Ghana Visa Services in the United Kingdom

How British citizens and UK residents apply for visas to visit Ghana — through the e-Visa portal or the Ghana High Commission in London — plus entry rules every traveller from the UK should know.

Ghana is one of the UK’s strongest travel connections in West Africa: direct flights link London with Accra year-round, the diaspora travels home in large numbers every December, and business, academic and tourism traffic runs in both directions. British citizens need a visa to enter Ghana, and so do most non-ECOWAS nationals resident in the UK. Visa services for the whole of the United Kingdom are handled by the Ghana High Commission at 13 Belgrave Square, London, alongside Ghana’s online e-Visa system.

Two Routes: e-Visa or the London Mission

Ghana operates an official e-Visa portal at evisa.ghana.gov.gh for citizens of eligible countries. For eligible UK applicants this is usually the most convenient route: you apply and pay online, upload your documents, and receive your visa electronically without posting your passport or visiting Belgrave Square. Check the portal to confirm your nationality’s eligibility and the current requirements.

The traditional route through the High Commission remains available and is necessary for some categories. Application practicalities — whether you apply online first, post your passport or attend in person, and current turnaround times — change periodically, so check the mission’s website or call +44 20 7201 5900 before applying, especially close to the December peak season when demand from the UK surges.

Visa Types for Travel from the UK

Typical supporting documents include a passport valid for at least six months, a completed application, photographs, evidence of travel (flight itinerary) and accommodation, and for business travel an invitation letter. Visa fees vary by nationality, entry type and processing speed — confirm the current fee schedule with the London mission or the e-Visa portal rather than relying on third-party figures.

Who Does Not Need a Visa

Citizens of the 15 ECOWAS member states — including Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire — do not need a visa for Ghana under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, even when resident in the UK; they travel on their ECOWAS-state passport. Ghanaian dual nationals in Britain have a choice: enter Ghana on your Ghana passport, or on your British passport with a visa. If you hold both, travelling on the Ghanaian passport (with a registered dual citizenship certificate) avoids visa fees altogether.

Yellow Fever and Health Requirements

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry to Ghana and is checked on arrival at Kotoka International Airport. In the UK, yellow fever vaccines are only given at registered yellow fever vaccination centres — most NHS travel clinics and many private travel clinics are registered; NaTHNaC’s TravelHealthPro service lists them. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so do not leave it to the week of travel. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for Ghana, and UK travel clinics can prescribe it during the same appointment.

Right of Abode and the Diaspora

People of African descent — a significant community in Britain well beyond the Ghanaian diaspora itself — may be eligible for Ghana’s Right of Abode under the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573), promoted through the Year of Return (2019) and Beyond the Return initiatives. It grants a renewable right to live and work in Ghana indefinitely. Applications are processed through the Ghana Immigration Service and require documentary evidence of African heritage; the London mission can advise on how to start from the UK.

Arriving in Ghana from the UK

Most UK departures land at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, where immigration officers will check your visa or e-Visa approval, your passport validity and your yellow fever certificate. Keep printed copies of your e-Visa approval and accommodation details in hand luggage rather than relying on your phone. If your plans change and you need to stay beyond your visa’s validity, extensions are handled inside Ghana by the Ghana Immigration Service — do not overstay, as penalties apply on exit.

Practical Tips for UK Applicants

• Apply early in November–December. The pre-Christmas rush from the UK is the busiest period of the year for Ghana-bound travel; processing takes longer and appointment slots tighten.
• Check passport validity first. Six months’ validity from your travel date is the standard requirement — renew your British (or other) passport before applying if it is close.
• Use official channels only. The only official online application point is evisa.ghana.gov.gh; be wary of lookalike visa websites that charge mark-ups on top of official fees.
• Keep evidence of onward travel. Airlines flying from the UK may ask for your visa or e-Visa approval at check-in, along with your yellow fever certificate.

Official Sources

• Ghana e-Visa Portal – official online applications
• Ghana High Commission London – UK visa applications and current fees
• Ghana Immigration Service – permits and Right of Abode
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana
• National Identification Authority

Last updated: 2026-08-04. Visa eligibility, fees and procedures change — always confirm current requirements with the e-Visa portal or the London mission before booking travel.