Ghana Passport Services in the United Kingdom

Everything Ghanaians in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland need to know about applying for or renewing a Ghana biometric passport through the Ghana High Commission in London.

All Ghana passport applications made in the UK go through the Ghana High Commission at 13 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PN — there is no separate consulate in Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Belfast, so applicants from every part of the UK use the London mission. Because your biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) must be captured in person, at least one visit to London is normally unavoidable for a new passport or renewal. The mission serves one of the largest Ghanaian diaspora populations anywhere, so the single most important piece of advice is simple: start early. Appointment slots can book out weeks ahead, and the passport itself is printed in Accra, not London.

Who Needs Which Service

• Renewal: your biometric passport has expired or is about to. Renewals are the most common application in London.
• First-time adult application: you are a Ghanaian citizen in the UK who has never held a biometric passport (including holders of the old non-biometric booklets, which are no longer valid for travel).
• Child passport: for children born in the UK to Ghanaian parents — the birth should normally be registered with the mission first (see our citizenship guide).
• Replacement: lost, stolen or damaged passports. If you need to travel urgently before a replacement can be issued, the mission can issue an Emergency Travel Certificate instead.

Step-by-Step: Renewing a Ghana Passport from the UK

1. Complete the application. Ghana passport applications have moved online via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport portal; the London mission’s website explains the current route for UK applicants. Fill the form carefully — errors in names or dates are a common cause of delay because corrections go back to Accra.
2. Book your biometric appointment. Walk-ins are not the norm for passport capture at Belgrave Square. Book through the channel the High Commission currently uses (check its website or phone +44 20 7201 5900), and book before you buy any travel tickets.
3. Gather your documents. Typically: your current or expired passport, your Ghana Card, your Ghanaian birth certificate, passport photographs on a white background, and proof of your UK address (such as a utility bill, bank statement or BRP/eVisa share code letter). Bring originals plus photocopies.
4. Attend in person. Your fingerprints and photograph are captured at the mission. Applicants travelling from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland should plan the trip around a morning slot — the consular counters close mid-afternoon.
5. Wait for printing in Accra. Completed applications are transmitted to the Passport Application Centre in Accra, where the booklet is printed and returned to London for collection or delivery.

The Ghana Card Requirement

The Ghana Card, issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA), has become central to passport issuance. If you do not yet have one, ask the High Commission about Ghana Card registration in London when you book — registration sessions are run at the mission, and it is far more efficient to deal with the card and the passport in a coordinated way than to discover at your passport appointment that you need the card first. See our UK citizenship services guide for details of what to bring.

Fees and Processing Times

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets standard overseas passport fees at approximately $50 USD for a 32-page passport and $75 USD for a 48-page passport, with express options at higher cost. Fees at the London mission are payable in the amounts and payment methods the mission specifies — amounts vary by mission and exchange rate, so confirm the current fee and accepted payment method with the High Commission before your appointment. Do not rely on figures from forums or older websites.

London is a high-demand mission, so timelines can stretch beyond 8 weeks in busy periods such as the run-up to Christmas, when much of the diaspora travels home. If you have a fixed travel date, apply at least three months ahead.

Lost or Stolen Passports in the UK

Report the loss to the police first. In England and Wales most forces take reports of lost or stolen property online or via the non-emergency number 101; get a crime reference number or lost-property report, because the High Commission will ask for it. Then contact the mission to apply for a replacement passport or, if you must travel to Ghana urgently, an Emergency Travel Certificate. Bring the police reference, any photocopy of the lost passport, your Ghana Card or other identity evidence, and passport photographs. A UK visa or BRP inside a lost passport is a separate problem — report it to the Home Office as well so your immigration status documents can be reissued.

Common Pitfalls for UK Applicants

• Booking flights before the passport arrives — the Accra printing step means dates genuinely cannot be guaranteed.
• Turning up without an appointment after travelling from outside London.
• Photographs that fail the specification (recent, white background, no glasses).
• Name inconsistencies between your Ghanaian birth certificate, Ghana Card and UK documents — resolve these before applying, as mismatches stall applications in Accra.

Official Sources

• Ghana High Commission London – appointments and current requirements
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana – passport policy and fees
• National Identification Authority – Ghana Card
• Ghana Immigration Service
• Ghana e-Visa Portal

Last updated: 2026-08-04. Passport fees and procedures are set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the London mission and can change without notice — always confirm with the High Commission.