How to Apply for a Ghana Visa in Pittsburgh

Ghana – considered one of the friendliest places in West Africa – continues to draw travelers from Pittsburgh and other towns throughout Pennsylvania with its rich culture, colorful festivals, historical sites, spicy food, brightly-colored artwork, and the cosmopolitan capital city of Accra.

“Ghana is often referred to as ‘Africa for beginners,’ a phrase that underscores its reputation as a welcoming and relatively safe destination for first-time visitors to the continent,” according to World Travel Guide (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/ghana/). “From its vibrant cities to its serene coastlines and diverse wildlife, Ghana offers an array of attractions as varied as an Accra traffic jam: expect sunshine, pristine beaches, unique ecosystems, historical landmarks, and a rich cultural heritage.  While its tropical coastline is enticing, few travelers visit Ghana solely for a beach holiday – there’s far too much to explore.”

The Republic of Ghana, located on the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, is bordered by Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, and Togo.  More than a thousand years ago, Ghana was divided between the Bonoman and Dagbon kingdoms.  A center for gold trading, the region became known as the Gold Coast during the European Colonial era, which saw British, Dutch, Portuguese, German, and Swedish traders competing for influence.  In 1957, the Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland merged to form Ghana, a dominion within the British Commonwealth and the first colony in sub-Saharan African to gain independence.  Ghana’s official language is English, reflecting its colonial history.  Ghana became a republic in 1960.  After a series of coups, tribal wars, and civil conflicts during the late Twentieth Century, Ghana has emerged in recent decades as one of the freest and most stable countries in Africa.

Ghana’s 35 million people are a fast-growing, young, and digitally connected population with a wide diversity of ethnic groups.  Considered the economic hub of West Africa, Ghana is an attractive investment destination for Pittsburgh-based companies and entrepreneurs interested in expanding their international operations.  The country’s natural resources, precious metals, and industrial minerals have long fueled traditional industries such as agriculture and mining gold, diamonds, bauxite, lithium and more.  Ghana is the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa.  The discovery of vast oil fields in 2007 sparked an oil boom that peaked in 2019.  The republic generates some 170,000 barrels of crude oil and 325 million standard cubic feet of natural gas each day.  In recent years, Ghana’s financial services, construction, education, and digital sectors have seen rapid growth, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA). “Many Ghanaians have strong personal or business ties to the United States, and a strong affinity for American brands and technology,” ITA noted. “Ghana’s developing healthcare system, tourism sector, roads, rail, shipping, and port infrastructure offer opportunities for U.S. companies.  Ghana’s Atlantic ports and daily direct flights from the United States make it an excellent platform for doing business in Africa.” (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/ghana-market-overview)

Tourism is a small but growing portion of Ghana’s economy, contributing $3.9 billion and 5.7% of GDP in 2024, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.  The United States was Ghana’s second-largest source for inbound arrivals and the top destination for outbound departures in 2023, WTTC stated. (https://researchhub.wttc.org/factsheets/ghana) Ghana has been able to draw larger number of visitors from American cities such as Pittsburgh in recent years due to a combination of social stability, better developed infrastructure than other African nations, targeted marketing campaigns, and interest from black Americans seeking to explore their ancestry and heritage.

The most visited city is Accra, the country’s coastal capital and largest city.  Accra is the best place to visit for Ghanaian art, food, and nightlife, Lonely Planet reported, adding “Ghana’s capital is an open door to the country’s culture.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-to-visit-in-ghana) The city is “a heaving metropolis filled with street food vendors, football fans sporting team jerseys, vibrant markets, and live music,” added World Travel Guide.

Kumasi, the second largest city, is located in Central Ghana.  It is the former capital of the Ashanti Kingdom and remains a center of Ashanti culture and tradition.  Visitors from the Pittsburgh area can experience the bustling Kejetia Market, Manhyla Palace Museum, and the 10 Asante traditional buildings that comprise one of Ghana’s two UNESCO World Heritage sites.  The second UNESCO site is a series of forts and castles stretching along the coastal trading route from Beyin to Keta that includes Cape Coast Castle, once a center of the transatlantic slave trade.  Tamale, in northern Ghana, is known for arts and crafts featured at the National Cultural Centre plus Islamic architecture, most notably Tamale Central Mosque.

Away from the big cities and historic sites, Ghana offers an ecological showcase of landscapes, including dense rainforests, mountains, plains, and lush savannahs.  Guided tours at Mole National Park in the north allow you to see elephants, antelopes, and numerous bird species.  To the south, Kakum National Park features forest canopies, treetop walkways, monkeys, and rare butterflies.  An hour from Accra is family-friendly Aburi Botanic Gardens, with its iconic palm trees, a collection of other trees from around the world, orchids, rock gardens, and a children’s park.  Head to the Volta region to climb Mt. Afadjato, explore waterfalls, or visit the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary.  Ada on the southern coast is popular for water sports such as kayaking and boat rentals, allowing you to explore exotic beaches and palm-lined waterways. “Places like Aqua Safari Resort capture the essence of Ada, with waterfalls, ponds, and aquariums onsite and peacocks running free on the grounds,” Lonely Planet added. “Check out Baffour Falls, where there are pelicans and a tortoise to be fed.

Ghana Visa Requirements

Citizens of the United States and most other countries living in the Pittsburgh area must obtain a visa before they can visit Ghana.  Passport holders from some nations (mostly in Africa) can get visas on arrival good for 60 days, while others can visit for 60 or 90 days without a visa.  Specific country details can be found at https://gis.gov.gh/visas/.  Ghana also requires that visitors at least nine months old provide a valid WHO “yellow card” confirming their yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before their departure date.

The primary requirement to obtain a visitor visa is having a signed passport valid at least six months beyond your entry to Ghana.  Your passport must also contain at least one blank page for your visa stamp.  Visas are issued for tourism, business, student, work, transit, and official visits.  You can get single-entry visas typically good for 90 days and multiple-entry visas which can span several years, depending on immigration officials’ discretion.

Residents of the Pittsburgh area must obtain a visa in person or by mail through the Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C. (https://ghanaembassydc.org/) or the consulate in New York City (https://newyork.mfa.gov.gh/).  You can also use a courier service such as Visa Supply to deliver your application to one of the diplomatic offices and pick up your visa after it is issued.

Basic requirements to obtain a visa include:

  • Passport valid for at least six months with at least one blank page
  • Proof of yellow fever vaccination
  • One color photograph
  • Completed application, available through the embassy and consulate websites above
  • Payment of visa fees

Additional requirements vary by type of visa.  For example, tourism applicants must provide a letter of invitation from their host in Ghana, or a hotel booking/confirmation from Ghana.  They are also required to provide an airline ticket showing your arrival and departure from Ghana.  Those travelling for business must furnish evidence about the purpose of their trip, 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.  Although officially not required for entry by the government, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Ghana.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒Order Now.

Also, the Ghana High Commission in London stated, “Visitors may be required to provide a return or a through ticket to a country which they have the right of admission or may be required to provide evidence of sufficient funds for the duration of their stay in the country.  For the transit visa, you need to present a completed form and your valid visa, plus two color photos and proof of travel plans.” (https://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/Visaapplicationinfo.aspx)

How to Apply for a Ghana Visa

The visa application is available through the diplomatic websites above and through the portal at https://passport.mfa.gov.gh/login?redirectTo=https://passport.mfa.gov.gh/.  The process includes:

  • Create an account at the link above.
  • Fill out the application form.
  • Upload any required documents.
  • Pay your fees online (passport application fee plus return postage, if selected).
  • Print your application.
  • Mail your signed application, original passport, one current passport-size photograph, and copies of any documents you uploaded.
  • For children, parents must complete their online application form plus a photograph, birth certificate copy, a signed and notarized consent letter by both parents, and copies of both parents’ picture IDs.
  • Applicants with non-US passports must upload their current US resident permits to avoid further delays in processing their applications.

Standard service for visa applications takes 15 to 20 days to process from the date the embassy or consulate receives your application.  For an additional fee, you can get rush service, with takes seven days.  Processing fees are $60 for a single-entry visa using standard service and $100 for rush service.  The multiple entry fees are $100 for standard service and $200 for rush service.  Fees can be paid through the online portal during the application process using a debit or credit card.

There are two options to pay postage for the embassy to return your passport and visa.  During the online application process, you can pay for UPS return shipping ($29.95) when you pay the visa fees and enclose proof of purchase with your application package.  You can also enclose a self-addressed prepaid envelope that uses USPS (Express or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS services.  If you supply your own envelope, copy down your tracking number.  No more than three passports can be enclosed in a group application.

To submit your application to the Washington, D.C. embassy, use regular or expedited service to mail your application package to:

Embassy of Ghana
Consular Section
3512 International Drive NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

In-person drop-off and pickup is also available at the Visa and Passport Support Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  If you do not live in the Washington, D.C. area, a $20 service fee may be added.  The address is:

Dispatch Office
Secured Data Center
438 N Frederick Ave, Suite 210
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

 

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Pittsburgh or anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania and have difficulty applying for a visa to visit Ghana, or require assistance with any part of the process, you can call our office at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment online at the link on this page.  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 government of Ghana.  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 Pittsburgh:

  • Ghana Tourist Visa
  • Ghana Business Visa
  • Ghana Study Visa
  • Ghana Work Visa
  • Ghana Diplomat Visa
  • Ghana Official Visa
  • Ghana Medical Insurance
  • Ghana Hotel Accommodations
  • Ghana Flight Tickets
  • Ghana Tour Packages