What has changed for 2026
The passport system has been overhauled over the past eighteen months. If you last applied a few years ago, these are the points most likely to catch you out:
- Chip-embedded passports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs began issuing an ICAO-compliant passport with an electronic chip and a polycarbonate data page on 28 April 2025. Our news update on the chip passport and 2026 fees covers the background.
- Lower standard fee. The ordinary application fee fell from GH₵500 to GH₵350 from 13 November 2025, and the reduction also covers renewals.
- A 24-hour service. A one-day option at GH₵2,000 was introduced at the same time, aimed at genuinely urgent cases.
- A centre in every region. The Ministry reported in January 2026 that all 16 regional capitals now have a PAC.
- Premium centres closed. The Premium Passport Application Centres in Accra and Kumasi stopped operating on 20 February 2026.
- Portal disruption. The Ministry reported a technical fault that took the online portal offline in late August 2026. It was loading normally when we checked on 17 September 2026, but if it is down when you try, wait for an official update rather than using unofficial websites.
How to apply online, step by step
There are no walk-in paper applications for most people. The online passport application in Ghana follows this general order:
- Get your Ghana Card sorted first. The National Identification Authority lists passport applications, both in Ghana and abroad, among the transactions for which the Ghana Card is mandatory.
- Create an account on the official portal, passport.mfa.gov.gh, using an email address and phone number you can access.
- Pay for the application. The portal guidelines state that forms are paid for online, by Mobile Money or Visa/Mastercard.
- Complete the Ghana passport application form online. Check that your name, date of birth and other personal details match your Ghana Card and birth certificate exactly.
- Upload or prepare supporting documents, including details of your guarantors and witness where the form asks for them.
- Choose the PAC nearest to where you live and attend for biometric capture (photograph and fingerprints) with your original documents.
- Track your application using the Ministry's e-tracking system until your passport is ready or delivered.
Only use the official portal. Pages that offer to "fast-track" your passport for an extra payment are not part of the government process.
Documents you will need
Requirements depend on your situation. The table below summarises what the official portal guidelines and the Ministry's application form ask for. Always check the current list shown in your online application before your appointment.
| Applicant type | Typical supporting documents |
|---|---|
| First-time adult | Ghana Card; birth certificate as proof of citizenship; proof of profession (such as an employer letter, work ID, student ID or business registration), unless unemployed or informally employed |
| Renewal | Your current or previous passport (bio-data page, first page, pages with valid visas); updated proof of profession if it has changed |
| Change of name | Marriage or divorce certificate, affidavit and/or gazette notice, as relevant |
| Lost or stolen passport | Police report, affidavit, proof of identity and birth certificate |
| Damaged passport | The damaged passport itself, plus your identity documents |
| Child under 18 | Child's birth certificate; parent or guardian's ID; signed parental or guardian consent |
| Dual citizens | Dual citizenship, naturalisation or registration certificate, where applicable |
The application form also asks for guarantors and for a witness drawn from recognised categories, such as a senior member of the clergy, a registered medical practitioner, a lawyer, the head of an educational institution or a senior public servant. Line up your guarantors and witness early so that incomplete details do not hold up your appointment.
Cost of a Ghana passport and processing times
| Service | Fee | Processing time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (new or renewal) | GH₵350 | About 15 working days |
| 24-hour (one-day) service | GH₵2,000 | 24 hours |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed both figures in November 2025, and GBC reported that they apply to the 48-page booklet. GBC also reported that the one-day service is meant for urgent needs such as medical travel, urgent business or official missions, and that full biometric and security checks still apply. We could not confirm on an official page whether a separate 32-page option or a mid-priced expedited tier is still offered in 2026, or the current fee for replacing a lost passport. The portal shows the price for your application type before you pay, so check it there.
Ghanaians applying through a mission abroad pay different fees in local currency and should expect longer waits. Check your embassy or high commission's own page.
Passport application centres, including Accra
You apply online first, then go to a PAC for biometrics. The Passport Office has asked applicants to choose the centre closest to where they live. Locations as published in May 2026:
| Region | Centre and location |
|---|---|
| Greater Accra | Passport Head Office PAC, 13 Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue, Ridge, Accra |
| Greater Accra | Accra PAC, former Ministry of Foreign Affairs complex, 2 Urban Link |
| Greater Accra | Tema PAC, former IRS office, Community 4 |
| Ashanti | Kumasi PAC, Guggisberg Road, opposite Public Works Department, Adum |
| Central | Cape Coast PAC, Aboom Wells Road |
| Western | Takoradi PAC, Immigration Lane, Western Regional Coordinating Council, Sekondi |
| Western North | Sefwi Wiawso PAC, NHIS regional office building |
| Eastern | Koforidua PAC, old PWD office, SSNIT office area |
| Volta | Ho PAC, Ghana Immigration Service building, next to the Regional Coordinating Council |
| Oti | Dambai PAC |
| Northern | Tamale PAC, Police Park, State Street |
| Savannah | Damongo PAC (commissioned 31 December 2025) |
| North East | Nalerigu PAC, LA Primary 'A' School premises |
| Upper East | Bolgatanga PAC |
| Upper West | Wa PAC, Upper West Regional Education Office, Block C |
| Bono | Sunyani PAC, Area 4, behind Jubilee Park |
| Bono East | Techiman PAC |
| Ahafo | Goaso PAC, old Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council building |
The Ministry has said the Passport Head Office at Ridge operates 24 hours. Its client service hotline is 0302 754 200.
What happened to the Premium Passport Application Centre?
Many people still search for the Ghana passport premium application centre, previously at the Accra Digital Centre on Ring Road West. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs closed the Premium centres in both Accra and Kumasi from 20 February 2026. Applicants with pending premium applications were told to take them to the regional PACs. If you need a passport quickly, the official route is now the 24-hour service described above.
Ghana passport renewal
Renewals go through the same portal and the same GH₵350 standard fee. Choose the renewal option, have your old passport ready, and update your profession details if they have changed. If you still hold one of the older passports (the "black book" or machine-readable type), the portal guidelines ask for the first page with the coat of arms as well as the bio-data page. If yours expires within the next year, renew before you book travel, because many countries ask for several months of remaining validity. If a visa is coming up, see our UK visa, Schengen visa and US visa guides.
Lost, stolen or damaged passports
- Report the loss or theft to the police and get a police report.
- Swear an affidavit explaining the circumstances.
- Apply online for a replacement, attaching the police report, affidavit, birth certificate and identity documents.
- For a damaged passport, take the damaged booklet with you to the PAC.
A replacement usually attracts closer checks, so allow extra time before any trip.
Passports for children
Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian to sign a consent section, and should have their birth certificate and the parent's or guardian's ID ready. According to the NIA, children under six have their Ghana Card PIN linked to a parent's card and give biometrics at six. Check that your child's NIA record is in order before you start the passport application.
Delivery, tracking and collection
The Ministry offers nationwide doorstep delivery at no extra charge through courier partners including Ghana Post, and an e-tracking system shows progress from approval to delivery. When your passport arrives, check every detail at once and report errors through official channels. Keep the chip passport away from heat, liquids and bending, and do not store chip cards inside it.
How West Side Travel can help
Passport applications are made directly with the Passport Office, and only that office decides on them. What we offer is independent advice: checking that your documents are complete and consistent before your PAC appointment, explaining what your situation requires, and planning your passport timeline around upcoming visa applications. See our services or contact us.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is a Ghana passport in 2026?
The standard fee for a new passport or a renewal is GH₵350, down from GH₵500 since 13 November 2025. The 24-hour service costs GH₵2,000. Confirm the price shown on the official portal before you pay.
How long does it take to get a Ghana passport?
Standard applications are processed in about 15 working days after biometric capture. The one-day service takes 24 hours and is intended for urgent cases.
Can I apply for a Ghana passport online?
Yes. All applications start at passport.mfa.gov.gh, where you pay and fill in the form. You then attend a Passport Application Centre in person for biometrics.
Is the Premium Passport Application Centre in Accra still open?
No. The Premium centres in Accra and Kumasi closed on 20 February 2026. Applicants now use regional centres such as the Passport Head Office at Ridge, the Accra PAC and the Tema PAC.
Do I need a Ghana Card to apply for a passport?
Yes. The National Identification Authority lists passport applications in Ghana and abroad among the transactions that require the Ghana Card.
How do I renew my Ghana passport?
Log in to the official portal, choose renewal, pay the GH₵350 standard fee, complete the form and attend your chosen PAC with your old passport and identity documents.
What should I do if I lose my Ghana passport?
Get a police report and swear an affidavit, then apply online for a replacement with your birth certificate and identity documents. Check the portal for the replacement fee.
Sources
- Ghana Passport Services portal - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ghana Passport Online Portal - Guidelines
- MFA - Ghana's chip-embedded passport rollout begins
- MFA - Minister outlines achievements in passport reforms (November 2025)
- MFA - Rollout of Passport Application Centres in regional capitals (January 2026)
- MFA - Application for a Republic of Ghana passport (form)
- National Identification Authority - FAQs
- GBC - One-day passport service; standard fee drops to 350 cedis
- MyJoyOnline - Passport fee slashed, new fee takes effect 13 November
- Citi Newsroom - Premium passport centres in Accra and Kumasi closed
- Graphic Online - Passport Office lists biometric centres in all 16 regions
- Graphic Online - Technical fault with the online passport portal (August 2026)
- Citi Newsroom - How Ghanaians in the diaspora can acquire a passport