British High Commission increases visa fees

The British High Commission on Thursday announced an increase in visa fees with immediate effect.

A statement in Accra said standard Visa, student visa and transit visa each are now 530,000 cedis. Direct Airside Transit Visa is now 400,000 cedis.

It said one-year visa is 885,000 cedis, two-year visa is 1,030,000 cedis, five-year visa is 1.3 million cedis, 10-year visa 2.210 million cedis and settlement 3.835 million cedis.

The statement said Certificate of entitlement is 1.62 million cedis, returning resident 530,000 cedis, and long-term 1.105 million cedis.

It said visa fees once paid are non-refundable. The statement reminded applicants that the British High Commission only accepts Barclays Bank Drafts as payment for visa fees. Applicants should obtain a draft for the correct amount from Barclays' Bank.

"If however, drafts for the new amounts are not immediately available, for an interim period applicants can provide a bank draft for the old visa fee and then top-up the difference in cash.

"For example, previously a standard visit visa cost ?485,000, it now costs ?530,000.

"Applicants may therefore obtain a Barclays Bank Draft for ?485,000 and pay the remaining ?45,000 in cash at the British High Commission on presentation of the visa application."

The statements also reminded applicants that Barclays Bank charges an administration fee of ?20,000 for the provision of bank drafts. This is in addition to the visa fee and is non-refundable.

It said the Visa Section is open from 0730 to 1030 hours on weekdays, the Consular Section is open from 0730 to 1230 hours whilst all other sections are open from 0745 to 1445 hours