Africa Visas: Namibia, Angola, Ghana, Cote d'Ivorie, The Gambia, Senegal for US Citizens

[SFtraveller]

I'm on this cruise Azamara March 2023. The Rep said they would handle the visas. On other Azamara threads for the same cruise this year, they are saying other things. One person wrote that they would have to present themselves IN PERSON to the Angola Embassy/Consulate in the USA. It would seem easier for the ship to take care of this, otherwise one is looking at months to obtain their visas. Plus with the costs it adds up to a lot for a one day stop. Azamara has also changed ownership which could explain the different answers? Or because of the plague? Anyone, with any experience with visas?

[blag]

Here are some resources in case Azamara don't arrange visas:

https://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/passports/VisaApplication.aspx

 

http://www.smevisa.gov.ao/Consulate.aspx

 

https://snedai.com/e-visa/

 

International Yellow Fever Certificate required, before Visa applications.

Recommended vaccines:

South Africa: Hep A, Tetanus, Typhoid
Namibia: Hep A, Tetanus, Typhoid
Angola: Hep A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever
Ghana: Hep A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever
Côte d'Ivoire: Hep A, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever
Canary Islands: Tetanus
Madeira/Portugal: Tetanus

 

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/201/south-africa
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/157/namibia
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/7/angola
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/89/ghana
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/112/cte-divoire-ivory-coast

[Jamietravelstheworld]

This is what my travel agent told me today:

 

"We need to wait until 90 days prior to sailing, to see which visas you will need but yes, you would purchase. 

 

Looking at the list of ports, they are transit visas meaning you are sailing thru and not staying in their country; therefore, most will be done onboard ship.

 

Does this help ?   

 

I will help you thru it when time comes"

[blag]

15 minutes ago, Jamietravelstheworld said:

 

"We need to wait until 90 days prior to sailing, to see which visas you will need but yes, you would purchase.

I don't understand this. Could you please explain 'you would purchase'? 

[Jamietravelstheworld]

18 minutes ago, blag said:

I don't understand this. Could you please explain 'you would purchase'? 

You would need to purchase the visas. 

[blag]

Here is what my TA received from her Azamara contact re. our March 04 2023 sailing:

We can certainly ask again, I would suggest around Oct. At the moment the ship has been given a ‘no’ from the authorities, so Im not sure it that will change just to manage expectations, however as mentioned, happy to ask again just in case nearer the time it does.

 

There must be other content to this dialogue, but I do not have it! 

[blag]

Here is information I received yesterday from my TA

There are a few grammatical errors etc... (What follows is verbatim). I believe that items 5. are due to a carriage return generating the next number.

 

Good news! We have been working with our ground agents and land team, and have just had back the following information on these FAQ’s which is very helpful as follows:

 

The Gambia

Kindly note that UK citizens do not require a visa to visit The Gambia. Therefore, they can disembark upon arrival in The Gambia and join the Shore Excursions should they wish to do so.

 

Ivory Coast

1. On the Azamara shore excursions page for the Ivory Coast , under important information,  it says that a visa is required. However, having looked at the Ivory Coast government visa web site and various visa websites it seems that they are not currently accepting maritime visitors. Other sites suggest visas can only be collected at the airport but obviously we are not entering through an airport. Is this true? Ivory Coast is accepting maritime visitors. We have notified the various agencies to update their websites. Visas can be arranged and issued at the port when the ship arrives. The port agent will work the ship to arrange this.
2. If we they are unable to get a visa for a country, will they still be allowed to board and just not get off the ship at that particular destination? You will need a visa otherwise you will not be able to disembark from the ship. Again these visas will be issued at the port, facilitated by the port agent.
3. If they are booked on a ships tour do they need to have a visa as we are technically not staying in the country overnight and can be classed as in transit? Yes you will need a visa to get on the bus and participate in any kind of tour.
4. Would you please be able to confirm specifically the visa requirements for each your on this this? You will need a visa for Ivory Coast as explained above.
5.  

Ghana

Please can you let me know if any visas are required if guests take Azamara Shore Excursions? Yes, each  guest would require a visa to go on a tour.

1. As UK citizens according to their government offices visas are also required for Ghana. Correct
2. If they are unable to get a visa for a country, will they still be allowed to board and just not get off the ship at that particular destination? They will be issued visa on arrival at the Port. The Port agent will laisse with Immigration officials to have transit visas issued on board the ship for those who do not have visa but want to get down.
3. If they are booked on a ships tour do we need to have a visa as they are technically not staying in the country overnight and can be classed as in transit? They will need a visa before they can go on a tour.
4. Would you please be able to confirm specifically the visa requirements for your Country on this this? A valid passport that is a least 6 months to expiration.
5.  

Angola

I have received feedback from our local supplier regarding the few uncertainties on the visas for Angola.

 

1. Guest arriving with a cruise ship, attending shore excursion booked via the ship would not require a tourist visa for Angola
2. Should guest depart form the ship for a night or longer staying overnight off the ship they would require to have a tourist visa

 

Generally as long as the guest have excursion or services booked for a day excursion and returning back to the ship on the same day they should not have any need for a tourist visa for Angola as they would then as mentioned below be considered as “in transit” with the ship being in port and departing with the ship again end of the day.