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Hosting a Visitor in Ghana? Your Duties as a Host in the Visa on Arrival & EEV Sponsorship process.

Visa On Arrival in Ghana is usually handled as an Emergency Entry Visa (EEV) that must be arranged through a host/sponsor in Ghana before the traveler boards their flight.

As the host, your job is to submit a formal request at Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Headquarters in Accra and provide the supporting documents needed to approve the entry.

Who can be your Ghana Visa On Arrival Host

Who is a VOA/EEV Host?

A Visa on Arrival host (also called a sponsor) is a Ghanaian citizen, company, organization, hotel, or tour operator that agrees to support a traveler’s request for an Emergency Entry Visa (Visa on Arrival). Practically, the host becomes the “local contact” and the person/entity submitting the documents to GIS in Accra on the traveler’s behalf.

What the host must do (step-by-step).

1.  Collect the traveler’s documents you will submit with your request, especially the guest’s passport bio-data page and flight itinerary.

2.  Prepare your own host documents (your ID if personal host, or business registration documents if a company).
3.  Write the application letter (template below) and ensure the details match the attachments: arrival date, duration, purpose, itinerary, and lodging/hotel reservation.
4.  Submit the complete application in person at GIS Headquarters in Accra and follow their instructions on payment and pick-up/collection.

5.  After approval, you should receive a hard copy and soft copy of the approval letter, and you send the soft copy to the traveler to use for their trip (your workflow).

Duties of a Ghana VOA host.

Processing time. plan for about 3 business days (your estimate), and it can still vary based on verification and workload.

Fees. budget around $200–$300 USD as a working estimate and confirm the current amount at GIS at the time you submit (your workflow).

Documents checklist. (host vs traveler)

GIS requires an application letter with specific trip details and then different attachments depending on whether the host is a business entity or an individual.
Checklist for a VOA travel to carry before traveling.

A) The host’s application letter must include.

  • Country of origin (where the traveler is coming from).
  • Date of arrival.
  • Duration of stay.
  • Purpose of visit.
  • Travel itinerary.
  • Place of lodging (hotel/address).

B) If the host is a company/organization (business entity).

  • Certificate to Commence Business.
  • Certificate of Incorporation.
  • Company code.
  • Tax Clearance Certificate.
  • Bio-data page of host (host representative).
  • Bio-data page of guest (traveler).
the two host paths through an individual or through a business entity

C) If the host is an individual (personal host).

  • Bio-data page of host or ID.
  • Bio-data page of guest (traveler).
  • Flight itinerary of guest.
  • Guest hotel reservation (or confirmed lodging arrangement).

D) “Client-side” documents the host usually collects to submit.

Even when the host is doing the submission, the host typically needs the traveler to provide:
  • Passport bio-data page (clear scan).
  • Flight itinerary.
  • Hotel reservation / lodging details.
  • Yellow fever vaccination proof is commonly treated as mandatory for entry in Ghana (include it in your package if you want the application to be smooth, per your workflow).

Where to submit. (Accra)

Use GIS’s official contact page when publishing your blog so readers can confirm the latest address/directions and phone line before visiting. GIS’s contact number published online includes +233 (0)302‑224445.

Sample host letter (editable template)

VOA Letter Template by host
Download as an Image.
Download as a PDF.
How to write a VOA Host letter as an individual or company
Mistakes to avoid as a host to prevent delays in approval process by Ghana Immigration Service.

Common mistakes that delay approval.

Inconsistent details. the arrival date in the letter doesn’t match the flight itinerary, or the hotel name/address differs between documents.

Missing key attachments. GIS explicitly lists different attachment sets for business vs personal applications, so don’t mix them. Always submit the correct set.

Unclear lodging. “Staying with a friend” without a clear address or a hotel reservation often creates follow-up questions (GIS requests lodging details).

Important note.

Requirements and processes can change, so hosts should confirm the latest VOA/EEV requirements directly with Ghana Immigration Service before submission.