Ghana transit visa

GIS distinguishes two kinds of transit. Passengers in direct airside transit, who stay in the international area and whose bags are checked through to the final destination, are exempt from any visa. Passengers in indirect transit, whose luggage was not checked to the final destination so that they have to pick it up and go through check-in and departure formalities again, must obtain a transit visa.

The transit visa lets you stay in Ghana for a short time while you wait for your connecting flight and is valid for 48 hours from issue. If you want to visit the country during a longer layover, apply for a visitor's visa or eVisa instead, because the transit visa does not cover tourism beyond the connection.

On arrival you submit to the immigration officer in charge your travel itinerary, proof of a visa for the country of destination where one is required, two recent passport photographs and a completed disembarkation card. The officer collects the fee and issues the transit visa. A yellow fever certificate is required for entry to Ghana in all cases.

A company can also arrange the transit visa ahead of time at GIS headquarters. According to the GIS client service charter, the company's HR department sends an application letter to the Comptroller-General with copies of its certificate to commence business, certificate of registration and company code, a copy of the traveller's passport biodata page and the biodata page or Ghana Card of the person signing the letter; the standard time is one day.

The GIS transit visa page states that passengers in indirect transit pay USD 65 or its cedi equivalent at a rate set by GIS, and the L.I. 2512 fee schedule published in July 2026 lists the transit permit at USD 65 for nationals outside ECOWAS and Ghanaians with foreign passports. A transit visa can also be obtained before travel from a Ghana mission abroad, at the fee that mission sets.

Ask your airline at booking whether your bags will be checked through to the final destination. If you hold separate tickets, assume you will have to collect the bags and budget for the transit visa. Keep your onward boarding pass or ticket and the destination visa ready, since the officer checks that you can continue your journey. If the connection is delayed beyond 48 hours, contact GIS at the airport; the transit visa does not cover a longer stay.