Unlike Nigeria's CBN Form A, Ghana has no mandatory government forex form for tuition - the cedi is convertible and you pay your university directly. The visa fee (£558) and the healthcare surcharge (£776/year) are paid in pounds during your online application. Tuition is best sent by bank transfer. Here's how to do it without losing money or time.
The Three Payments
| Payment | How it's paid | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee (£558) | Online during the application | Charged in local currency at the day's rate |
| Healthcare surcharge / IHS (£776 per year) | Online during the application | Pounds only - cannot be paid in cedis |
| University tuition (or deposit) | Bank transfer (SWIFT) to the university | Usually GBP |
Sending Tuition
- Use a regulated Ghanaian bank for an international (SWIFT) transfer in pounds to the university's account. Pay the deposit your CAS requires, not more than you can prove.
- Keep every receipt. Many universities need the transfer confirmation to issue or update your CAS, and it's useful evidence at the visa stage.
- Match the name. Pay from an account in your name or your sponsor's name - and keep that consistent with your proof-of-funds documents.
Costs to Plan For
The Bank FX Levy (~5%)
Ghanaian banks now apply a foreign-exchange levy (around 5%) on forex transactions. That makes the real cedi cost of a pounds payment higher than the headline mid-market rate. Ask your bank for the all-in rate including the levy and charges before you send, and compare two or three banks.
Card Limits
Cedi debit and credit cards often carry low foreign-currency limits, so a large tuition payment by card can be declined. A bank transfer is more reliable for big amounts; keep cards for smaller online payments.
What to Avoid
- Don't route fees through mobile money or unregulated apps - and remember a mobile-money balance is not accepted as proof of funds either.
- Don't pay through informal "agents" offering a better rate - you lose the paper trail universities and UKVI rely on.
- Don't leave it to the last minute. International transfers can take several working days to clear, and CAS issuance may wait on the cleared deposit.
Build in a Rate Buffer
The cedi-pound rate moves. When you budget - and when you prepare proof of funds - add 5-10% on top of the minimum so a swing on payment or application day doesn't catch you short.
Last updated: July 2026. FX rules and levies change - confirm current charges with your bank and the Bank of Ghana.