President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched Ghana’s first fully online e-Visa platform, allowing travellers to apply for Ghanaian visas digitally without visiting embassies or consulates. The new system, launched on Monday, May 25, 2026, also introduces a major policy shift: African passport holders travelling to Ghana for tourism or business will no longer pay visa fees.
The initiative, unveiled during an Africa Day event at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, forms part of the government’s broader strategy to modernise immigration services, improve investor confidence and position Ghana as a more accessible destination for tourism, trade and investment.
According to President Mahama, the new digital visa system is designed to remove long-standing frustrations associated with traditional visa applications, including lengthy queues, delays and paperwork.
How Ghana’s new e-Visa portal works
The new Ghana e-Visa portal allows travellers from around the world to complete the entire visa application process online.
Applicants can:
- Check their eligibility based on nationality
- Create an online account using an email address
- Upload supporting documents digitally
- Submit visa applications online
- Receive approved visas through email or mobile devices
Travellers can then present either a digital copy or a printed version of the e-Visa upon arrival in Ghana.
The official portal is available through the Ghana e-Visa Portal.
Step-by-step guide to applying for Ghana’s e-Visa
1. Check eligibility
Travellers must first confirm whether their nationality qualifies for the e-Visa application process.
2. Create an account
Applicants need a valid email address to register on the portal and manage their application.
3. Upload documents
Supporting documents such as passports, travel itineraries, invitation letters or accommodation details can be uploaded electronically.
4. Submit application online
Once all details are completed, applicants submit the form digitally without visiting an embassy.
5. Receive visa approval by email
Approved visas are delivered electronically and can be shown digitally or printed before travel.
African travellers no longer pay Ghana visa fees
One of the biggest announcements from the launch is the complete removal of visa fees for African passport holders entering Ghana for tourism or business purposes.
President Mahama said the free visa policy takes immediate effect.
“Africans travelling to Ghana will receive their e Visas online free of charge,” he announced during the launch ceremony.
Previously, some African Union nationals paid as much as 150 US dollars for visas on arrival for short stays in Ghana.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the move as a historic step towards African integration and easier movement across the continent.
“For the first time in our country’s history, visa fees for Africans have been completely scrapped,” he said.
However, African applicants will still undergo the same security and screening procedures as all other travellers.
Visa categories available on Ghana’s e-Visa system
The new platform currently supports several visa types, including:
- Tourist visas
- Business visas
- Family visit visas
- Student visas
- Transit visas
- Work visas
- Diplomatic and official visas
Government officials say additional services and upgrades may be added later as the system expands.
Fees for non-African travellers
While African travellers will no longer pay visa fees, travellers from outside the continent will continue to pay visa processing charges.
Government officials say current fees range approximately from:
- 260 US dollars for standard single-entry visas
- Up to 796 US dollars for urgent multiple-entry applications
The government says security will remain strict
Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak dismissed concerns that simplifying the visa process could weaken border security.
According to him, the digital platform is integrated with Ghana’s Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems, as well as international crime databases.
This allows authorities to screen travellers before they board flights to Ghana.
“Before a traveller even boards a plane, we already know who is coming,” Mr Muntaka said.
Officials insist the system combines openness with stronger modern border control measures.
Why the new Ghana e-Visa system matters
The government believes the new platform could significantly boost tourism, business travel and foreign investment by making entry into Ghana faster and more convenient.
The policy also aligns with wider continental efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area to encourage easier movement, trade and regional integration across Africa.
Mr Ablakwa described the e-Visa platform as Ghana’s “warm digital handshake with the world”.
The launch also reflects growing competition among African countries to modernise travel systems and attract international business and tourism.
