The Ghana High Commission in the UK is to introduce online visa and passport applications.The move is part of the process by the mission to improve its consular services.

The facility will cover the London main visa office and the consular offices in Scotland and Ireland.

Ghana’s visa automated service will be the third by an African country in the United Kingdom and experts say it will be the most modern and effective.

Currently, the mission receives nearly 800 visa applications a day and the Head of Mission, Professor Kwaku Danso Boafo, believes the system will hugely facilitate visa applications.

In an interview in London, Professor Boafo said, starting from Monday, January 17, 2011, visa and passport applicants could complete their applications online at the mission’s website www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com.

He observed that the new procedure was the second phase of the modernisation process that started in 2009.

The first phase, he said, was the introduction of the uploading of visa and passport application forms on the mission’s website which enabled applicants to download, complete and submit applications to the Consular section for processing.

“This system offered a cost-free visa/passport application form service to clients,” he said.

Professor Danso-Boafo observed that the second phase allowed applicants wishing to apply for Ghanaian visas or passports to log onto the mission’s website at www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com to select the required service and then fill the form online.

He explained that upon completion, applicants would automatically submit the application online, adding that hard, signed copies of the submitted forms, together with all the required supporting documents, should then be posted to the mission.

“Visa and passport processing fees may be paid by credit or debit cards or by postal orders or bank drafts,” he said.

Applicant’s supporting documents will be returned to him/her after the application process with a unique tracking reference via DX secures mail delivery services.

“The mission will use text messaging and e-mail services to notify applicants when their documents are received, and when their approved applications are ready for collection or dispatch,” the High Commissioner said.

He gave the assurance that the new facility would make allowance for applicants who might wish to submit applications in person.

Professor Danso-Boafo said the automated system would, however, facilitate a 24 and 72-hour expedited processing service, which will attract additional cost.