Deep coverage14 verified routes across visit, study, work, investment, family and more.
Personalize for your passports
Select the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Ghana.
5 routes
Visit
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Visa-Free Entry for African Passport Holders
We can submit this for you
Ghana grants visa-free entry to all African passport holders for tourism and business, a policy first announced in early 2025 and consolidated alongside the e-Visa launch on 28 May 2026. ECOWAS nationals continue to enjoy visa-free stays of up to 90 days under the existing protocol, while other African nationals are admitted without a visa for short visits. No visa fee applies. Travellers must still hold a valid passport and a yellow fever vaccination certificate and may be examined at the border; the entry does not authorise employment or long-term residence. Maximum stay on entry is set by the Immigration officer and is commonly up to 90 days for ECOWAS and shorter for some other African nationalities.
Max stay
90 days
Document checklist (5)
PassportValid African passport, valid for at least six months beyond entry.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateValid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever, required for entry into Ghana.
Return or onward ticketOptionalEvidence of onward or return travel.
Proof of accommodationOptionalHotel booking or host address, which may be requested at the border.
Proof of sufficient fundsOptionalEvidence of means to support the stay, which may be requested at the border.
Tourist Visa
Ghana e-Visa (Tourist)
We can submit this for you
Ghana's electronic visa for tourism and visiting family or friends, applied for online through the Ghana Immigration Service e-Visa portal launched on 28 May 2026. Standard processing is stated as 96 hours, with the approved visa authorisation delivered by email; an express option is also advertised. The tourist visa is typically issued single-entry for stays of up to 60 days, with the visa fee (around USD 60 single-entry at embassy schedules) plus an online service charge. African passport holders are exempt from visa requirements for tourism and business and so do not use this product. The visa does not authorise employment or study and does not lead to residence.
Government fee
$60
Processing time
4 days
Max stay
60 days
Validity
90 days
Document checklist (7)
PassportValid for at least six months beyond the intended date of entry, with at least one blank page.
Passport photographRecent passport-sized colour photograph uploaded to the online application.
Completed online applicatione-Visa application form completed on evisa.immigration.gov.gh with personal and travel details.
Proof of accommodationHotel booking or host invitation/address in Ghana for the duration of the stay.
Return or onward ticketEvidence of travel arrangements out of Ghana.
Proof of sufficient fundsOptionalEvidence of financial means to cover the stay, such as a recent bank statement.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateValid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever, required for entry into Ghana.
Tourist Visa
Emergency Entry Visa / Visa on Arrival
We can submit this for you
Where a traveller arrives at a Ghanaian port of entry without a prior visa, an Emergency Entry Visa (EEV) or visa on arrival may be granted at the discretion of an Immigration officer, subject to conditions prescribed in the regulations. It is intended for genuine emergencies and pre-arranged cases rather than as a routine substitute for an advance visa, and applicants generally need a Ghanaian sponsor who has lodged a request with the Ghana Immigration Service before travel. The GIS fee schedule lists the Emergency Entry/EEV visa at USD 200. It permits a short stay only and does not authorise work or residence.
Government fee
$200
Processing time
0 days
Max stay
30 days
Validity
30 days
Document checklist (5)
PassportValid for at least six months beyond entry, with a blank page.
Sponsor's EEV requestPre-arrival request lodged with the Ghana Immigration Service by a Ghanaian sponsor or host organisation.
Return or onward ticketEvidence of travel out of Ghana.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateValid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
Proof of accommodationOptionalAddress or host details in Ghana.
Transit Visa
Ghana Transit Visa
We can submit this for you
A short transit authorisation for travellers passing through Ghana on the way to another destination who need to enter Ghanaian territory between connections. It is available through the e-Visa portal and is typically valid for a stay of up to 48 hours. The Ghana Immigration Service fee schedule lists a Transit Permit at USD 50, while embassy schedules cite about USD 40 for the transit visa. A confirmed onward ticket and (where required) a valid visa for the onward destination must be shown.
Government fee
$40
Processing time
5 days
Max stay
2 days
Validity
30 days
Document checklist (5)
PassportValid for at least six months beyond the date of entry, with a blank page.
Confirmed onward ticketTicket showing onward travel from Ghana within the transit period.
Visa for onward destinationValid entry visa for the final destination country, where one is required.
Completed applicationTransit visa application submitted online or at a mission.
Business Visitor Visa
Ghana e-Visa (Business)
We can submit this for you
The business category of Ghana's e-Visa, for short business trips such as meetings, negotiations, conferences and trade activity, applied for online through the Ghana Immigration Service portal. It is available single-entry or multiple-entry (up to 12 months at embassy schedules), with the standard 96-hour processing window plus an online service charge. Embassy fee schedules list business visas around USD 100 single-entry and USD 200 for multiple-entry. The visa permits business activity but not local employment, which requires a work and residence permit. African passport holders are exempt and do not use this product.
Government fee
$100
Processing time
4 days
Max stay
60 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
PassportValid for at least six months beyond the intended date of entry, with at least one blank page.
Passport photographRecent passport-sized colour photograph uploaded to the online application.
Completed online applicatione-Visa business application completed on evisa.immigration.gov.gh.
Business invitation letterLetter from the host company or organisation in Ghana stating the purpose and duration of the visit.
Proof of accommodationHotel booking or host company address for the duration of the visit.
Return or onward ticketEvidence of travel arrangements out of Ghana.
Yellow fever vaccination certificateValid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever, required for entry into Ghana.
Not yet researched
Medical Treatment Visa
Pilgrimage Visa
1 route
Study & Training
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
Student Residence Permit
We can submit this for you
A residence permit for foreign nationals admitted to a recognised Ghanaian institution of higher learning, issued by the Ghana Immigration Service for the duration of the academic programme and renewed annually. Applicants first enter on an appropriate entry visa and then register for the student residence permit, with the institution submitting a supporting application to the Comptroller-General of Immigration. The GIS fee schedule lists the student residence permit application at GH¢259.00 for other nationals (lower for ECOWAS nationals and Ghanaians with foreign passports). Processing typically takes about two to four weeks. The permit allows residence for study but not general employment.
Study: Permits full-time enrolled study at the named recognised institution.
Government fee
GHS 259
Processing time
21 days
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (8)
Application letter from the schoolLetter from the institution addressed to the Comptroller-General of Immigration supporting the application.
Admission letterCopy of the admission letter from the recognised Ghanaian institution.
School fees receiptsCopies of receipts evidencing payment of school fees.
Residence permit formCompleted residence permit application form with the passport bio-data page attached.
PassportValid passport with bio-data page, valid for the period of study.
Medical reportOptionalMedical report, where required by the Immigration Service.
Police clearance certificateOptionalPolice clearance from the applicant's home country, where required.
Not yet researched
Language Course Visa
Internship / Trainee Visa
Exchange Program Visa
1 route
Work & Self-Employment
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Skilled Work Visa
Work and Residence Permit (Companies)
We can submit this for you
The standard route for a foreign national employed by a company in Ghana to work and reside lawfully, applied for by the employer to the Comptroller-General of Immigration. It combines authorisation to work with a residence permit and is typically issued for one to two years and renewed. The Ghana Immigration Service fee schedule lists the work permit (companies) residence permit at USD 1,293 for other nationals (USD 647 for ECOWAS), with separate work-permit and quota considerations; total cost varies by case. Processing usually takes around four to six weeks. The employer must be a registered, tax-compliant company, and the permit is tied to that employment.
Work: Authorises employment with the sponsoring company in the approved role.
Residency after 7 years
Family: Spouse and children may apply for dependant residence permits.
Processing time
42 days
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (12)
Application letterApplication letter to the Comptroller-General of Immigration from the sponsoring company.
Certificate of business registrationCertificate of Incorporation, Certificate to Commence Business and Business Code of the employer.
GIPC registration certificateGhana Investment Promotion Centre registration certificate of the company.
Company tax clearance certificateCurrent tax clearance certificate of the employing company.
Company audited accountsAudited accounts of the company for the previous year.
Offer / appointment letterOffer letter, appointment letter or contract of employment for the foreign employee.
Passport bio-data pageCopy of the bio-data page of the employee's passport.
Curriculum vitaeCurriculum vitae or resume of the employee.
Professional and educational certificatesCopies of the employee's professional and educational qualifications.
Medical reportMedical report from the Ghana Immigration Clinic, Accra.
Police report from home countryPolice clearance/character report from the employee's home country.
Letter of support from sector ministryOptionalSupport letter from the relevant Ministry, Department or Agency.
Not yet researched
Digital Nomad Visa
Freelancer Visa
Self-Employment Visa
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Seasonal Work Visa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
2 routes
Invest & Capital
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Business Investor Visa
Immigrant Quota (Discretionary)
We can submit this for you
A discretionary immigrant quota allocated by the authorities to a company or enterprise that needs to employ more expatriates than its automatic GIPC quota allows, granted case by case with justification of the need for foreign skills. It underpins work and residence permits for the named positions and is reviewed periodically. The Ghana Immigration Service fee schedule lists the immigrant quota residence permit at USD 647 for other nationals (USD 500 for ECOWAS). Approval is at the discretion of the Centre and Immigration Service, and quotas are time-bound and subject to renewal and to demonstrating continued need.
Work: Authorises employment in the approved quota position with the sponsoring company.
Residency after 7 years
Family: Dependants may apply for dependant residence permits.
Government fee
$647
Processing time
56 days
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Quota application / justificationApplication to the GIPC/Immigration Service justifying the need for additional expatriate positions.
GIPC registration certificateEvidence of the company's GIPC registration.
Certificate of business registrationCertificate of Incorporation and Certificate to Commence Business.
Company tax clearance certificateCurrent tax clearance certificate.
Company audited accountsAudited accounts for the previous year.
Passport bio-data pageCopy of the passport bio-data page of the proposed expatriate.
Offer / appointment letterContract or appointment letter for the foreign employee.
Business Investor Visa
GIPC Automatic Immigrant Quota (Work & Residence)
We can submit this for you
Companies registered with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) receive an automatic immigrant quota allowing them to employ foreign nationals in proportion to their paid-up capital, used to obtain work and residence permits without labour-market testing. Indicative allocations are one expatriate for paid-up capital of USD 50,000-250,000, two for USD 250,000-500,000, three for USD 500,000-750,000 and four for USD 750,000-1 million. The GIS fee schedule lists the GIPC automatic quota residence permit at USD 500 for other nationals. The quota is not position-specific and does not itself need renewal, though the individual residence permits are renewed periodically. A planned GIPC Act reform may remove the minimum-capital threshold.
Work: Authorises the quota holder to work for the sponsoring GIPC-registered company.
Residency after 7 years
Family: Dependants may apply for dependant residence permits.
Government fee
$500
Processing time
42 days
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Min. investment
$50,000,000
Document checklist (8)
GIPC registration certificateCertificate showing the company is registered with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the quota granted.
Certificate of business registrationCertificate of Incorporation and Certificate to Commence Business of the company.
Evidence of paid-up capitalBank confirmation or audited evidence of the foreign equity / capital satisfying the quota threshold.
Company tax clearance certificateCurrent tax clearance certificate of the company.
Passport bio-data pageCopy of the bio-data page of each expatriate employee's passport.
Offer / appointment letterContract of employment or appointment letter for the foreign employee.
Medical reportMedical report from the Ghana Immigration Clinic, Accra.
Police report from home countryPolice clearance/character report for the foreign employee.
Not yet researched
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Residence by Real Estate
Citizenship by Investment
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
No verified routes yet
Retire & Lifestyle
Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Not yet researched
Retirement Visa
Working Holiday Visa
3 routes
Family & Origin
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Spouse / Partner Visa
Indefinite Residence (Spouse of Ghanaian)
We can submit this for you
A more benevolent route to Indefinite Residence Status for foreign nationals married to Ghanaian citizens. Compared with the standard category, the spouse route can be granted after a shorter period of residence and does not require the applicant to show a substantial contribution to Ghana's development. The application begins at Ghana Immigration Service headquarters, with the report submitted to the Minister for the Interior for approval, and is generally adjudicated in about three to six months. The GIS fee schedule lists indefinite residence for spouses of Ghanaians at GH¢ 5,000. The status allows the holder to live and work in Ghana indefinitely but does not by itself confer citizenship.
Work: Holder may live and work in Ghana without a separate work permit.
Study: May study in Ghana.
Residency: Already permanent residence; marriage to a Ghanaian can, separately and subject to law, support a later citizenship/registration application.
Family: Granted on the basis of marriage to a Ghanaian; children's status is handled separately.
Government fee
GHS 5,000
Processing time
180 days
Document checklist (8)
Completed application formIndefinite residence application form completed in full.
Application letterApplication letter from the foreign-national applicant.
Support letter from spouseLetter of support from the Ghanaian spouse.
Marriage certificateMarriage certificate evidencing the union with the Ghanaian spouse.
Spouse's birth certificate / proof of citizenshipBirth certificate or other proof of the spouse's Ghanaian citizenship.
Passport photographsTwo current passport-sized photographs.
Attestation by two GhanaiansAttestation by two Ghanaians who are notaries public, lawyers or senior public officers.
Police clearance certificateOptionalEvidence of good conduct.
Dependent Relative Visa
Dependant Residence Permit
We can submit this for you
A residence permit for dependants of expatriates and of Ghanaian nationals who hold foreign passports, including spouses, children and other dependants, allowing them to reside in Ghana in line with the principal's status. Spouses are eligible for this permit when married for more than four years. The application is supported by a principal guarantor and two Ghanaian guarantors, and the applicant signs a bond at the nearest Immigration office. The GIS fee schedule lists the dependant residence permit at GH¢388.00 for other nationals (lower for ECOWAS and Ghanaians with foreign passports). It authorises residence as a dependant but not, by itself, employment.
Study: Dependants, including children, may attend school in Ghana.
Residency after 7 years
Family: This permit is itself the family route, issued to spouses, children and other dependants.
Government fee
GHS 388
Processing time
28 days
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (11)
Application letterLetter requesting a residence permit as a dependant.
Passport photographsTwo passport-sized photographs of the applicant.
Marriage certificateOptionalCopy of marriage certificate, where the dependant is a spouse.
Birth certificate of childOptionalCopy of the child's birth certificate, where the dependant is a child.
Letter of consent from parentsOptionalConsent letter from the child's parents, where applicable.
Statutory declaration by guardianOptionalAffidavit by guardian sworn at the High Court, where applicable.
Two Ghanaian guarantorsTwo guarantors with copies of their Ghanaian passport or national ID card.
Letter of support from principal guarantorSupport letter from the principal guarantor (the sponsoring expatriate or Ghanaian).
Bond formBond form signed at the closest Immigration office.
Non-citizen identification cardOptionalCopy of the applicant's Non-Citizen Identification card.
Bank statement / indentureOptionalCopy of bank statement or indenture evidencing support.
Ancestry / Repatriation
Right of Abode
We can submit this for you
The Right of Abode, created by the Immigration Act 2000, grants indefinite residence in Ghana to persons of African descent in the diaspora and to former Ghanaians who lost their citizenship by acquiring a foreign nationality. It is a hallmark of Ghana's diaspora-engagement policy and allows the holder to enter, live and work in Ghana indefinitely without a visa or work permit, while stopping short of conferring Ghanaian citizenship. The application is a formal request to the Minister for the Interior, supported by due diligence carried out by the Ghana Immigration Service, and typically takes about six months after the due-diligence report. The GIS fee schedule lists the Right of Abode between roughly GH¢ 1,940 and GH¢ 3,879.
Work: Holder may live and work in Ghana indefinitely without a visa or work permit.
Study: May study in Ghana.
Residency: Confers indefinite right to reside; does not by itself make the holder a Ghanaian citizen.
Government fee
GHS 3,879
Processing time
180 days
Document checklist (8)
Application letter to the MinisterFormal letter to the Minister for the Interior requesting Right of Abode.
Proof of African descent or former Ghanaian citizenshipEvidence of African ancestry or of former Ghanaian citizenship lost through acquiring a foreign nationality.
Valid passportCopy of the applicant's valid passport bio-data page.
Lawful residence in GhanaEvidence of lawful residence in Ghana (valid entry or residence permit) at the time of application.
Police clearance certificateRecent comprehensive criminal background check from the country of residence (e.g. FBI check for US applicants), usually less than six months old.
Two Ghanaian refereesGood-character references from two Ghanaians of standing.
Evidence of financial meansOptionalEvidence of financial means or independent livelihood.
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Religious Worker Visa
Work Permit (Missionaries / NGOs)
We can submit this for you
A work and residence permit category for foreign missionaries and staff of non-governmental and religious organisations operating in Ghana. The sponsoring mission, church or NGO applies to the Ghana Immigration Service, which assesses the organisation's registration and the role. The GIS fee schedule lists the missionaries/NGOs work permit at USD 388 for other nationals. It is typically issued annually and renewed, and authorises the holder to carry out the approved religious or charitable work for the named organisation. It does not by itself confer Ghanaian citizenship or indefinite residence.
Work: Authorises the approved religious or charitable work for the named organisation.
Residency after 7 years
Family: Dependants may apply for dependant residence permits.
Government fee
$388
Processing time
42 days
Max stay
365 days
Validity
365 days
Document checklist (7)
Application letterApplication from the mission, church or NGO to the Comptroller-General of Immigration.
Organisation registrationEvidence of registration of the religious body or NGO with the relevant Ghanaian authorities.
Passport bio-data pageCopy of the bio-data page of the applicant's passport.
Medical reportMedical report from the Ghana Immigration Clinic, Accra.
Police report from home countryPolice clearance/character report from the applicant's home country.
Letter of appointment / assignmentLetter from the organisation describing the role and term of assignment.
Permanent Residence
Indefinite Residence Status
We can submit this for you
Indefinite Residence Status is Ghana's permanent-residence category, allowing a foreign national to reside in Ghana without time limit. Under the Immigration Act 2000, an applicant generally must have lawfully resided in Ghana for at least seven years, including continuous residence for the twelve months immediately before applying and residence for at least five of the preceding seven years, hold a valid residence permit, show good conduct with no conviction carrying twelve months' imprisonment or more, and demonstrate a substantial contribution to Ghana. The Minister for the Interior exercises final discretion. The GIS fee schedule lists the indefinite resident permit from GH¢ 10,000 upward (with a higher band for some applicants).
Work: Indefinite residents may live and work in Ghana without a separate work permit.
Study: May study in Ghana.
Residency: This is itself permanent residence; it may, over time and subject to law, support a later citizenship application, which is separate and discretionary.
Government fee
GHS 10,000
Processing time
180 days
Document checklist (8)
Application letterApplication letter from the applicant requesting Indefinite Residence Status.
Completed application formIndefinite residence application form completed in full.
Passport photographsTwo current passport-sized photographs.
Valid residence permitEvidence of a valid residence permit held at the time of application.
Proof of qualifying residenceEvidence of at least seven years' lawful residence, including the required continuous periods.
Police clearance certificateEvidence of good conduct / no disqualifying conviction.
Evidence of contribution to GhanaDocuments showing substantial contribution to Ghana's development or economy.
Attestation by two GhanaiansAttestation by two Ghanaians who are notaries public, lawyers or senior public officers.
Africa
