A passport is a basic right that every citizen is entitled to. Any Ghanaian citizen can go through the passport application process and receive a Ghana passport within a few days. The Online Passport Application in Ghana has now been extended to all Passport Application Centres (PAC) across the country. It used to be only available in Accra but that is no longer the case.
Any Ghanaian who is in need of a passport can apply for one online. The normal online passport application process should take about a month before you receive your passport but there is also the express service which should give you your passport within 2 weeks.
The entire passport application process has been digitised over the past few years. This is to cater to the thousands of requests each day for a passport. This article will highlight the passport application process in 2021.
Before you get started with the passport application process, it is important to know the requirements for a Ghanaian passport. Below are the requirements for a Ghana passport application.
You will require the new biometric birth certificate. If you still possess the old birth certificate, you shall need to get a new one at the B irths and Deaths Registry in the region of your birth. The Births and Deaths office is the only place where you can get an official Birth Certificate in Ghana.
In addition to your Ghanaian birth certificate, you will be required to get any other official form of identification such as a driver’s licence or Ghana card.
You will need to prove that you are a worker if you are of age. An introductory letter from your employer is enough or even your work ID if you have one. The ID should have your name on it as well as that of the company you work for and your position within the company. If you run your own business then the business registration documents shall be required. Workers in the non-formal sector will not be required to prove their profession.
The first thing you need to know about applying for a Ghana passport is that there are different application types for different needs. Some people may need a passport quicker than others and, hence, are able to pay more for the same passport which should be ready over a shorter period of time. The table below shows the various application types and the passport price in Ghana.
| # | NAME | PROCESSING FEES |
| 1 | Expedited Application 48 Pages | GHS 200.00 |
| 2 | Expedited Application 32 Pages | GHS 150.00 |
| 3 | Standard Application 32 Pages | GHS 100.00 |
| 4 | Standard Application 48 Pages | GHS 150.00 |
Payments can be made through specified banks and mobile money wallets that are specified on the website. You have the option to pay for a standard application or an expedited application. The standard application can take anywhere from a month to 3 months to complete. The expedited application process, however, can be done within 2 weeks.
The application process for a Ghanaian passport starts at ghana.gov.gh . You will have to create an account on the website by signing up. Once you have your account created at ghana.gov.gh, you will be redirected to the passport page where you can log in to your account.
The registration at ghana.gov.gh is compulsory if you want to get a Ghana Passport. Existing passport holders who want to renew their passports will have to sign up on ghana.gov. Once they do, they will be redirected to passport.mfa.gov.gh where you can continue the process. This new directive is compulsory.
Once you select your application type and make a payment, you will have to upload certain documents to your profile to complete the process. Some of the documents required include a birth certificate, affidavit, police report, gazette and a naturalisation certificate if necessary. These must all be scanned and uploaded to your profile.
Once all your files are ready and payment has been made, you will be emailed a time for your scheduled vetting process. You shall also be able to download a vetting appointment slip which you should download and present during your vetting process.
The vetting process is the last stage of your passport application process where you are required to meet the officials at the passport office in Accra , near the Registrar General’s Department. You will be interviewed by an officer to confirm your identity. Passport-sized pictures will also be taken and you will receive a date to pick up your passport from the same premises.
Anybody under the age of 18 who needs a passport will need to follow these requirements: a birth certificate and a form of identification from their parents or guardians. Once these requirements are met, anyone under 18 years of age can apply for a Ghana passport.
If you need to call the passport office for any issue, you can contact them through the number below.
030 700 8222
| # | LOCATION | ADDRESS |
| 1 | Accra PAC | Kinbu Road (Old Foreign Affairs) |
| 2 | Kumasi PAC | Guggisberg Road, Opposite PWD, Adum, Ministries |
| 3 | Takoradi PAC | Ghana Immigration HeadQuarters (Within the Regional Administration) |
| 4 | Sunyani PAC | Adjacent to Jubilee (shares a wall with the Park) |
| 5 | Ho PAC | Regional Administration (Shares building with Immigration) |
| 6 | Tamale PAC | Police Park (Old Library) |
| 7 | Ridge PAC | Ridge |
| 8 | Premium PAC – Accra | Accra Digital Centre, Adjacent State Housing Company, Ring Road West, Accra |
| 9 | Tema PAC | Former IRS Office, Community 4, Tema |
| 10 | Koforidua PAC | PWD Office, SSNIT Office Area, Koforidua. |
| 11 | Premium PAC – Kumasi | 2nd Floor, Thankful Heights Building, Adum, Kumasi |
The digitisation of the passport application process is a step in the right direction for a nation like Ghana. From public accounts, it is generally a smooth process.
The large numbers that apply for passports each day might cause delays in receiving your passport at the date specified. But in all, the process is a pretty straightforward one. Let us know in the comments below if you have already tried the Ghana passport online application process and what your thoughts are on it.
