1 About the Ghana ETA
The Ghana Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is an online travel authorization for eligible travellers who do not require a Ghana visa but must obtain authorization before travelling to Ghana.
The ETA is issued through the official Ghana eVisa/ETA portal to travellers whose eligibility result is "ETA Required." The application process is completed online. Applicants should provide accurate information, upload genuine and legible supporting documents, and monitor their registered email address and application dashboard.
2 Eligibility
Who Needs an ETA
The ETA regime applies to nationals of:
- All African Union (AU) member states.
- All ECOWAS member states.
- Countries holding a current bilateral visa waiver agreement with Ghana.
The definitive eligibility list is maintained by the Director, Visa & Permits in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is confirmed using the official Eligibility Checker.
The ETA is not a visa — it is a free pre-travel security authorisation for eligible nationals. There is no fee to apply. The maximum permitted stay under the ETA is 90 days from the date of entry.
Use the official Eligibility Checker before applying for an ETA.
- If the result is "ETA Required," proceed to Travel Authorization and complete the ETA application described in this guide.
- If a different result is returned — Visa-Free or eVisa Required — follow the applicable route instead of applying for an ETA.
- Eligibility depends on nationality, passport type and applicable government policy, and may change. Always check the current result before applying or travelling.
Nationality alone may not be sufficient to determine the applicable route. Use the current eligibility checker before applying or travelling.
3 ETA Application Steps
The ETA application follows the steps below. Each step is described in more detail in the sections that follow.
| Step | Section | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eligibility | Applicant completes the Eligibility Checker and receives "ETA Required." |
| 2 | Travel Authorization | Applicant selects "Proceed to Travel Authorization." |
| 3 | Applicant | Applying for yourself? Yes / No. |
| 4 | Personal information | Date of birth, nationality, country of residence, email and phone number. |
| 5 | Passport | Passport number, country of issue, date of issue and date of expiry. |
| 6 | Uploads | Passport photograph and passport biodata page. |
| 7 | Purpose | Tourism; leisure; business meetings; conferences; visiting friends or relatives; official government visit; medical care; transit; other. |
| 8 | Travel | City of departure, airline, flight number, intended date of travel and port of entry. |
| 9 | Accommodation | Select accommodation type and provide the required accommodation information. |
| 10 | Health | Yellow Fever vaccination information and whether the applicant has visited a country subject to a public health alert. |
| 11 | Security | Answer the security questions. |
| 12 | Declaration | Review, confirm and submit. |
4 Applicant Information
Indicate whether you are applying for yourself.
- Applying for yourself — Yes / No.
- If you are applying on behalf of someone else, you will need their information to complete the sections below.
Personal Information
- Date of birth.
- Nationality.
- Country of residence.
- Email address.
- Phone number.
Use an active email address — this is used for correspondence, notifications and your ETA outcome.
5 Passport Information
Provide your passport details exactly as they appear on your passport.
- Passport number.
- Country of issue.
- Date of issue.
- Date of expiry.
Confirm your passport remains valid for your intended travel before applying. Follow the current guidance on the official portal for the applicable minimum validity.
6 Passport Photo and Biodata Page
Upload a recent colour passport-style photograph that clearly shows your full face, together with your passport biodata page. The photograph should meet the guidance below and the portal's current upload specifications.
| Requirement | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Recency | Use a colour photograph taken within the last 6 months. | Do not use an old or outdated photograph. |
| Position and framing | Face the camera directly. Keep your head straight, centred and fully visible. | Do not tilt or turn your head, crop the head, or position the face too close or too far from the camera. |
| Expression and eyes | Keep the full face visible, with eyes open and clearly visible and the mouth closed. | Do not use an exaggerated expression, closed eyes or an open mouth. |
| Background | Use a plain white or light background. | Do not use a busy, dark, textured or distracting background. |
| Lighting and quality | Use even lighting and a clear, sharp, high-quality image with natural colour. | Do not upload a blurry, grainy, pixelated, overexposed or underexposed image, or one with strong shadows. |
| Size | Use approximately 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm and follow the portal's current upload specifications. | Do not distort the image or upload a photograph that does not meet the required size. |
| Editing | Submit an original, natural photograph. | Do not use filters or digital alterations that change the photograph. |
| Glasses and face coverings | Keep the full face unobstructed. | Do not wear sunglasses or anything that obscures the face, except where a permitted religious or medical covering applies and the face remains visible. |
Passport biodata page: upload a clear, unedited scan or photograph of the biodata page of your passport, showing your photo, name, passport number and validity dates.
7 Purpose of Visit
Select the option that best describes the purpose of your trip:
- Tourism.
- Leisure.
- Business meetings.
- Conferences.
- Visiting friends or relatives.
- Official government visit.
- Medical care.
- Transit.
- Other.
8 Travel Details
Provide the following details of your journey to Ghana:
- City of departure.
- Airline.
- Flight number.
- Intended date of travel.
- Port of entry.
9 Yellow Fever / Public Health Questions
Provide your Yellow Fever vaccination information and answer the public health questions presented on the portal.
- A valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate/card is required for entry into Ghana and may be checked at the port of entry.
- Indicate whether you have visited a country subject to a public health alert, as prompted by the portal.
- Travellers without the required certificate may be referred to airport health officials for the applicable health procedure, including vaccination where necessary.
10 Security Questions
Answer the security questions presented on the portal accurately and completely. This information supports the assessment of your application and may be verified against relevant government and security systems.
11 Declaration and Submission
- Review all information carefully — including your personal, passport and travel details — before submitting.
- Confirm the declaration presented on the portal.
- Submit your application.
Complete a final review before submission. Follow the instructions on the official portal if you need to correct details after submission.
12 What Happens After Submission
- You will receive an application/reference number on submission — keep this for your records.
- The outcome of your application will be sent to your registered email address.
- Monitor your registered email address and the application dashboard, where available, for updates.
- Processing times are indicative and may vary. Check the official portal for the current processing timeframe.
- If additional information is required, respond promptly through the official channel indicated by the portal.
13 Common Errors
Avoid these common mistakes, which may delay or affect your application:
| Issue | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Passport details do not match | Enter your passport number, dates and other details exactly as shown on your passport. |
| Photo does not meet requirements | Follow the photo guidance in Section 6 — plain background, recent, correct size, no filters. |
| Biodata page unclear or cropped | Upload a clear, complete scan or photo of the full biodata page. |
| Incomplete travel details | Provide your city of departure, airline, flight number, travel date and port of entry. |
| Accommodation details incomplete or inconsistent | Ensure accommodation information matches your stated travel dates and accommodation type. |
| Missing Yellow Fever information | Provide your Yellow Fever vaccination information and answer the public health questions. |
| Wrong purpose of visit selected | Choose the option that best reflects the actual purpose of your trip. |
| Applying for the wrong product | Use the Eligibility Checker first — apply for an ETA only where the result is "ETA Required." |
14 Support Contacts
When contacting support, include your application/reference number where available and a concise description of the issue.