Ghanaian passport holders need a visa to come to the UK, even for a short visit. You apply and pay online on GOV.UK, book an appointment at the UK Visa Application Centre in Accra, which VFS Global runs, give your fingerprints and photograph there, then wait for an emailed decision and an eVisa.
Updated October 2026
This page is planning guidance, not immigration advice. Fees and decision times are set by the Home Office and change, so confirm every amount on GOV.UK on the day you pay. If you are weighing destinations, read it beside our step-by-step guide to applying for a U.S. visa in Ghana in the travel section.
Ghana is on the UK visa national list[1]. The electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is for travellers who do not need a visa. GOV.UK says that if you are from a country that needs a visa, you must apply for one before you travel.
Which UK visa route fits you?
Three answers decide your route: why you are travelling, how long you will stay, and whether anyone in the UK is sponsoring you. The route then sets your fee, your documents and whether a tuberculosis certificate applies.
| Route | Who it suits | Sponsor or offer needed | TB certificate (Ghana residents) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa | Holidays, family visits, short business trips, usually up to 6 months | No | Only for visits of more than 6 months, such as the 11-month medical or 12-month academic visit[2] |
| Student visa, formerly Tier 4 | Degree or college study with a licensed student sponsor | Yes, a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) | Yes if coming for 6 months or more, from an approved clinic[3] |
| Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa | Employment with a licensed UK employer | Yes, a certificate of sponsorship | Yes if coming for 6 months or more, from an approved clinic |
| Family visa (partner, spouse, parent or child) | Joining a partner, parent or child in the UK | A family member already in the UK | Yes if coming for 6 months or more; fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners need one even for shorter stays[3] |
| Temporary Work visas | Short-term, seasonal or scheme-based work | Yes | Yes if coming for 6 months or more |
Entry clearance is simply the permission you obtain before you travel, which is what everyone applying from Accra or Kumasi is doing; permission to stay is what you apply for once you are already inside the UK. On the Skilled Worker route, salary thresholds and whether the job is on the Immigration Salary List or the temporary shortage list shape eligibility, so your employer should confirm both before you pay anything.
Which student route applies to you?
There are three study routes. The Short-term Study visa is for people aged 16 or over taking an English language course of 6 to 11 months; shorter English courses can be taken as a Standard Visitor. The Child Student visa is for students aged 4 to 17 at an independent school[4]. The Student visa is for people aged 16 or over with an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor, which then issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)[5]. Route names change, so confirm yours on GOV.UK before you start the form.
Work rights matter for budgeting. Under the Immigration Rules, students on a full-time course at degree level or above with a higher education provider can work up to 20 hours a week in term time, and students on a full-time course below degree level up to 10 hours. Part-time students cannot work[6].
What does a UK visa from Ghana cost?
You pay the application fee in pounds sterling on GOV.UK. These are the Home Office fees for applications made outside the UK. They took effect on 8 April 2026 and are unchanged in the fee table that applies from 8 October 2026[7].
| Visa or service | Fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa, up to 6 months | £135 |
| Long-term Standard Visitor visa, 2, 5 or 10 years | £506, £903 or £1,128 |
| Student visa | £558 |
| Short-term Study visa, English language course of 6 to 11 months | £228 |
| Skilled Worker visa, certificate of sponsorship for 3 years or less | £819 |
| Skilled Worker visa, certificate of sponsorship for more than 3 years | £1,618 |
| Temporary Work visas such as Seasonal Worker, Charity Worker and Creative Worker | £340 |
| Family visa joining a partner, parent or child | £2,064[8] |
| Priority service, where offered | £500 on top of the fee |
| Super priority service, where offered | £1,000 on top of the fee |
On visas of more than 6 months you also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of permission. It is £776 a year for students, their dependants and applicants under 18, and £1,035 a year for most other applicants. Those rates apply to applications submitted from 6 February 2024[9]. Visitors do not pay it, and nobody applying from outside the UK pays it for a visa of 6 months or less[10].
GOV.UK sets these fees in pounds. We have not converted them to cedis because the cedi cost depends on the exchange rate on the day you pay; check the day’s rate on our British pound to cedi page.
Then add the Ghana-side costs: the TB test at an approved clinic if your route needs one (GOV.UK lists each clinic’s fee[11]), an English test if you need one, transport to your appointment and any optional extra service you buy from VFS Global. VFS Global says those extras are completely optional and have no bearing on the processing time or the outcome[12]. Students also need their course fees for one year, as stated on the CAS, plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months[5].
How do you apply and book biometrics in Ghana?
- Check on GOV.UK which visa fits your purpose, and get your CAS or certificate of sponsorship first if your route needs one. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel for a visit, and 6 months before your course starts for study[2].
- Complete the online application on GOV.UK, using your passport details exactly as printed, and answer every question truthfully.
- Pay the application fee and, where it applies, the Immigration Health Surcharge. If you want the priority or super priority service, VFS Global says it can only be bought online[13].
- Book your appointment as part of the application. In Ghana the UK Visa Application Centre is run by VFS Global on the Mezzanine Floor, The Grand Oyeeman, South Liberation Link, Airport, Accra, open Monday to Friday. VFS Global also lists premium application centres in Kumasi and Tamale[13]. GOV.UK says most centres offer free appointments within 5 working days, some locations charge £76.50 for a standard appointment, and you must book and attend within 240 days of submitting your application[14]. Use the booking link in your own application, not a third-party page.
- Attend the appointment, give fingerprints and a photograph, and provide your supporting documents. Visitors get their passport back the same day[2].
- Wait for the decision by email. If you are successful you get an eVisa, a digital record of your immigration status, which you view in a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account[14].
Do not book flights until you have a decision. GOV.UK says you should not book travel until you get a decision on your visa application, and UKVI will not pay back travel costs if your application is refused or takes longer than expected[14].
Do you need a TB test and an English test?
Take the TB test first if it applies to you. You need one if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more and have lived in Ghana for 6 months or more. Fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners need one even for shorter stays[3]. Only certificates from Home Office approved clinics are accepted. GOV.UK lists approved clinics in Accra (Akai House Clinic, Globe Health Assessment Clinic, the UN-IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre and Wellnest Ghana) and in Kumasi (Wellnest Ghana and the UN-IOM centre), with their addresses, opening hours and test fees[11]. See our Akai House Clinic listing for one of them.
Timing matters. If the examination is clear, the certificate is issued the same day and is valid for 6 months from the date of your chest X-ray. If the X-ray is not clear, sputum tests can take up to 8 weeks, so GOV.UK advises booking at least 10 weeks before you travel[11].
Ghana is not on the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from proving their English on the Student route[5]. The Standard Visitor visa is not among the routes GOV.UK lists as needing an English test. Students at degree level can have their English assessed by their university, which may set its own test; an English-taught degree confirmed through Ecctis is another option; below degree level you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR level B1. For tests taken outside the UK, the approved SELT providers are PSI Services (UK) Ltd, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Pearson. The test must be sat at an approved location and awarded within the 2 years before your application[15]. Skilled Worker and family routes set their own English levels on their GOV.UK pages. Some students on courses at RQF level 7 or above also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, depending on the subject and their nationality[5].
How long does a decision take?
For applications made outside the UK, GOV.UK publishes a processing time of 3 weeks for Standard Visitor, Student and Skilled Worker visas, and 12 weeks for partner or spouse visas. The clock starts when you attend your appointment at the visa application centre[16]. Students applying from inside the UK wait up to 8 weeks[5].
| Service | Published decision time | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor, Student or Skilled Worker, from outside the UK | 3 weeks | Add the wait for an appointment slot on top |
| Partner or spouse, from outside the UK | 12 weeks | Never buy a ticket before the decision |
| Priority service, where offered | Usually within 5 working days; family and settlement applications usually 30 working days[17] | £500 on top of the fee |
| Super priority service, where offered | Usually by the end of the next working day after a weekday appointment[17] | £1,000 on top of the fee |
So a decision in about two weeks is realistic only with a paid faster service. Say your earliest appointment is two weeks away and you apply on the standard Student route: 2 + 3 = 5 weeks before you can expect a decision. It can take longer if the Home Office needs to check your details or asks you for more information.
How much money must be in your account?
No single balance applies to every route. Students must show their course fees for one year plus the monthly living-cost amount, held for at least 28 days in a row, and the 28-day period must end within 31 days of the date they apply[5]. Visitors must show they can support themselves and pay for the return journey. GOV.UK’s visitor documents guide suggests bank statements that show where the funds came from, and a letter from your employer on headed paper giving your role, salary and length of employment[18].
The money must be genuinely yours, or your sponsor’s, and its source must be clear. Never present borrowed money or altered documents as your own.
| Refusal risk | The document that prevents it |
|---|---|
| Source of funds unclear | Bank statements that show where the money came from; for students, funds held for 28 days in a row |
| Financial evidence too old | For students, the most recent statement dated within 31 days before the application |
| Income not explained | A letter from your employer on headed paper and proof of earnings |
| Health requirement missed | Approved clinic TB certificate, still within its 6 months on the day you apply |
| Language requirement assumed away | A SELT from an approved provider awarded within 2 years before the application, or another accepted proof |
| Study or job place unconfirmed | CAS from a licensed sponsor, or a certificate of sponsorship for work |
| Weak ties to Ghana on a visitor application | Employer or school letter, business registration documents or recent invoices, and evidence of your circumstances in Ghana[18] |
What about UK citizens travelling to Ghana?
Families hosting visitors ask this often. Ghana sets its own entry rules. The UK government’s Ghana travel advice says British visitors must have a visa to visit Ghana, apply online through the Ghana High Commission website, and need a yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter. Ghanaian-British dual nationals can show a Ghana dual nationality card instead of a visa[19]. Point your visitor to the Ghana High Commission in the UK before they book flights.
Try this today
- Write down your purpose, your exact length of stay and your sponsor status, then match them to the route table above.
- Check the fee for your route on GOV.UK and, for stays of more than 6 months, the health surcharge, and save a dated screenshot.
- Students: count back through your bank statements and check that the required funds have been held for 28 days in a row.
- Ask your employer or school for a letter on headed paper for your file.
- If you need a TB test, book it at a clinic on the GOV.UK Ghana list at least 10 weeks before you travel, and book your English test the same week if you need one.
- Do not pay for flights until your visa decision arrives.
What should you do next?
Settle the route, confirm the live fee on GOV.UK, then complete and pay for the online application and book your appointment through it. Students still choosing between studying at home and abroad can compare the process in our guide to how to apply to university in Ghana. Check the official fee and processing pages again before you pay, because the Home Office revises them; the last fee rise took effect on 8 April 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a visa from Ghana to the UK?
A Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months costs £135, and a Student visa costs £558, under the Home Office fees in force from 8 April 2026[7]. Student and other long-stay applicants also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of the visa. Add your Ghana costs: the TB test if you need one, the English test if you need one, and travel to your appointment.
Can I get a UK visa in 15 days?
Usually only with a paid faster service. The standard published time for visit, study and work visas from outside the UK is 3 weeks. Priority usually gives a decision within 5 working days and super priority by the end of the next working day after your appointment, where those services are offered. The clock starts at your appointment, so the slot you get matters as much as the service you buy.
Do I apply on GOV.UK or at an office in Accra first?
GOV.UK first. You complete the online form and pay, then book your appointment at the VFS Global visa application centre as part of the application. Never pay a third-party page for an appointment you have not been directed to.
When does my UK visa expire and how do I check?
Your permission has a start date and an end date. Read your decision email and view your eVisa in your UKVI account as soon as the decision arrives, write the end date in your calendar, and set a reminder several months ahead. Extensions and switching are applied for from inside the UK as permission to stay, which is a different application from the entry clearance you obtained in Ghana.
What happens after a refusal, and can I reapply?
You get a letter or email explaining why the application was refused, and it tells you whether you can ask for an administrative review or appeal[14]. Fees are not refunded for a refused application[2]. Before applying again, fix the reasons given in the letter; a new application needs a new fee.
Sources
- GOV.UK – Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Child Student visa (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Student visa (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Immigration Rules: Appendix Student (ST 26.1 work conditions) (updated 8 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – UK visa fees (Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 and 8 October 2026) (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Family visas: apply, extend or switch (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Immigration Health Surcharge: caseworker guidance (version 10.0, 30 Sep 2025)
- GOV.UK – Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Ghana: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa (updated 24 Aug 2026)
- VFS Global – UK visa services in Ghana are now available through VFS Global (media release) (22 Oct 2024)
- VFS Global – UK Visa Application Centre, Accra (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – How to apply for a visa to come to the UK (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) (updated 12 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Visa processing times: applications outside the UK (updated 9 Sep 2026)
- GOV.UK – Get a faster decision on your visa, settlement or citizenship application (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Visiting the UK: guide to supporting documents (updated 8 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK – Ghana travel advice: entry requirements (checked 19 Oct 2026)
