The Canadian High Commission in Accra: what it does and does not do
What people search for as the "Canadian embassy in Ghana" is officially the High Commission of Canada in Ghana, which also covers Sierra Leone and Togo.
| Detail | High Commission of Canada in Ghana |
|---|---|
| Address | 42 Independence Avenue, Accra |
| Telephone | +233 (0) 302 21 15 21 / +233 (0) 302 22 85 55 |
| General email | accra@international.gc.ca |
| Visa questions | IRCC web form (online), not the High Commission |
What this means in practice:
- It does not take visa or permit applications, collect biometrics or decide visa cases. Those decisions are made by IRCC officers.
- It does not answer visa enquiries by walk-in. The High Commission sends visa questions to the IRCC web form.
- It does provide consular help to Canadian citizens, including passport services, and information for permanent residents who need a travel document.
See also our guides to the US Embassy in Accra and VFS Global in Ghana.
Visitor visa, study permit or work permit?
Ghanaian citizens are on Canada's visa-required list, so an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) is not an option. You need a visa in your passport to travel, whatever the purpose.
| Purpose | What to apply for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences | Visitor visa (temporary resident visa, TRV) | Show ties to Ghana, enough money and a clear plan to return |
| Studying at a college or university | Study permit (a visitor visa is issued with it) | Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, and a PAL/TAL in most cases |
| Taking up a job | Work permit (usually employer-specific) | Job offer from an eligible employer, plus a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) unless the role is exempt |
For an employer-specific work permit, the Canadian employer must first confirm whether the job needs an LMIA and obtain it if so, then give you the supporting documents to upload.
How to apply online through IRCC
Applications from outside Canada must be made online. Paper forms are allowed only in limited situations, such as a disability that prevents online use.
- Check your eligibility on canada.ca and answer the questions to generate a personalised document checklist.
- Create or sign in to your IRCC secure account using a GCKey (Government of Canada username and password).
- Scan and upload your documents, including a clear copy of your passport's information page.
- Pay the application fee and the biometrics fee together by card.
- Submit, then watch your account for the biometric instruction letter (BIL).
- Book and attend your biometrics appointment at the visa application centre.
- Respond promptly to any request for more documents, a medical exam or an interview.
Canada visa fees (IRCC, in Canadian dollars)
| Application | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa, per person (single or multiple entry) | $100 |
| Visitor visa, family maximum (5 or more applying together) | $500 |
| Study permit | $150 |
| Work permit | $155 |
| Open work permit holder fee (where it applies) | $100 |
| Biometrics, per person | $85 |
| Biometrics, family maximum (2 or more applying together) | $170 |
Medical exams, police certificates and language tests are paid separately. Always check the official IRCC fee list before paying, as fees are reviewed periodically.
Biometrics at the VFS Global visa application centre in Accra
Most applicants aged 14 to 79 must give biometrics. You pay the fee when you apply, receive a BIL, then book an appointment. Booking the appointment itself is free, and biometrics generally stay valid for 10 years, so repeat applicants may not need to give them again.
- Who runs it: VFS Global is the service provider authorised by the Government of Canada in Ghana. Visa application centres handle administration only; they cannot give visa advice and play no part in decisions.
- Appointments: required. Book through the VFS Canada Ghana website.
- What to bring: your BIL and your valid passport.
- Current location: Ghana Baptist Convention House, Abelemkpe, Accra (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:30).
Relocation notice: VFS Global has announced that the Canada visa application centre in Accra is moving to a new location from 5 October 2026, and has posted a notice about a closure linked to the move. VFS also says new payment details for VAC services are coming. Check the VFS Canada Ghana page for the new address and closure dates before you book or travel to an appointment.
Canada visa processing times from Ghana
IRCC updates its estimates regularly, so we do not quote fixed timelines. Use the official IRCC processing times tool and select Ghana. Points to note:
- The clock starts when IRCC receives a complete application and stops when a decision is made.
- The estimate includes the time taken to give biometrics, so book your appointment as soon as your BIL arrives.
- Requests for extra documents, interviews or medical exams add time, so apply early.
Proof of funds
Visitors: there is no fixed figure. You must show enough money for the length of your trip, which depends on where you will stay. Bank statements, payslips and an employer letter are typical evidence.
Students: you must cover your first year of tuition, return travel and living costs. For applications outside Quebec, IRCC's living-cost amounts effective 1 September 2026 are:
| People (including you) | Living costs required (CAD, excluding tuition) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 |
| 2 | $29,192 |
| 3 | $35,888 |
| 4 | $43,572 |
| Each additional person | +$6,318 |
Accepted evidence includes six months of bank statements, scholarship letters, proof that tuition and housing are already paid, and letters from a sponsor explaining their relationship to you and their income. Quebec sets its own amounts.
Canada study permit rules for Ghanaians in 2026: the cap and PAL/TAL
Canada still limits the number of study permits it issues. For 2026, IRCC plans to issue 408,000 study permits in total, with 309,670 application spaces set aside for applicants who need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL).
- What a PAL/TAL is: a letter from the province or territory confirming there is a place for you under its allocation. Your school normally arranges it once you accept your offer, often after a tuition deposit.
- Who no longer needs one: since 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public institutions are exempt, as are primary and secondary school students and some exchange and special programmes.
- Validity: letters issued in 2026 are valid until 31 December 2026 and must be valid on the day you apply.
- Letter of acceptance checks: IRCC verifies acceptance letters with the school. If the school does not confirm in time, the application is returned.
Common reasons Canadian visas are refused
Since 29 July 2025, refusal letters for visitor visas, study permits and work permits come with officer decision notes explaining the reasons. Frequent issues include:
- The officer is not satisfied you will leave Canada at the end of your stay, often because ties to Ghana (job, property, family, business) are poorly evidenced.
- Funds that are too low, unexplained large deposits, or a sponsor with no proof of income.
- A purpose of travel or study plan that does not make sense against your background.
- Missing or unclear documents, or a checklist item not uploaded.
- Misrepresentation, meaning false or withheld information. This can make you inadmissible.
- Criminal, medical or security inadmissibility.
You may reapply at any time unless your letter says otherwise, but IRCC advises doing so only with new information that addresses the refusal. Be wary of anyone claiming they can improve your chances.
Submitting your passport
You do not send your passport when you apply online. If your application is approved, IRCC places a request letter in your account telling you how to submit it. In Ghana, passports are handed in through the VFS Global visa application centre, which forwards them securely and returns them with the decision. Submit the same passport you used in your application, as a different one can cause delays.
How West Side Travel can help
West Side Travel is an independent advisory consultancy in Accra. We help individuals, businesses and organisations prepare and review Canadian visa, study permit and work permit documents, check them against the official IRCC checklist, and talk through your circumstances before you submit. The decision always rests with IRCC. Explore our services, contact us, or:
Book a consultation on WhatsApp
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Canadian embassy in Ghana?
Canada's mission is the High Commission of Canada at 42 Independence Avenue, Accra. It does not accept visa applications; you apply online with IRCC and give biometrics at the VFS Global centre.
Can I apply for a Canada visa at the High Commission in Accra?
No. Visitor visas, study permits and work permits are applied for online through an IRCC account. Visa questions go through the IRCC web form.
How much is a Canada visitor visa from Ghana?
The IRCC fee is CAD 100 per person, plus CAD 85 for biometrics. A family applying together pays at most CAD 500 in visa fees and CAD 170 for biometrics.
How long does a Canada visa take in Ghana?
Times change often. Use the IRCC processing times tool and select Ghana. The estimate includes giving biometrics, so book your appointment quickly.
How much money do I need for a Canada study permit?
Outside Quebec, a single student must show CAD 23,448 for living costs from 1 September 2026, on top of first-year tuition and return travel.
Do I need a PAL for a master's degree in Canada?
Not if the programme is a master's or doctoral degree at a public institution. That exemption has applied since 1 January 2026. Most college and undergraduate applicants still need one.
Where is the VFS Canada office in Accra?
It is currently at Ghana Baptist Convention House, Abelemkpe, but VFS has announced a move from 5 October 2026. Check the VFS Canada Ghana website for the new address before your appointment.
Sources
- High Commission of Canada in Ghana, Accra
- IRCC: Entry requirements by country
- IRCC: How to apply for a visitor visa
- IRCC: Visitor visa eligibility
- IRCC: Secure account
- IRCC: Fee list
- IRCC: How to give biometrics
- IRCC: Find a visa application centre
- IRCC: Check processing times
- IRCC: Apply for a study permit from outside Canada
- IRCC: Study permit proof of financial support
- IRCC: Provincial or territorial attestation letter
- IRCC: Apply for a work permit from outside Canada
- IRCC: Officer decision notes
- IRCC: Reasons you may be inadmissible
- VFS Global: Canada visa application centre, Ghana