GENERAL QUESTIONS

HOW DO I GET A PAPER COPY OF VISA OR PASSPORT APPLICATION?

We no longer provide paper copy of visa or passport forms. 

Applicants are now required to fill their application fully online, print, sign and post or bring to the counter (subject to appointment) at the relevant processing office.

I HAVE PRINTED AND SIGNED MY APPLICATION FORM WHAT IS NEXT?

1.  For postal applications, applicants must submit the hard copies of their application with their supporting documents including proof of payment of the return postage. Once processing is completed, your passport and documents will be mailed to you. The Mission cannot be held liable for loss of passports sent by post or courier service.

2. For counter applications, applicants will need to submit hard copies of their forms and supporting documents to the Embassy in person.

HOW LONG IS MY APPLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR EDITING BEFORE SUBMISSION?

Once visa application has commenced, it is available online for a period of 14 days for Visa applications and 21 days for Passport application for you to retrieve and amend before submission.

HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?

Appointments can be booked whilst completing an application online. Select ‘Counter Service’ as the mode of delivery.

I MISSED MY APPOINTMENT WHAT CAN I DO?

Applicants who missed their appointments can request to reschedule the appointment subject to availability by contacting the relevant submission office via email at consular@ghanaembassy.at and provide the correct reference number, full name, date and preferred time for new appointment (subject to availability). You can also contact our live chat support team via our website on the application portal.

I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE MY POSTAL APPLICATION TO COUNTER?

Once visa forms and supporting documents have been posted to the Mission, you will be unable to make changes to your application. Please contact the relevant Mission via email at consular@ghanaembassy.at to change mode of submission. You can also contact our live chat support team via our website on the application portal.

I HAVE MADE ERRORS ON MY VISA FORM; HOW CAN I AMEND IT?

You will be unable to make changes on your application once submitted. To make amendments to your application after it has been submitted online, contact us via email at consular@ghanaembassy.at for application to be enabled for corrections. You can also contact our live chat support team via our website on the application portal.

I’M NOT GETTING EMAILS FROM THE MISSION AFTER I SENT MY DOCUMENTS.

First, check your email spam folder, if our emails are ending up there, add us to your address book or save sender list so our emails get to your inbox. 

I’M UNABLE TO MOVE TO STEP 2 OF MY APPLICATION.

Check that you have filled in all mandatory questions. If you selected an appointment date and time, click ‘ok’ before you move on.

I BOOKED AN APPOINTMENT DATE AND IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AFTER I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION.

Appointments are subject to availability. Selected date is not secured until application is submitted.

VISAS

DO I NEED A VISA? 

Yes, you will require a visa to travel to Ghana unless you are a National of one of the listed countries under the “Exempted Countries” list.

DO I NEED A TICKET BEFORE I GET A VISA?

It is not mandatory. Select ‘No’ if you don’t have a ticket and continue with the application.

HOW CAN I RETRIEVE MY APPLICATION ONLINE?

– FOR INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS

You can retrieve your application online, by returning to the visa and passport application page, tick the terms and condition box, click proceed with visa application and the next page will give you the option to retrieve your application with your reference number, surname and date of birth.

– FOR GROUP/ FAMILY APPLICATIONS 

You can retrieve your application online, by returning to the visa application page, tick the terms and condition box, click proceed with visa application then click on Group/Family Booking. Retrieve visa application, enter Group Reference Number and Application Reference Number then retrieve application.  

For Organisations, enter your username and password and the next page will give you the option to retrieve your Group/Family application with your group reference number.

HOW CAN I ADD ANOTHER APPLICANT TO MY GROUP APPLICATION? 

On STEP 5 under the requirement checklist click on `Add for Another applicant’.

CAN MY FRIEND SUBMIT MY VISA APPLICATION ON MY BEHALF?

The person submitting your visa application on your behalf should come to the Mission with your appointment slip to submit. They should also have their ID and an authorisation note from you stating their name in it.

A copy of the third-party authorisation letter can be downloaded and printed when making your application online. However, if you have already submitted your application, we advise you write your own third-party authorisation letter for the person submitting on your behalf.

WHAT IS THE PROCESSING TIME FOR MY APPLICATION?

Standard applications take Five (5) working days from the time we receive the hard copies of the appropriate visa forms and the supporting documents at the Embassy. Expedited service takes One (1) working day.

HOW DO I GET VISA ON ARRIVAL?

Emergency visas may be issued at entry points to travellers who arrive from a country where there is no Ghanaian diplomatic or consular representation, but such applications must be authorised by the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service through their sponsors before they arrive in Ghana.

WHAT IS FINANCIAL MEANS AT APPLICANT’S DISPOSAL? DO I NEED A BANK STATEMENT AS PROOF?

Financial means at applicant’s disposal means how much spending money you are taking with you on your trip. You do not need a bank statement as proof. If you intend to use a credit/debit card, indicate so.

I’M GOING AS A TOURIST AND DON’T HAVE AN INVITATION LETTER.

If travelling as a tourist to Ghana and do not have an invitation letter, kindly attach your hotel reservation to the application. You can use this in place of the invitation letter however, you must tick the invitation letter to be able to submit the application online.

WHY DO I NEED A CONSENT LETTER WHEN I’M TRAVELLING WITH MY OWN CHILD?

Letter of consent from parent/legal guardian for children under 18 years must be signed by both parents. In events that one parent is not able/ available/ eligible to give consent, please tick the appropriate reason on the consent letter with documentary evidence.

THE HOTEL I WILL BE STAYING HASN’T GOT AN EMAIL ADDRESS. WHAT DO I DO?

Kindly contact the hotel for their email address.

DOES THE VISA ISSUED INDICATE THE DURATION OF STAY IN GHANA?

An Entry Visa will be issued to you, but your duration of stay is determined by an Immigration officer at your port of entry to Ghana.

PASSPORTS

IS THERE AN EXPEDITED SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR GHANAIAN PASSPORT APPLICATIONS?

Currently, the Mission does not offer such services.

HOW CAN I RETRIEVE MY APPLICATION ONLINE?

You can retrieve your application online, by returning to the visa and passport application page, tick the terms and condition box, click proceed with passport application and the next page will give you the option to retrieve your application with your passport reference number, surname and date of birth.

WHAT IS THE PROCESSING TIME FOR MY APPLICATION?

Standard applications take Three (3) weeks; from the time we receive the hard copies of the appropriate passport forms and the supporting document at the Embassy. 

CAN I USE ANYONE AS MY GUARANTOR FOR MY PASSPORT APPLICATION?

Guarantors must be an adult relative or person of good standing in your country of residence or Ghana who holds a valid Ghanaian passport. They must know the Applicant well and agree to act as guarantors for the applicant.

MY PASSPORT IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. WHEN CAN I APPLY?

Applicants can renew their passport from six months ahead of its expiry.

WHO CAN I USE AS A WITNESS?

A witness can be a Ghanaian in any of the listed professional field to whom the applicant is personally known: 

– A Clergyman

– A senior Civil or Public Servant

– A Solicitor or Barrister

– Head of a recognised Educational Institution

– Any Recognised professionals registered with their respective regulating bodies (e.g. Accountant, Architect, Auditor, etc.)

– Ghana National Association Chairman/ Secretary