TIG Post

Tag: E-visa

  • E-visa required to travel to UK next year – Foreign ministry to Ghanaians

    E-visa required to travel to UK next year – Foreign ministry to Ghanaians

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has released an urgent travel advisory for Ghanaians and other nationals planning extended stays in the United Kingdom, as the UK prepares to switch to Electronic Visas (E-Visas) on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

    Starting December 1, 2024, physical visa documents like Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) and Biometric Residence Cards (BRC) will no longer be valid, according to a statement from the British High Commission.

    The E-Visa system aims to simplify visa processing and strengthen security.

    “From January 1, 2025, anyone planning a stay in the UK of more than six months will need to obtain an E-Visa,” the Ministry relayed from the advisory.

    The advisory also emphasized that all existing BRP cards will expire on Sunday, December 31, regardless of the expiration date on the card, requiring current holders to obtain E-Visas to maintain residency status.

    The Ministry urged those planning holiday travel outside the UK to secure their E-Visa by December 31 to avoid re-entry issues, as noted in the advisory signed by Victor N. A. Adamah, Acting Director of the Ministry’s Information and Public Affairs Bureau.

    Ghanaians are advised to consult the British High Commission’s website or contact UK immigration officials for guidance on the E-Visa application process.

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  • Govt working to implement e-Visa in 2024 first quarter – GTA

    Govt working to implement e-Visa in 2024 first quarter – GTA

    Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, has stated that the government plans to launch the Electronic Visa platform in the first quarter of 2024.

    This initiative is a part of a larger strategy aimed at addressing the challenges faced by tourists and investors seeking to travel to Ghana.

    Mr Akwasi Agyeman shared this information during an interview on PM Express: Business Edition on November 23, 2023.

    “The Foreign Affairs Ministry has been working on this and even at a point in time, it announced for vendors to apply, demonstrating the significant progress that has been made on this initiative,” the Ghana Tourism Authority boss announced.

    The CEO highlighted that Ghana faces competition from other countries in the region for investors and tourist visits. To position Ghana as the preferred destination for both investments and tourism, comprehensive efforts are underway. The introduction of the Electronic Visa platform, set to launch in the first quarter of 2024, is part of a broader program called “Easing the Diaspora Pathway.” This initiative aims to alleviate the challenges individuals face when intending to visit Ghana.

    In addition, the government has implemented a ‘Visa-On-Arrival initiative’ from December 1 to January 15, 2024. Airlines are now required to permit passengers choosing this option to fly to Accra without insisting on a prior visa issued by the Government of Ghana.

    Furthermore, the CEO of the GTA mentioned that this is just the initial step. The government is actively working on a “Free Visa Initiative” for individuals traveling to Ghana, demonstrating a commitment to further enhance the ease of travel to the country.

    “We know that December is our peak period for tourist arrivals and we need to make it easier for people to travel to Ghana,” the Chief Executive of the GTA.

    He was however quick to add that, visitors will still have to pay at the Airport for the visa that will be issued by immigration officials.

    The Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority added that “we are ensuring that the system pay for itself, so we don’t end up falling on the consolidated fund,  for supporting some of the initiatives in the sector”.

    Mr. Agyeman revealed that the Transport Ministry has initiated discussions with various airlines regarding the Visa-On-Arrival initiative.

    “We have also followed up with several engagements with these airlines to ensure this Visa-On-Arrival by the Government of Ghana is captured in their systems,” Mr Agyeman said.

  • South Africa makes e-Visa accessible to Ghanaians

    Ghana has now become part of South Africa’s e-Visa program.

    This addition permits Ghanaian citizens to apply for South African visas using an online platform, removing the necessity to visit the South African High Commission in person for visa applications.

    In an official statement, the South African High Commission highlighted that this inclusion would lead to a beneficial transformation in the visa application process.

    Furthermore, the introduction of the e-Visa program is expected to improve and simplify the visa application process, providing greater convenience for Ghanaian travelers.

    “The High Commission of the Republic of South Africa wishes to inform you that Ghana has been added by the government of the Republic of South Africa to the E-Visa list, which means that the Ghanaian can apply online for a visa to South Africa without visiting the High Commission,” part of the statement read.

    For more information, the commission advised Ghanaian visitors to visit the Department of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa’s homepage.

    “The information is available on the portal of the Department of Homes Affairs of the Republic of South Africa. The Ghanaians are urged to visit the following website https://www.dha.gov.za to obtain more information.

    “It should be noted that the normal requirements such as passport details, letter of invitation/ proof of accommodation and bank statement would be verified on arrival at a point of entry,” the commission added.

    Individuals who have been waiting for their passports for more than three months owing to this change can now pick them up at the VFS Global Office, according to the announcement.

    “Passports that have been more than 3 months at the High Commission could be collected at the VFS Global Offices,” it stated.