Airport
Student Arrivals in Ghana: Airport Pickup and Car Hire & Rental for Students and Families
Quick answer: If you're flying in to study in Ghana, first check whether your university will collect you. The University of Ghana, KNUST and the University of Cape Coast all run some form of student airport pickup at Accra International Airport (formerly Kotoka), but only on set dates and only if you send your flight details in advance. If you land outside those dates, or you're bringing family and a lot of luggage, book a car with a driver, an airport transfer or a minibus through a car hire & rental firm, and check your driver's ID before you hand over your bags.
This guide is for international and returning students, parents and families arriving in Ghana, whether you're coming from the UK, the US, Nigeria, Germany, the Gulf or anywhere else. It covers university pickups, meeting a driver safely, the paperwork students need after landing, and when car rental & hire makes sense.
Does your university offer an airport pickup?
Most international students land at Accra International Airport. University pages still call it Kotoka International Airport (KIA). It's the same airport, code ACC.
| University | What it says it offers | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| University of Ghana (Legon, Accra) | Free pickup and drop-off at the start and end of every semester | Send flight details to its International Programmes Office before the deadline |
| KNUST (Kumasi) | A "Safe Arrivals" team for new students, especially international freshers | Look for the team's KNUST placards |
| University of Cape Coast (UCC) | An airport greeting for exchange students | Send an Arrival Information Form at least two weeks ahead |
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana's International Programmes Office (IPO) says on its admissions page that it offers airport pickup and drop-off "at the beginning and end of every semester" to international students who sign up, at no extra cost.
In its vital information for fresh international undergraduates for 2026/2027, the IPO asked students to arrive on 12–13 October 2026 and to send flight details before 5 October 2026. Hostels opened to students from 12 October. When visiting students arrived in May 2026, the IPO ran pickups in three sessions (10:00, 14:00 and 19:00 GMT), so it's worth asking about session times before you book your flight.
If you arrive outside the pickup dates, the IPO says you may take an airport taxi from near the Arrivals Hall. It says airport taxis have amber licence plates, and asks you to note the taxi's registration number and share your location with an IPO representative so it knows you've reached campus.
KNUST
KNUST says its Safe Arrivals initiative has run for five years to help newly admitted students, particularly international freshers travelling to Ghana for the first time. In its October 2026 update, KNUST said the team was stationed at Kotoka International Airport in Accra and the VIP Bus Terminal, with KNUST identification placards, to help students with the onward journey to Kumasi.
For its January 2026 intake, KNUST said teams were set up at Kotoka International Airport, Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi and major bus terminals in Accra and Kumasi. KNUST hasn't published the days and times the team works for every intake, so ask the university before you fly.
University of Cape Coast
UCC's pre-departure page says its Centre for International Education will meet exchange students at the airport if they send a completed Arrival Information Form at least two weeks before arrival, and advises you to email or phone to check it was received. It warns that people may offer to carry your bags as you leave the airport, and says not to let anyone you don't know carry your baggage. If you can't find a UCC official, it tells you to take a taxi to the UCC Guest House in Tesano, Accra.
UCC's exchange-student calendar says pickups and drop-offs happen only on the stated dates, and students who arrive outside them are responsible for their own accommodation in Accra and transport to Cape Coast. The latest calendar on that page is for 2019/2020. We couldn't find a published 2026/2027 pickup date as of 25 October 2026, so ask CIE for the current date.
Other universities and colleges: check your admission letter or the international office's page. If there's no pickup, plan to book your own.
When to book your own car hire & rental
University pickups are free, but they're built around group arrival dates. A private booking is usually easier if:
- you land before or after the university's pickup dates, or late at night;
- parents or family are travelling with you;
- you have lots of luggage, such as cases, boxes, bedding and a fridge or printer;
- you're going straight to Kumasi or Cape Coast rather than staying in Accra first;
- you want to stop on the way to buy a SIM card, open an account or shop for your room.
The main options are:
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Airport transfer to campus or a hotel | One student with a couple of bags |
| Car with a driver for the day | Families who want to settle in, shop and visit campus offices |
| Minivan or minibus with a driver | Several family members, or two or three students sharing |
| Self-drive car rental | Only if you meet the licence rules below and are confident on Ghana's roads |
Compare meet-and-greet firms on our Accra International Airport transfer page, and see our bus and minibus hire in Accra page if you need a bigger vehicle. Prices change often, so we don't publish them. Each firm's own page shows what it charges, and you should ask for a written quote for your date.
Going on to Kumasi or Cape Coast
KNUST is in Kumasi and UCC is in Cape Coast, so a student landing in Accra still has a road journey or a domestic flight to make. KNUST's Safe Arrivals team works at the VIP Bus Terminal in Accra as well as at the airport, and in January 2026 it also covered Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi.
If you're booking privately, you can compare firms on our car rental and hire in Kumasi page and our Cape Coast car hire & rental page. The UK FCDO advises against travelling by road outside the main towns after dark, so if you land in the evening, think about staying a night in Accra and travelling the next morning.
Meeting your driver safely at the airport
The UK FCDO says: "If you're being collected at the airport, confirm the identity of your driver by asking for ID." It says British nationals have been robbed by impostors pretending to be their driver around the main arrivals area. It also says permanent airport staff wear ID cards with their name and photo, ID cards without a photo aren't valid, and you should be wary of offers of help except from uniformed porters or officials.
Our checklist for students and parents:
- Get the driver's name, photo, phone number and plate number before you fly. If the university is collecting you, get the name of the staff member or team.
- Agree a name board with a booking reference or code word, not just your surname.
- Ask for ID and check the plate before your bags go in the boot.
- Don't go with anyone who says they've been "sent" by your university or driver unless they can prove it.
- Keep your passport, admission letter and phone on you, not in the suitcase.
- Share your live location with a parent or your university contact until you reach campus.
Our Accra International Airport arrival and pickup guide walks through each step from immigration to the arrivals hall.
What to agree in writing
| Agree in writing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Flight number and arrival time | So the driver can track delays |
| Campus address, hall or hostel name | So the driver goes straight to the right drop-off point |
| Number of passengers and bags | So the vehicle is big enough |
| Waiting time included, and the charge after that | Agree it before, not after |
| What happens if your flight is late or cancelled | So you don't pay for a wasted trip |
| Any stops on the way | So the price covers them |
Never send a deposit to a personal account that doesn't match the firm's name.
Papers students need after landing
- Visa. Check whether your passport needs a visa before you book flights. The UK FCDO says British nationals must have one and that the application needs supporting documents, including a yellow fever certificate. UCC says you need an official letter of acceptance from the university to apply for your visa.
- Yellow fever. The UK FCDO says you must have a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination to enter Ghana. Keep it with your passport in your hand luggage.
- Student permit. The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) says a foreign national admitted to a Ghanaian school "is required by law to obtain a student permit" to live in Ghana for the length of their studies. GIS lists the documents, including an application letter from the school, admission letter, school fees receipts, passport photos, your passport and a copy of your Non-Citizen Identification card.
- Non-Citizen Ghana Card. The UK FCDO says foreign nationals living in Ghana for at least 90 days in a calendar year must register with the National Identification Authority (NIA) for a non-citizen Ghana card. The University of Ghana tells international students to get theirs as soon as they arrive.
Your university's international office will usually explain the order to do these in. Ask it before you travel.
Can students drive a hire car in Ghana?
Citi Newsroom's 2026 explainer says short-term visitors can drive on their home licence plus an International Driving Permit (IDP), usually the 1949 version, for up to 90 days. After that, foreigners are treated as residents and must convert to a Ghanaian licence through the DVLA, which first needs a Non-Citizen Ghana Card.
Most degree students stay much longer than 90 days, so if you want to drive, plan to convert your licence. Car hire & rental firms set their own age and licence rules too, so ask the firm before you book. For most new students, a car with a driver for arrival day is the simpler choice.
Planning around reopening dates
Reopening dates at Ghana's universities have moved several times in 2026, so book transport only once your university has confirmed its date. Our university reopening dates and student transport guide lists the published 2026/2027 dates for UG, KNUST and UCC, and is updated when they change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Ghana pick up international students from the airport?
Yes. Its International Programmes Office says it offers free airport pickup and drop-off at the start and end of every semester to international students who sign up. You must send your flight details before its deadline. For 2026/2027 freshers, pickups were on 12–13 October 2026.
Does KNUST meet students at the airport?
KNUST runs a Safe Arrivals team for newly admitted students, particularly international freshers. In October 2026 it said the team was at Kotoka International Airport and the VIP Bus Terminal in Accra, helping students travel on to Kumasi.
What if I arrive outside my university's pickup dates?
Book your own airport transfer or car with a driver, or follow your university's advice. The University of Ghana says students can use an airport taxi, which has an amber licence plate, and should note its registration number. UCC says students arriving outside its pickup dates must arrange their own accommodation in Accra and transport to Cape Coast.
Is Kotoka airport the same as Accra International Airport?
Yes. Many university pages still use the Kotoka name, but it's the same airport, and the code is still ACC.
Do international students need a permit to study in Ghana?
Yes. The Ghana Immigration Service says a foreign national admitted to a Ghanaian school is required by law to get a student permit for the length of their studies. You'll also need a Non-Citizen Ghana Card.
Can a student drive a rental car in Ghana?
For up to 90 days you can drive on your home licence plus an International Driving Permit, according to Citi Newsroom. After 90 days you count as a resident and must convert to a Ghanaian licence through the DVLA. Rental firms also set their own age and licence rules.
Next steps
Check your university's pickup dates first. If they don't fit your flight, compare firms on our Accra International Airport transfer page, send them your flight number and campus address, and get the driver's details, price and waiting-time terms in writing before you fly.
Sources
- Vital information for fresh international undergraduate students, 2026/2027 (arrival dates, airport pickup, airport taxis, Non-Citizen Ghana Card; checked 25 October 2026) (University of Ghana, International Programmes Office)
- Admissions: airport pickup and drop-off at the start and end of every semester, at no extra cost (checked 25 October 2026) (University of Ghana, International Programmes Office)
- KNUST begins Safe Arrivals for freshmen; senior management commends Accra team (6 October 2026) (KNUST University Relations Office)
- KNUST Students' Affairs holds in-house meeting ahead of 2026 safe arrival for freshmen (19 December 2025) (KNUST University Relations Office)
- Pre-departure: arrival, airport greeting and visa (checked 25 October 2026) (University of Cape Coast, Office of International Relations)
- Academic calendar for exchange students (airport pickups only on stipulated dates; latest calendar shown is 2019/2020, checked 25 October 2026) (University of Cape Coast)
- Ghana travel advice: safety and security (safety at airports, confirming your driver's ID, road travel after dark; checked 25 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
- Ghana travel advice: entry requirements (visa, yellow fever certificate, non-citizen Ghana card; checked 25 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
- Residence Permit (Student): requirements (checked 25 October 2026) (Ghana Immigration Service (GIS))
- Explainer: how to get a driver's licence in Ghana in 2026 (visitors: home licence plus IDP for up to 90 days; residents convert) (Citi Newsroom)
Last checked: 25 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.
Related guides
Kumasi Airport Arrivals: Prempeh I International Airport Pickups and Car Hire & Rental
Arriving at Kumasi's Prempeh I International Airport (KMS): who flies there, the 2024 terminal, opening hours, meeting your driver safely and car hire & rental.
Photo: Sean MENDIS, CC BY-SA 4.0
