Ghana is engaged in exploratory talks with Luxembourg for a visa-waiver arrangement that could also cover Belgium and the Netherlands, part of the Benelux Union. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa met with Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussions aim to simplify travel for Ghanaian passport holders to the region.
Currently, Ghanaian holders of ordinary passports do not have visa-free access to Luxembourg, Belgium, or the Netherlands. For short-stay visas, applicants in Ghana are directed to the Netherlands' embassy in Accra, while long-stay visa applicants go through Belgium's embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Ghanaians to continue following existing visa rules until a new arrangement is formally signed.
The talks with Luxembourg are part of a broader diplomatic effort by Ghana to widen visa-free access for its travellers. In 2025, Ghana secured 11 new visa-waiver arrangements, including deals with the Maldives, Zambia, and Antigua and Barbuda, which took effect from September 8, 2026. These agreements cover holders of Ordinary, Service, and Diplomatic passports, with varying scopes across different countries.
If a signed agreement is reached with Luxembourg and the Benelux Union, Ghanaian travellers would gain simplified access to three closely linked European economies. This would eliminate the need to navigate the current system of routing applications through neighbouring embassies. The Ministry has not provided a timeline for when, or if, a formal deal will be reached.
Beyond travel, the meeting between Ablakwa and Bettel also focused on deepening economic cooperation between Ghana and Luxembourg. Discussions included value addition, digital technology, agro-processing, and industrial transformation, with a focus on creating jobs and strengthening local industries. The talks also covered investment promotion and people-to-people ties.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not indicated when negotiations with Luxembourg or the broader Benelux bloc might advance to a formal agreement. Until further notice, Ghanaian travellers should continue to rely on current visa requirements for Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. No date has been set for a follow-up meeting or a conclusion to the talks.
The potential visa-free deal would be a significant addition to Ghana's diplomatic efforts to ease travel restrictions on its citizens. With the Ministry's sustained efforts, Ghanaian passport holders could soon have more regions to travel to without needing a visa, enhancing their travel experience and opportunities for economic and cultural exchange.
Key points
- Ghana is in exploratory talks with Luxembourg for a visa-waiver arrangement that could extend to Belgium and the Netherlands.
- The talks are part of a broader effort by Ghana to widen visa-free access for its travellers, with 11 new arrangements secured in 2025.
- A signed agreement would simplify travel for Ghanaian passport holders to the Benelux region, eliminating the need for current visa application processes.
