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Accra Entry Requirements

Accra Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
The jet-bridge at Kotoka International Airport hits you with Accra's thick, salty air while a kiosk's plantain smoke curls past your shoulder. Khaki-clad officers stamp fast beneath cold fluorescent glare that bounces off polished marble. Have your printed address, onward ticket, and, if needed, Ghana eVisa glowing on your phone. Sniffer dogs weave between belts, bags thud, and the arrivals hall erupts in Twi, English, and Ga as taxi touts close in. Most tourists slide in easily: every ECOWAS passport skips the visa line, while visitors from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and much of the EU collect a visa on arrival or the online eVisa before flying. A yellow-fever booklet is non-negotiable, an officer in a white coat will flip it open beside your passport. Declare cash above USD 10,000 and register drones in advance. From cabin door to curb, count 45, 75 minutes.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
90 days

Ordinary passports from ECOWAS member states enter Ghana without a visa.

Includes
Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Côte d'Ivoire Gambia Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo

A valid passport and proof of yellow-fever vaccination are still required at Accra immigration.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
30 days single-entry, extendable up to 60 days in Accra

Most other nationalities, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Schengen-area countries, must secure an eVisa online before boarding.

Includes
United States United Kingdom Canada Australia Germany France Netherlands Spain Italy South Africa Kenya India China
How to Apply: Apply at www.ghana.gov.gh/visa; upload passport bio page, passport photo, yellow-fever card, return ticket, and hotel booking. Approval e-mail usually arrives within 3, 5 working days.
Cost: Moderate government fee plus service charge. Pay online by card

Print the ETA PDF or keep it on a charged device. Immigration officers scan the QR code on arrival in Accra.

Visa Required
Single-entry 30 days, or multiple-entry up to 1 year depending on purpose

Travelers whose countries lack eVisa agreements, or persons seeking multiple-entry or work visas, must apply at a Ghanaian embassy or high commission.

How to Apply: Contact the nearest Ghana diplomatic mission. Submit passport, photos, yellow-fever certificate, invitation letter or hotel reservation, and fee in money order or as instructed.

Processing can take 5, 15 days; plan ahead before your Accra trip.

Arrival Process

Kotoka's Terminal 3 funnels passengers along a predictable path: health desk, immigration, baggage reclaim, customs, exit.

1
Health Screening
Queue to show yellow-fever card to Port Health staff. Expect the smell of disinfectant and the rustle of paper certificates being stamped.
2
Immigration Control
Present passport, visa/ETA, arrival form, and fingerprint scanners capture both index fingers while overhead fans blow warm air.
3
Baggage Claim
Flat-screen monitors announce carousels. Bags thud onto rubber belts amid echoing PA announcements in English and Twi.
4
Customs Channel
Choose Green (nothing to declare) or Red (goods to declare) channel; officers may wave a handheld scanner or ask to open luggage.
5
Arrivals Hall
Exit into a bright atrium smelling of coffee and fried yam. Airport taxis queue outside glass doors, their engines humming.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport valid ≥6 months
Officers flip to the bio page and scan the machine-readable strip.
Visa/ETA printout or PDF
Required for non-ECOWAS visitors before being allowed into Accra.
International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow fever)
Port Health will reject faded or expired cards. Keep it dry.
Return/onward ticket
Proves you plan to leave within the permitted period.
Hotel confirmation or invitation letter
Shows where you will stay in Accra.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Complete the customs declaration form on the plane to avoid fumbling for a pen on arrival.
Keep yellow-fever booklet in passport. Officers ask for it immediately after the stamp.
Have accommodation address saved offline. Cell signal can lag inside the terminal.

Customs & Duty-Free

Ghana Customs Division applies relaxed duty-free limits aimed at tourists arriving in Accra with personal effects.

Alcohol
1 litre of spirits OR 1 litre of wine
Must be 18+ years; larger quantities attract 30, 50% duty.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250 g loose tobacco
18+ only; excess charged at GH₵ excise rates.
Currency
USD 10,000 or equivalent must be declared
Fill Form 4 at the Red channel. Failure can lead to seizure.
Gifts/Goods
Personal effects and gifts up to USD 300 value
New items in original packaging may still attract VAT if deemed commercial.

Prohibited Items

  • Narcotic drugs, zero tolerance, heavy prison terms
  • Pornographic materials, confiscation and fines
  • Counterfeit currency, automatic seizure
  • Fresh meat from cholera-affected countries, public-health ban

Restricted Items

  • Drones, require Ghana Civil Aviation Authority permit obtained weeks before arrival
  • Gold or rough diamonds, need Minerals Commission export paperwork even if for personal use

Health Requirements

Port Health officers stationed at Accra's airport enforce Ghana's entry-health rules.

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow fever, proof mandatory for all ≥9 months old

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis A
  • Typhoid
  • Routine MMR/DPT
  • Meningitis ( during dry season)
  • Rabies for long-stay travelers

Health Insurance

Not compulsory. But medical care in Accra is pay-up-front; carry travel insurance with evacuation cover.

Current Health Requirements: Ghana removed COVID-19 testing for vaccinated arrivals. Unvaccinated travelers no longer need PCR. Confirm latest rules before departure as policies shift quickly.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Find your country's embassy or consulate
Check your government's travel advisory website
Immigration Authority
Ghana Immigration Service headquarters, Accra
gis.gov.gh for visa extensions and official information
Emergency
Police, ambulance, fire, dial 112 from any phone in Accra
Tourist police unit also reachable on 191 or 18555

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Carry child's passport, birth certificate showing parents' names, and consent letter from non-traveling parent if applicable. Immigration may ask to SEE original documents.

Traveling with Pets

Obtain import permit from Veterinary Services Directorate in Accra at least 6 weeks ahead. Present rabies certificate, health certificate dated ≤10 days before travel, and pay inspection fee on arrival.

Extended Stays

Tourist eVisa can be extended once for 30 days at Ghana Immigration HQ near Independence Avenue, Accra; bring passport photos, proof of funds, and pay stamp fee.

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