Ghana Passport Fees Explained as New Mobile Service Charge Is Proposed

Ghana's passport fees are back in the spotlight after the Passport Office published a new fee structure in October 2026 and the government said Parliament would soon consider a charge for a mobile application service. For Ghanaian citizens planning to apply, the practical picture is a standard booklet at GH¢350, faster options at higher prices, and some fee details still awaiting official confirmation.

Key facts

• Ordinary 32-page booklet: GH¢350, effective 13 November 2025, down from GH¢500
• Regular processing takes 15 working days; expedited processing takes 3 working days
• A one-day service is available for GH¢2,000
• Courier delivery is included in the fee
• More than 215,000 Ghanaians have received chip-embedded passports since April 2025
• A fee for the Mobile Passport Application Centre is to be considered by Parliament

What do Ghanaian passports cost?

New fees took effect on 1 April 2024. The standard 32-page booklet rose to GH¢500 and the 48-page booklet to GH¢644, while expedited applications were priced at GH¢700 and GH¢800 respectively. For many applicants, that increase amounted to more than 400 percent.

In November 2025 the government of President John Mahama partially reversed the rise. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced a 30 percent reduction, cutting the ordinary 32-page booklet from GH¢500 to GH¢350 with effect from 13 November 2025. Parliament had to amend the Fees and Charges Act before the new rates could apply.

The ministry also said courier delivery would be included in the fee, regular processing would take 15 working days, expedited applications three working days, and a one-day service would be offered for GH¢2,000.

Why were fees raised in the first place?

In December 2023 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then led by Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, told Parliament the state was losing money on every passport. Her figures were that an applicant paid about GH¢100 while a booklet cost about GH¢400 to produce, leaving the government to cover roughly GH¢300 per passport.

The ministry described that as unsustainable and argued Ghana's fees were among the lowest in West Africa, citing figures such as approximately US$54 for Nigeria and US$80 for Burkina Faso. The increase was also linked to the planned rollout of chip-embedded passports.

What is happening now?

On 26 October 2026 the Passport Office published a new fee structure on its official Facebook page. Applicants flooded the comments with questions about the differences between booklet options and the required documentation, and some asked whether a Ghana Card could replace a birth certificate. The exact fee figures in that post have not been confirmed through official government sources or major news outlets, so applicants should check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the official passport application portal before paying.

On 14 October 2026, Mr Ablakwa told reporters during a visit to the Ashanti Regional Passport Application Centre that Parliament would soon consider a fee for the Mobile Passport Application Centre. The service sends officials to applicants' homes or offices to capture biometric information. He said the proposed charge would reflect the convenience of the service and help fund the renovation and maintenance of passport centres nationwide.

What else is happening to the passport service?

The ministry reported in November 2026 that an investigation had led to the cancellation of ten illegally issued service passports and the suspension of two officials. One petitioner alleged paying $29,000 to a syndicate linked to the process. Those allegations remain under investigation.

What this means for travellers

Ghanaian citizens applying for a passport should budget GH¢350 for the ordinary 32-page booklet and allow 15 working days, or pay more for expedited or one-day processing. Anyone considering the mobile service should wait for Parliament's decision and a published price before relying on it, and confirm current fees and required documents through official channels before making any payment.

The proposed mobile service fee is still to be considered by Parliament, and the figures in the Passport Office's October 2026 fee post remain unconfirmed. Applicants can expect further announcements on both.