As of my knowledge cutoff date in 2021, Ghanaian passport holders can travel to several countries without obtaining a visa in advance or obtaining a visa upon arrival. However, visa requirements and regulations can change over time, so it’s always best to check with the relevant embassies or consulates for the most up-to-date and accurate information before making any travel plans. Here are some examples of visa-free countries for Ghanaian passport holders:
- Barbados
- Benin
- Cape Verde
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
It’s important to note that even though a country may allow visa-free travel for Ghanaian passport holders, there may still be certain requirements upon arrival, such as proof of sufficient funds, return ticket, or a valid passport with a minimum of six months’ validity. It’s advisable to thoroughly research the entry requirements of your intended destination before traveling.
The Ghanaian passport ranks 144th in the world as of March 2023 according to VisaGuide Passport Index. This means that Ghanaian citizens can travel visa-free to 44 countries in the world. However, to enter the remaining countries, Ghanaian passport holders must apply for a visa beforehand.
Where Can Ghanaian Passport Holders Travel Without a Visa?
As of March 2023, Ghanaian passport holders can travel visa free to 44 countries and territories:
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Benin
- British Virgin Islands
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cook Islands
- Ivory Coast
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- Gambia
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
- Eswatini
For visa-free travels, you still must have a valid passport — usually six months after your departure date— and you must purchase travel health insurance as required by your destination country.
What Countries Issue eVisa to Ghanaian Citizens?
The following 21 countries issue eVisas for Ghanaian passport holders:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Colombia
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Georgia
- India
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Moldova
- Myanmar
- Oman
- Qatar
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Türkiye
- Uzbekistan
The process of getting an eVisa is more or less the same as applying for a traditional visa. However, in this case, you don’t have to visit a visa application center— you can submit your application online, including the visa payment.
After your application is approved, you will receive an email confirming your visa status along with a document you must print out and bring with you when crossing the border. Your visa will be registered online, but some officers may ask you for a physical copy of the permit; that is why it’s important to keep the copy on your person while traveling.
What Countries Issue Visa on Arrival to Ghanaian Passport Holders?
If you are a Ghanaian citizen, you can get a visa on arrival for the 20 countries listed below:
- Bolivia
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Comoros
- Iran
- Jordan
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- Saint Lucia
- Timor-Leste
- Tuvalu
- Zambia
You receive a visa on arrival (VOA) after entering the country that issues such a visa. Usually, there is a separate section at the airport where you can submit your application for your visa on arrival.
Countries With Visa Requirements for Ghanaian Citizens
You need a valid visa to enter the following 141 countries with a Ghanaian passport:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Caribbean Netherlands
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Republic of the Congo
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French West Indies
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Palestine
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Réunion
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States Virgin Islands
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
The application for a visa goes as follows:
- Make an appointment at the visa center in Ghana. You must contact a local visa application center in your home country and make an appointment to submit your application. It may take several months to schedule a meeting with the embassy or consulate.
- Get your documents ready. To submit a successful application, you have to prepare the required documents for your visa, i.e., passport, application form, health insurance, etc. Some of your documents must be verified with an apostille stamp or certified by a foreign office.
- Submit your application. Finally, you can submit your application and attend the visa interview—you may also be required to submit your biometrics. Once you translate your documents as required by the embassy or consulate and verify them with an apostille stamp— if possible, then you can submit your application. From then it will take several weeks until a decision is made regarding your visa application.
Please note that if you have a valid visa that allows you to enter more than one country, you don’t have to apply for a new visa.
What Documents Do Ghanaian Citizens Need to Apply for a Visa?
Ghanaian citizens that want to visit countries that require them to apply for a visa beforehand need to submit a few documents. Depending on the country you want to visit, document requirements may vary. However, most countries will certainly require the following:
- Your valid Ghanaian passport (plus a photocopy). Some countries require the passport to be valid for more than six months after the day you plan on departing their country.
- A filled visa application form.
- Passport pictures that are not older than six months.
- Travel health insurance that covers your entire period of stay.
- Proof of paid visa fee.
- Detailed travel itinerary that shows all the places you want to visit.
- Letter of invitation (if applicable)
- Proof of booked return ticket for the flight home.
- Proof of booked accommodation.
- Proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your visit
- Civil status documents (marriage papers, certificates of birth, etc.)
Important: Please note that your visa will most likely be rejected if you have a previous criminal history.