Getting a Ghana Visa from Germany
German citizens need a visa to enter Ghana. Applications from Germany are handled by the Embassy of Ghana in Berlin, and eligible travellers can alternatively apply online through Ghana’s e-Visa portal. This guide explains both routes, what documents German applicants need, and the health requirements you must not overlook.
Who Needs a Visa — and Who Does Not
Holders of German and other EU passports require a visa for Ghana, whether travelling for tourism, business or family visits. Two groups are exempt: citizens of the 15 ECOWAS member states, who enter Ghana freely under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, and holders of a valid Ghanaian passport. If you are a German-Ghanaian dual national, the cleanest arrangement is to enter Ghana on your Ghana passport — no visa needed — and use your German passport for the Schengen side of the journey. Persons of African descent may also be interested in Ghana’s Right of Abode under the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573), a renewable long-term residence status processed through the Ghana Immigration Service rather than the visa counter.
Route 1: The e-Visa Portal
Ghana operates an electronic visa system at evisa.ghana.gov.gh for citizens of eligible countries. You complete the form online, upload your supporting documents, pay electronically and receive your approval without posting your passport anywhere — a real advantage if you live far from Berlin, say in Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg. Check the portal to confirm that German nationals in your category are currently eligible and what the current fee is; if e-Visa does not fit your case (some visa types and nationalities still require a sticker visa), the Berlin embassy remains the route.
Route 2: Applying Through the Berlin Embassy
The Embassy of Ghana at Stavangerstrasse 17 & 19, 10439 Berlin handles visa applications for all of Germany. Contact the mission (+49 30 5471 490, berlin@mfa.gov.gh) or check berlin.mfa.gov.gh for the current application form, fee in euros, and whether postal applications are accepted for your visa category — postal handling rules and processing times are set by the mission and change, so confirm rather than assume. Standard documents to prepare:
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel date, with blank pages
- Completed application form and passport photographs
- Proof of travel: flight itinerary or booking
- Proof of accommodation, or an invitation letter from a host or company in Ghana (with a copy of the host’s ID)
- For business visas: a letter from your German employer or company and the Ghanaian counterpart
- Evidence of sufficient funds where requested
- Your yellow fever vaccination certificate — see below
Visa Types
| Type | Typical Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | Holidays, visiting family and friends | Single or multiple entry; stays of up to 60 days per entry are the standard framework |
| Business visa | Meetings, trade fairs, contract work | Requires supporting letters from both the German and Ghanaian side |
| Transit visa | Passing through Ghana en route elsewhere | Covers stays of up to 48 hours |
| Work / residence permits | Employment or long-term stay in Ghana | Handled with the Ghana Immigration Service; start early, requirements are more extensive |
Visa fees vary by type, entry count and nationality, and the Berlin mission publishes its own euro fee schedule — confirm the current amount with the embassy before applying. Allow at least two to three weeks for embassy processing and more in the run-up to Christmas, when traffic between Germany and Accra peaks.
The Yellow Fever Requirement
Ghana requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from arriving travellers, checked at Kotoka International Airport against your International Certificate of Vaccination (the yellow WHO booklet). In Germany, yellow fever vaccination is only administered at authorised vaccination centres (Gelbfieberimpfstellen) — typically tropical medicine institutes and designated travel clinics such as those attached to university hospitals — not by every GP. Book at least two to four weeks before departure; the certificate becomes valid ten days after vaccination. While you are there, ask about malaria prophylaxis: Ghana is a high-risk malaria zone and German travel clinics routinely prescribe for it.
Common Mistakes German Applicants Make
- Booking flights before checking passport validity. Six months of remaining validity is the baseline — German passports can be renewed quickly at the Bürgeramt, but not overnight.
- Leaving the yellow fever jab too late. Appointment lead times at German Gelbfieberimpfstellen can be one to two weeks on their own.
- Assuming e-Visa covers every case. Long stays, employment and some categories still need the embassy route.
- Sending a passport by regular post. If the embassy accepts postal applications for your category, use registered mail (Einschreiben) with a prepaid return envelope, and never around a travel date you cannot move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources
- Embassy of Ghana, Berlin — official website
- Ghana e-Visa portal
- Ghana Immigration Service
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana
- National Identification Authority (Ghana Card)
Last updated: 2026-08-04. Visa rules and fees change; always confirm current requirements with the Embassy of Ghana in Berlin or the e-Visa portal.
Germany Services
Embassy of Ghana, Berlin
Stavangerstrasse 17 & 19, 10439 Berlin
+49 30 5471 490
berlin@mfa.gov.gh
Confirm current opening hours with the embassy