DO I NEED A VISA

Click on visa application link and follow link to Exempted countries. If you are a National of one of the listed countries on the page you do not need a visa otherwise you require a visa to travel to Ghana. **Also, Children with ordinary passports accompanying holders of diplomatic, service or official passports accredited to Ghana or South Africa are exempt from entry visa requirements. All South Africans travelling without DIPLOMATIC passports will need a visa to travel to Ghana.

HOW DO I GET A PAPER COPY OF VISA OR PASSPORT APPLICATION?

We no longer provide paper copy of visa or passport forms. Applicants are now required to fill their application fully online, print, sign and post or bring to the counter (Subject to appointment) at the Embassy of Ghana in Bern.

I HAVE PRINTED AND SIGNED MY APPLICATION FORM WHAT IS NEXT?

For postal applications, applicants must submit the hard copies of their application with their valid passport, supporting documents via the post including a self-addressed envelop and postage fee. Once processing is completed your passport and documents will be mailed to you.

For counter applications, applicants will need to submit hard copies of their forms, valid passport and supporting documents to our Embassy in Berne.

HOW CAN I RETRIEVE MY APPLICATION ONLINE?

You can retrieve your application online, by returning to the visa and passport application page, tick the terms and condition box, click proceed with visa or passport application and the next page will give you the option to retrieve your application with your visa or passport reference number, surname and date of birth.

HOW CAN I RETRIEVE A GROUP APPLICATION (APPLICABLE TO ONLY VISA APPLICATIONS)

You can retrieve your application online, by returning to the visa application page, tick the terms and condition box, click proceed with visa application then click on Group/Family Booking. Retrieve visa application, enter Group Reference Number and Application Reference Number then retrieve application.

For Organizations enter your username and password and the next page will give you the option to retrieve your Group/Family application with your group reference number.

HOW CAN I ADD ANOTHER APPLICANT TO MY GROUP APPLICATION? (Only applicable to visas)

On STEP 5 under the requirement checklist click on `Add for Another applicant’.

HOW LONG IS MY APPLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR EDITING BEFORE SUBMISSION?

Once visa application has commenced, it is available online for a period of 14 days for Visa applications and 21 days for Passport applications, for you to retrieve and amend before submission.

I MISSED MY APPOINTMENT WHAT CAN I DO?

Applicants who missed their appointments can request to reschedule the appointment subject to availability through our Live chat or email: livechat@ghanaembassy.ch and provide the correct visa or passport reference number, full name, date and preferred time for new appointment (subject to availability).

I WILL LIKE TO CHANGE MY POSTAL APPLICATION TO COUNTER?

Once visa forms and supporting documents have been posted to the Mission, you will be unable to make changes to your application. Please contact us through our Live chat or email: livechat@ghanaembassy.ch to change mode of submission before posting document.

I HAVE MADE ERRORS ON MY VISA FORM; HOW CAN I AMEND IT?

You will be unable to make changes on your application once submitted. To make amendments to your application after it’s been submitted online, contact us through our Live chat or email: livechat@ghanaembassy.ch for application to be enabled for corrections.

CAN MY FRIEND COLLECT MY PASSPORT ON MY BEHALF?

With the exception of visa agents who may have submitted the application, the person submitting and collecting on your behalf should come with your appointment slip to submit and collection slip to pick up passport/visa with her/his ID and an authority note stating his/ her name in it. Please download and print third party authorisation letter for the person submitting /collecting on your behalf.

WHAT IS THE PROCESSING TIME FOR MY VISA APPLICATION?

Standard applications take a minimum of 5 working days from the time we receive the hard copies of the appropriate visa forms and the supporting document at the relevant processing office. Same Day processing service is also available at double the regular fee for Visa applications, although this is not automatic, as it is subject to the applicant satisfying all the requirements before 12:00 hours.

WHAT IS THE PROCESSING TIME FOR MY PASSPORT APPLICATION?

Standard applications take a minimum of 12 working weeks, from the time we receive the hard copies of the appropriate passport forms and the supporting document at the relevant processing office.

CAN I USE ANYONE AS MY GUARANTOR FOR MY PASSPORT APPLICATION?

Guarantors must be adult relatives in Switzerland/ Ukraine/ Austria or two Ghanaians in good standing in Switzerland/ Ukraine/ Austria (subject to your country of residence) and who know the Applicant well as well as agree to act as guarantors for the applicant.

MY PASSPORT IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. WHEN CAN I APPLY?

Applicants can renew their passport from six months ahead of its expiry.

HOW DO I GET VISA ON ARRIVAL?

Emergency visas may be issued at entry points to travellers who arrive from a country where there is no Ghanaian diplomatic or consular representation, but such applications must be authorised by the Director of the Immigration Service through their sponsors before they arrive in Ghana. http://www.ghanaimmigration.org/Em_entryvisa_arrival.html

WHAT IS FINANCIAL MEANS AT APPLICANT’S DISPOSAL? DO I NEED A BANK STATEMENT AS PROOF?

Financial means at applicant’s disposal means how much spending money you are taking with you on your trip. You do not need a bank statement as proof. If you intend to use a credit/debit card, indicate that as well.

I’M NOT GETTING EMAILS FROM THE MISSION AFTER I SENT MY DOCUMENTS.

First, check your email spam folder, if our emails are ending up there, add us to your address book or save sender list so our emails get to your inbox. Otherwise, check your email subscriptions from a desktop computer.

WHO CAN I USE AS A WITNESS?

A witness is anyone who is in a professional field to whom the applicant is personally known:

A Clergyman
A Solicitor or Barrister
Head of a recognised Educational Institution
Any Recognised professionals registered with their respective regulating bodies (e.g. Accountant, Manager of a company etc.).
When the above categories of persons are unavailable, leaders of the Ghanaian communities may act as witnesses.

WHY DO I NEED A CONSENT LETTER WHEN I’M TRAVELLING WITH MY OWN CHILD?

Letter of consent from parent/legal guardian for children under 18 years to be signed by both parents. In events that one parent is not able/available/eligible to give consent, please tick the appropriate reason on the consent letter with documentary evidence.

How to Apply For Passport/Visa