Notice: ECOWAS
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is made up of fifteen member countries that are located in the Western African region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Passengers with a Laissez-Passer issued by the ECOWAS Passport do not require a visa when traveling on duty.
Consulate information
| Address: |
3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 Consular hours: Mon to Thurs 9:30 am – 12 pm and 1 – 3 pm Closed on Fridays
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| Phone: | (202) 686-4520 | Website |
Important Facts
- COVID-19 REGULATIONS (subject to change). Travelers must have medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point and complete a Port Health Declaration form. Travelers are subject to medical screening upon arrival and quarantine for 7 days at their own expense. This does not apply to passengers younger than 5 years.
- Visa application with all required documents including a return envelope must be mailed to the embassy.
- Passport must be valid for at least six (6) months validity beyond the completion of a trip and has two (2) blank visa pages.
- NO VISA REQUIRED for members of the ECOWAS organization; nationals of Barbados, Guyana, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Singapore, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Tanzania, Uganda for a maximum stay of 90 days; for nationals of Jamaica, Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago Zimbabwe for a maximum stay of 60 days. Must have a valid passport.
- VISA ON ARRIVAL for nationals of Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and some other countries for a maximum stay of 30 days. MUST have a confirmed return/onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover the entire stay.
- For more information and questions contact the GC Visa office.
| Visa Application Requirements | US | NON-US |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | ✔ | ✔ |
| Complete online application | ✔ | ✔ |
| Passport size photos - one (1) photo | ✔ | ✔ |
| Copy of passport vital information page | ✔ | ✔ |
| Invitation letter Letter should be addressed to the Consulate General of the Embassy in Washington DC. Must include: applicant's name as in passport, passport number, detailing the reason for traveling, dates, name, address and telephone number of the host. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Letter of employment | ✔ | ✔ |
| Resume or Curriculum Vitae | ✔ | ✔ |
| Copy of flight itinerary A round trip travel airline ticket with traveler's name. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Copy of hotel reservation/Evidence of address while staying in the country. | ✔ | ✔ |
| Letter of support (Business visa only) The GC Visa office will provide | ✔ | ✔ |
| Proof of valid legal residency in the US (copy only) | ✔ | |
| Yellow fever certificate | ✔ | ✔ |
Forms and Links
Application Form (Regular) Application Form (Rush)
Processing Time
| Processing time | Service type | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 business days | Rush | |
| 15 business days | Regular |
Fee per Visa
Payment Method: Credit Card, Online Payment,
| Type of Visa | Fee per Visa | Type of entry |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist/Business | 60.00 | Single |
| Tourist/Business | 100.00 | Multiple |
| Tourist/Business (Rush) | 100.00 | Single |
| Tourist/Business (Rush) | 200.00 | Multiple |
Additional Notes
- Allow (2) two extra days for GC Visa Office to process your application.
- For Long Term/Work Visa and Children under 18, Contact GC Visa Office.
- Please note that Embassies/Country Representative Offices change the requirements on a regular basis without notifying us.
- There is a GC surcharge for our services.
Last updated: May 11, 2022