The majority of students traveling to Ghana, including U.S. citizens, will need a visa to enter the country. Due to the short-term nature of our programs at NYU Accra, students should apply for a Tourism visa.
You should obtain the yellow fever vaccine and begin gathering the required documents listed below as soon as possible. You may not submit your application any earlier than 90 days before your travel to Ghana, but application processing can take several weeks, so it is recommended that you apply as soon as your 90-day window begins.
If you live outside the Greater New York City area, please contact the Office of Global Affairs for guidance on the visa process at steinhardt.global@nyu.edu.
Confirmed program participants will receive further instructions from the Steinhardt Office of Global Affairs regarding the Ghanaian tourist visa application process. All students may reach out to the Office of Global Services (OGS) Outbound Student Services team with any questions on visa requirements or the application process.
How to Apply:
Obtain a Yellow Fever vaccination
All visa applicants are required to show proof of having received the yellow fever vaccine within the past ten years. Students can make an appointment at the Health Center or with a private practice for the vaccination. Keep in mind that the vaccine takes at least ten days to be considered fully active.
Gather the required documents
Students will need the following required documents to apply for a tourism visa:
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- Proof of yellow fever vaccination
- Passport with validity extending at least 6 months beyond the anticipated return date.
- Two passport-sized photos. Participants must provide two hard-copy photos (to be submitted by mail) and one digital version of the same photo (to be uploaded to the online application). These can be taken at the Student Link Center or at chains like Walgreens or Staples. Selfies or other unofficial photos will not be accepted.
- Travel support letter. This is issued by the Office of Global Affairs and sent to all confirmed students by email along with the GeoBlue International Insurance letter.
- Proof of health insurance. Confirmed students are automatically enrolled in GeoBlue International Health Insurance for the duration of their program. A GeoBlue International Insurance letter is issued by the Office of Global Affairs to all confirmed students along with the Travel Support Letter.
- Flight itinerary. This documentation must show your full name and all details of both your arrival and departure flights, including the dates, times, airports, and flight numbers.
- Proof of financial support. This may include a savings account statement, credit card statement, or other documentation demonstrating that the traveler can support themselves while in Ghana.
- For international students: A scan of your student visa and your I-20/DS-2019 document with valid travel signature from OGS (if applicable)
- Money order made out to THE MISSION OF GHANA. You can read this How to Obtain a Money Order guide on obtaining this form of payment. Please note that cash and checks are not acceptable forms of payment. As of May 2024, a single-entry visa, the fee is $60 USD.
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A self-addressed insured envelope with tracking complete with postage. The Consular staff uses this envelope to mail back the applicant’s passport and other application documents once the application has been processed.
- Printed copy of completed online application. Once you have submitted your application online (see below), print out a copy and sign it.
Online Application References
Global Affairs will send out specific instructions when your 90-day application window begins. The online application will ask for two references in Ghana. Your references are faculty members of NYU Accra, as follows:
Reference #1: Marian Ansa-Otu
No. 8, 3rd Norla St.
North Labone, Accra
Phone: +233-302-761-528
Email: mao9@nyu.edu
Reference #2: Frankie Edozieno
No. 8, 3rd Norla St.
North Labone, Accra
Phone: +233-302-761-528
Email: fe7@nyu.edu
Submitting Your Documents
Documents can be mailed to the Consulate for processing or dropped off at the VFS Premium Application Center.
Submitting by Mail
Students receive their passports back by mail once their visa is processed. There are three processing time options:
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- Standard (10 business days)
- Express (4 business days processing)
- Priority (3 business days processing)
Submitting at VFS Premium Application Center
Once you have submitted your application online, you can make an appointment at VFS Premium Application Center to drop off your documents. It is an additional $55 to have your visa application processed in-person. Travelers can then return to the VFS Premium Application Center at a later date to pick up their passport. There are two options:
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- Express (4 business days processing)
- Priority (3 business days processing)
Not Traveling on a US Passport?
Schedule an appointment with OGS to determine if you will need a visa to travel to Accra and obtain any additional necessary documentation.
Have Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to OGS (outbound.ShortTerm@nyu.edu) or our office (Steinhardt.global@nyu.edu) for assistance.