and then send your original passport and supporting documents to their office by US Mail, FedEx, or UPS.  Here is the address:

Embassy of Ghana
Consular Section
3512 International Dr. NW
Washington, DC 20008

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Ghana embassy website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the embassy website with detailed information: Visa Application - Embassy of Ghana, Washington DC (ghanaembassydc.org) 

You have the option of paying for UPS return shipping online when you complete your application (the shipping fee is $29.75) or you can include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS prepaid envelope (please make note of the tracking number) so the embassy can return your passport and visa to your home or office. 

The government fee for the single-entry visa using the regular processing of 15 business days (plus transit time) is $60 for U.S. citizens plus $3.10 for the payment processing fee.  The government fee for the multiple-entry visa using the regular processing is $100 for U.S. citizens plus $4.14 for the payment processing fee. 

If you need the visa faster, there is an option to pay an additional $40 for the single-entry visa (plus $4.14 for the payment processing fee) or an additional $100 for the multiple-entry visa (plus $7.23 for the payment processing fee).  Processing time for this rush service is 5 business days (plus transit time).

2) For those that need a visa fast, you can send your application to the consulate in Manhattan. The consulate offers 3-day and 1-day service for those willing to pay the expedite fee.  Please review the Ghana Consulate New York website for more information: Ghana Consulate New York.

Other things to consider:

  • U.S. citizens must have a valid visa and a passport that does not expire within six months of your date of entry into Ghana.
  • Your U.S. passport must be signed; the signature page of your passport is located opposite the data page that has your name and photo.
  • All visitors to Ghana are required to have a valid World Health Organization (WHO) card with yellow fever vaccination. The vaccination should be taken at least ten 10 days before your date of departure to Ghana.  Please use the following link from the Center for Disease Control website to find the nearest clinic offering the yellow fever vaccine: Search for Stamaril yellow fever vaccination clinics | Travelers' Health | CDC
  • Please read the latest guidelines regarding COVID-19 on the Ghana embassy website: COVID-19 - Embassy of Ghana, Washington DC (ghanaembassydc.org)
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.

Emergency Assistance for Ghana Citizens in New York

If you are a citizen of Ghana living in the New York area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the embassy in Washington, D.C. by calling 202-686-4520 or by email at info@ghanaembassydc.org.  You can find more information on the Embassy of Ghana website: Passport Application - Embassy of Ghana, Washington DC (ghanaembassydc.org).  You can also reach the consulate in Manhattan by calling 212-832-1300 and then dialing extension 203, 239, or 240.  Here is the link to the Ghana Consulate New York website with information about passports: Ghana Consulate New York.

You must appear in person at the embassy or consulate (by appointment only) to obtain a new passport, renew your existing passport, or replace a lost or stolen Ghana passport.  Please click on the following link to schedule your appointment at the embassy: Book Appointment – CONSULAR SERVICES (ghanapv.org)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in New York or anywhere in the state of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut and have difficulty applying for a Ghana visa, or require assistance with this process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Ghana visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Ghanaian government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Ghana visa services for our customers in New York:

  • Ghana Tourist Visa
  • Ghana Business Visa
  • Ghana Student Visa
  • Ghana Diplomatic Visa
  • Ghana Official Visa
  • Ghana Hotel Accommodations