Visas. Everyone’s favorite topic, right?! Don’t worry though– If you remain flexible and patient during the application process, it might be tedious, but it doesn’t have to be hard!
Do you need a visa to study in Ghana?
For the Semester in Ghana program, you WILL need to obtain a long term Student Visa. It’s extremely important that you continue to check your email regularly, as your Program Coordinator will be emailing you a visa instructions packet which contains important information regarding how and when to apply for your Ghanaian Student visa.
Please read through this information carefully, as visa instructions can be complicated, and materials can take weeks or months to obtain.
Visas / Immigration
You will need a Ghanaian Student Visa. Upon official acceptance into the University of Cape Coast, a letter of invitation will be sent to the CISabroad office. This letter will be forwarded to you to include as part of your visa application. You may use the emailed copy of your the letter to apply for your visa. Your program coordinator will provide instructions, the application, and the letter of invitation but cannot provide extensive visa advice or review visa applications. You will be sent the visa instructions upon acceptance and once the letter of invitation is received.
Students do not need a visa appointment and can mail their application to any Ghanaian Consulate although the embassy in DC seems to be the quickest. Standard processing time is 10 business days but delays have recently been reported.
As a student you CANNOT work in Ghana during this program due to government regulations, sorry!
While most Ghanaian visas are valid for 5 years, the length of stay you are permitted upon entry into Ghana is really up to the discretion of the immigration officer at that time. Recently, many students have reported that they were only granted a 60-day stay upon arrival. If this happens to you, don’t worry! The University of Cape Coast staff will talk you through the process of getting a visa extension during your International Student orientation.
Upon arrival to Ghana, customs officials may also ask for the WHO International Certificate of Vaccinations and can deny you entry to the country if you do not have it. Remember to pack the WHO International Certificate of Vaccinations in your carry-on. You must have this booklet as proof of your Yellow Fever vaccination.
For more specific information on the requirements, check out this pdf:
CISabroad Ghana Student Visa Instructions
IMPORTANT: CISabroad will only advise students on visa procedures for travel requirements for your CISabroad program only. CISabroad is not responsible for advising students on visa issues if they plan to travel internationally before or after the program dates.
These instructions are intended for US passport holders. International students must also be aware of additional documentation and/or processing time needed for their visas. Please contact your Program Coordinator to discuss your visa.
Please note that all consulates have varying visa processing times and/or requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their assigned consulate’s visa processing period and to send in their complete visa application well enough in advance to allow adequate time for processing. Each consulate lists the visa processing period on their website. Note: Required documents for your visa are always subject to change at the discretion of the consulate.
