Mahama Proposes National Airline Partnership with Portugal U.S. Reduces Visa Validity and Entry for Ghanaians Under New Reciprocity Policy

Mahama Proposes National Airline Partnership with Portugal
U.S. Reduces Visa Validity and Entry for Ghanaians Under New Reciprocity Policy

UK Introduces New Electronic Travel Authorisation for Visa-Free Countries

The United States government has updated its visa reciprocity policy for Ghana, significantly reducing the duration and limiting the number of entries permitted under most non-immigrant visa categories.

According to the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs, the change affects a broad range of visa classifications. Holders of A-class visas—primarily diplomats and government officials—will continue to receive multiple-entry visas with validity ranging from 24 to 60 months. Likewise, K1 and K2 visas, issued respectively to the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen and their unmarried child under 21 years old, remain single-entry with a six-month validity.

K3 and K4 visa holders—spouses and unmarried children of U.S. citizens—will still receive multiple-entry visas valid for 24 months.

However, the policy change significantly impacts all other non-immigrant visa applicants, including those seeking B-class visas used for business and tourism. These applicants will now be issued single-entry visas with just three months of validity.

Student visa holders are also affected. F-1 visas, granted to students enrolled in full-time academic programmes in the U.S., are now restricted to single-entry use and expire after three months. This departs from earlier protocols under which many Ghanaians received multi-entry visas valid for one to five years.

These adjustments were published in the "U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country for Ghana" guidelines and form part of a broader U.S. policy that aligns visa conditions with those offered to American citizens by other countries. A similar revision was recently applied to Nigerian nationals.

Although U.S. officials have not publicly explained the specific reasons for the change affecting Ghana, such revisions typically stem from diplomatic negotiations, national security considerations, or efforts to enforce immigration policies more strictly.

The implications are far-reaching. Ghanaians who previously relied on longer-term or multiple-entry visas for business, education, or tourism will now need to secure new visas for each trip—likely increasing both the cost and administrative demands of traveling to the United States.

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed Ghana’s willingness to collaborate with the Portuguese government in establishing a national airline, as part of broader plans to revitalise the country’s aviation and economic sectors.

The President made this known on Thursday, July 10, during a ceremony at Jubilee House where he received letters of credence from five newly accredited ambassadors, including Maria Da Conceição de Sousa Pilar, the new Portuguese envoy.

During his interaction with the ambassador, President Mahama highlighted the potential for deeper bilateral ties in aviation, trade, and investment.

“We appreciate the fact that the Portuguese national airline flies directly to Accra,” he said. “Ghana itself is trying to reestablish its national airline. At the appropriate time, we will be looking for partners, and if the Portuguese national airline is interested, we could do a partnership.”

President Mahama emphasised the strategic value of such a collaboration in enhancing connectivity, boosting tourism, and positioning Ghana as a hub in the sub-region.

President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the importance of expanding Ghana’s economic partnerships, as he welcomed five newly accredited ambassadors to the country on Thursday, July 10.

The ceremony, held at Jubilee House, featured envoys from Portugal, Seychelles, Venezuela, Chad, and Gabon. In his remarks, President Mahama focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, and resource development.

“We want to expand economic relations, and we believe that we can attract more investors to come and invest in Ghana,” he said. “Ghana has a lot of natural resources, with a market size of almost 35 million people.”

Mahama's comments come at a time when the government is seeking new international partnerships to boost foreign direct investment, enhance industrial productivity, and create jobs.

The newly appointed ambassadors reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties with Ghana in support of mutual development goals.

The United Kingdom has officially rolled out its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for visitors from visa-free countries, starting with nationals of Qatar.

The system, which will expand to other Gulf nations and eventually all visa-exempt travelers, requires individuals to apply online for permission to enter the UK before traveling.

The ETA is part of the UK government’s broader efforts to digitize borders and enhance security. Travelers must apply and receive approval prior to boarding their flights, with authorisation typically valid for two years and multiple entries.

The UK Home Office says the measure will streamline entry procedures while maintaining strict control over border access.