This post is brought to you by Rapid Travel Chai while Jason is out with two broken wrists and a microphone. Keep an eye out at MilesQuest for future guest posts by other Boarding Area bloggers.
Jason’s Africa trip report began with a rundown of his gear and flight routing, noting the need for US citizens to get visas for all three countries. Visas are a hassle, especially for those outside the major cities that typically house embassies and consulates. Expeditors can help for a price, but sometimes trips are more fun when they are DIY, the extra effort creating a feeling of accomplishment on arrival. Here are the tourist visa procedures and links for Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. For convenience all references are to the policies of their embassies in Washington, D.C., but note that countries frequently have wildly different requirements at different diplomatic missions (check Bolivia’s US missions for a real jumble).
All the below have the standard requirements of passport valid for at least six months, form, photos, return air ticket, fee (money order/cashier’s check), prepaid self-addressed return envelope.
Types and fees:
- single entry$60/expedited $100, valid for three months
- multiple-entry $100/expedited $200, validity unspecified
Processing time:
- standard: not more than 7 business days
- expedited: 72 hours
Pay attention:
- “Evidence of financial support or letter of invitation from host in Ghana” (typically a bank statement is sufficient)
- Not needed for the visa, but may be required to provide a Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever on arrival
Types and fees:
- single entry$112, validity unspecified, fee paid in online application
- multiple-entry $112, validity unspecified, fee paid in online application
- Additional processing fee of $20 for standard, $85 for expedited (times not specified) to be paid by money order included in the application package
Processing time:
- single entry: unspecified
- multiple-entry: unspecified
Pay attention:
- Required to use their online application
- “Letter of invitation from host accepting full immigration responsibility”
- “Confirmed hotel reservation, if the applicant is not staying with host”
- “Evidence of funds to cover stay in Nigeria, (letter from bank etc)”
- Remember to pay the visa fee online AND the processing fee to the embassy
Types and fees:
- single entry $50, valid for 6 months
- multiple-entry $100, valid for 6 months
- 24-hour transit $20, valid for 6 months
Processing time:
- standard: 14 business days
- expedited: not listed, inquire if available
Pay attention:
- Required to use their online application, then print out and send the application package.
- Return envelope should NOT be UPS or USPS mail.
For multi-country trips an expeditor may be essential. Some visas can be obtained in other countries on the road, but research well in advance, particularly any requirements to apply in home country and holidays in BOTH the country you want the visa for and the country you are applying in.
Readers, share your experiences with visas for Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya.
I will also be visiting Kenya in the next few weeks. What was your rationale for not choosing visa on arrival?
Thank you for pointing this option out, I should have done my guest posting research a bit better, never having been to Kenya myself. It looks like visa on arrival is a good option for arriving by air or land borders with Tanzania and Uganda. Those going overland from South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia should have visas in advance. Lonely Planet has good info.
This is a good lesson that I know but failed to follow: embassies and consulates often do not list visa on arrival as an option, so other sources like the country’s government or third-party sites like Lonely Planet should be consulted.