How to apply for a passport in Ghana (steps and prices)

13Nov

How to apply for a passport in Ghana (steps and prices)

Ghana’s passport application process is fully digital. Meaning if you need to apply for a passport in Ghana it must be done online. We are going to highlight the entire online passport application process in Ghana. We will cover both the standard and the premium passport application in Ghana, the price of passports in Ghana, online passport renewals and what you should expect in general during the entire process.

Price of Passports In Ghana

You might have asked yourself, how much does it cost to get a passport in Ghana? Below are the various passport application prices in Ghana.

#	NAME	PROCESSING FEES
1	Expedited Application 48 Pages	GHS 800.00
2	Expedited Application 32 Pages	GHS 700.00
3	Standard Application 32 Pages	GHS 500.00
4	Standard Application 48 Pages	GHS 644.00

The passport fees were increased by 544% on 1st April 2024. This is the first time that the prices of Passport applications online in Ghana have seen such a drastic increase. This is in an effort to clear the huge backlog of applications at the passport office.

The rationale behind this policy is to ensure that passports are issued primarily for Ghanaians who genuinely need to travel abroad, as that is their primary purpose. For local identification and services within Ghana, the Ghana Card serves as a sufficient and reliable form of identification for citizens. This approach helps streamline the use of these documents and ensures that passports are available for those with international travel needs.

The entire passport application process is online. This guide will give you a detailed overview of the processes and steps needed. We have divided the whole process into 3 distinct phases which include Applying for a passport, Passport appointment & vetting and Passport Pickup.

Phase 1 – Applying for a new passport in Ghana

To get started with the entire passport application process, you will need to access the official passport website at Online Passport Application (mfa.gov.gh) which is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If this is your first time applying you can select “New User? Register here” and go through the registration process.

Select a new passport application and fill out the Ghana passport application form. The form requires information about yourself, your parents, grandparents occupation and your spouse if you are married.

You will also need a civil servant with a stamp to stamp your application after completion. Once you fill out all the required information, you will be able to download your vetting application form which will be required for the next phase.

Ghana passport renewal forms

If you are renewing your passport, then you will need to select “Existing User? Login Here”. In this case, you should already have an account and once you log in, you can follow the prompts to fill out the passport renewal form and download your vetting slip once you are done.

During this process, you will pay for your passport application within the system. Payment can be made with mobile money or credit or debit cards.

Requirements for new passport application online:

Birth Certificate: Proof of Ghanaian citizenship.
Identity Documents: Such as a Driver’s Licence or National ID card.
Proof of Profession:

Employed Applicants: An introductory letter from the employer or a work ID card bearing the applicant’s name, organization’s name, and position.
Students: A student ID.
Homemakers, Housewives, Unemployed Applicants, and those in the Non-formal Sector (e.g., mechanics, hairdressers, seamstresses, traders): No proof required.
Registered Business Owners and Self-employed Applicants: Business registration certificate as proof.

Requirements for Biometric Passport Renewals

For Biometric Passport Renewals, you will need the following:

First page and bio-data page with pictures and information
Valid visa if applicable (from the old passport)
The last page of the old passport
Proof of profession if it has changed

Requirements for Black Book Passport Renewal

For Black Book Passport Renewal, you will need the following:

First page (Coat of Arms and Director’s signature)
Bio-data page with picture and information
Valid visa if applicable (from the old passport)
Profession page
Proof of profession if it has changed

Requirements for Missing Passport

For a Missing Passport application, you will need the following:

Police report
Affidavit
Proof of identity
Birth certificate

Requirements for Damaged Passport

For a Damaged Passport application, you will need the following:

Old damaged passport
Affidavit

Requirements for Change of Name

For a passport application, you will need the following:

Marriage/Divorce certificate
Affidavit
Gazette

Requirements for Applicants Below 18

For applicants below 18, you will need the following to apply for a passport:

Birth certificate
Parents’ or guardians’ ID

Steps to apply for a new passport for the first time

Visit the passport website.
Click on “New User? Register Here” to start the registration process.
Click on “Sign Up” to create a new account on Ghana.gov.
Enter your details as prompted and click “Continue.”
You will receive a One-Time Password (OTP) via SMS.
Enter the OTP and click “Continue.”
Authorize the application to share your details with the Passport Application portal.
You will be redirected to the passport application platform.

Steps for Passport Renewal

Here are the steps for passport renewal:

Click on “Existing User” to start the renewal process.
Review the “How to Apply” page to understand the application process before proceeding.
You will be redirected to the Ghana.gov login page:

– If you already have a Ghana.gov account with the same email address as your passport account, click on “Sign In” to go directly to the Passport Application site.

– If you do not have an account, click on “Sign Up” to create one using the same email address as your passport account.

If you purchased a voucher from the bank, click on “Verify Voucher” to enter the voucher details.
If you haven’t made a payment yet, click on “Make Payment” and follow the instructions to complete the payment for the application form.

Phase 2 – Passport Appointment and Vetting

The premium passport application office is located within the Accra digital centre. (When you drive in take the third left turn and drive to the the end of the road. The premium passport application centre is located on your right side.)

You need to come with a copy of your Vetting Appointment Slip which you can download from your dashboard after you apply for a passport. The Vetting Appointment Slip contains details about your interview location and time.

There are morning and afternoon appointments which are conducted every day.

Once you enter, you will submit your Vetting Appointment Slip to an officer. You are given the option to go extra premium, to skip the queue for GHC 150 in addition to the GHC 200 premium fee that you will be paying.

If you selected the standard application, you will be directed to the old passport office in Kinbu, Accra, near the Tema Station. The details will be on your appointment slip. The fee here is GHC 100. There are a lot more people here and it can take almost the entire day to get verrified.

Now back to the premium office. What happens here is replicated at the standard office.

Once submit your vetting form, your application will be processed and you will be vetted by the Ghana Passport Office, Ghana Immigration, Ghana Police and National Security Service to verify if all the information provided is accurate.

You might just speak to one representative though but you will receive stamps from all these offices that are represented at the passport office.

Once verified, you will then proceed to the payment section where you pay the GHC 200 premium fees. Mobile money, debit and credit cards and cash are allowed.

You will then move to the submission and biometric area where your biometric details will be verified and a picture will be taken.

That’s it. You are advised to dress well and wear colours that are not white or cream since you will be taking a picture against a white background.

Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the premium office but it is an executive office with modern amenities. The entire process takes about an hour depending on the number of people present. The staff at the premium office seem to be well-trained and helpful.

The room is also designed to have traffic flow from one station to another in a linear manner which is much appreciated.

You will receive a receipt. You need to keep this receipt as you will submit it when picking up your passport.

Phase 3 – Passport Pickup

You will receive a text message from the Passport Application Centre when your passport is ready for pickup. However, due to occasional network issues, some applicants may not receive this notification. In such cases, you can easily monitor the status of your application directly through your dashboard. If you need further assistance, feel free to email them at passports@itconsortiumgh.com. Their team is responsive and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Passport Pickup Duration

In my experience, it took 82 days from the date of vetting until my passport was ready, so I would estimate an average processing time of around 90 days. This was specifically for a renewal, so processing times for new passport applications may differ.

It would be beneficial if the process could be streamlined to reduce the wait time, as quicker processing would certainly enhance the overall experience for applicants.

The online passport application process in Ghana is a smooth one in general. There are companies that you can hire to help you with the entire process which comes at an extra fee but is also more convenient if you don’t have the time to spare.

The entire passport application process—from submission to collection—took me roughly 8 months. I started my application in March and finally picked up my passport in November, which is almost as long as a full-term pregnancy! 😂 That’s just too long. On a positive note, the passports are now valid for 10 years instead of 5, which is an improvement.

I applied for the passport renewal at the end of March, and the earliest available appointment was on July 24th. After that, it took 82 days post-vetting to collect the passport. This delay was likely influenced by a significant backlog at the time. With the new passport fees in place, I hope the process becomes much quicker. In my estimation, it should now be possible to complete the process in weeks rather than months.

I hope this article has been helpful in navigating the process of applying for a Ghanaian passport. Below, you’ll find a list of the various passport application centres in Ghana to assist you further.

Passport Application Centres

#	LOCATION	ADDRESS
1	Accra PAC	Kinbu Road (Old Foreign Affairs)
2	Kumasi PAC	Guggisberg Road, Opposite PWD, Adum, Ministries
3	Takoradi PAC	Ghana Immigration Head Quarters (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 Center, 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
12	Premium PAC – Tamale	2nd Floor, Pension Tower, Tamale
13	Cape Coast PAC	Opposite Ford Station
14	Wa PAC	Block C, Regional Coordination Council, Wa

How to apply for a passport in Ghana (steps and prices)

Price of Passports In Ghana