Japan Visa
Japan Visa from Ghana — Tourist & Business Guide (2026)
Ghanaian passport holders need a visa to enter Japan. Applications are submitted in person at the Embassy of Japan in Accra (No. 8 Josif Broz Tito Avenue, Cantonments). Short-stay visitor visas are issued for up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry depending on travel history.
Last verified: November 2025 against guidance from the Embassy of Japan in Ghana (gh.emb-japan.go.jp) and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). See editorial policy.
Visa categories most relevant to Ghanaians
- Temporary Visitor (Tourism) — sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives. Up to 90 days.
- Temporary Visitor (Business) — meetings, conferences, contract negotiation. Up to 90 days.
- Transit visa — short stops while travelling onward (max 15 days).
- Long-term visas (work, student, dependent) — require a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued by Japan's Immigration Services Agency through your sponsor in Japan before you apply in Accra.
Required documents — tourist visa
- Valid Ghanaian passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages) plus a photocopy of the bio page.
- Completed visa application form (download from gh.emb-japan.go.jp).
- One recent passport photo: 4.5 × 4.5 cm, white background, taken within 6 months.
- Daily schedule of stay in Japan (the embassy provides a template) showing hotels, cities and activities for each day.
- Flight itinerary (reservation, not paid ticket).
- Hotel bookings covering every night, OR an invitation letter and Letter of Guarantee from a host in Japan.
- Proof of funds: bank statements for the last 6 months stamped by the bank, plus payslips or business registration.
- Employment letter stating position, salary, start date and approved leave dates.
- Self-employed: business registration, tax returns and 6 months of business account statements.
Fees and processing time
- Single entry: ~GHS 280 (USD 24 equivalent, paid in cedis at the embassy rate).
- Double / multiple entry: ~GHS 550.
- Transit: ~GHS 65.
- Fees are paid only after the visa is approved — not at submission.
- Processing: 5 working days minimum from a complete application. In peak season (June–August, December) allow 2–3 weeks.
How to apply step by step
- Download the application form and daily schedule template from the embassy website.
- Book hotels and flights (refundable bookings are safest before approval).
- Request bank statements stamped at the branch (Stanbic, Ecobank, GCB and Fidelity routinely issue these within 24 hours).
- Get an employment letter on company letterhead, signed and stamped.
- Submit in person at the Embassy of Japan, Mon–Fri, 09:00–12:00. Walk-in; no online appointment system.
- Wait for the call/email to collect. Pick up between 14:00–16:30, bring the receipt and pay the visa fee.
Common refusal reasons
- Weak financial profile — bank statements showing irregular large deposits just before applying.
- Vague itinerary — missing days, no hotel for part of the trip, or activities that don't match the cities listed.
- No travel history — first-time international travellers face heavier scrutiny. Build a record with easier destinations (UAE, Morocco, Kenya) first.
- Weak ties to Ghana — no employment letter, no property, no dependent family.
- Inconsistent invitation letter — host's address, occupation or relationship doesn't line up with your itinerary.