A residence permit is an authorization granted to a holder to live in Ghana for the duration of time specified in the permit. The holder may, within the validity of the permit, travel in and out of Ghana as many times without the need for a visa. They may also stay in Ghana for as long as the permit remains valid, and may engage in activities specified in the permit.

You can get a residence permit if you qualify for an appropriate permit classification. You must apply on the appropriate application form, pay government fees, attach all relevant documents, and submit your application at the appropriate immigration office. Obtaining a residence permit in Ghana must be tied to a permissible purpose. For example, a residence permit may be obtained for purposes of study, employment, self-employment, studies, retirement, religious activities, etc.

There is no one fee for all residence permits. The fee payable is dependent on the classification of permit and other factors. Your nationality, for example, may impact on the fee you may pay. For example, Ghanaians with foreign passports and ECOWAS citizens are generally subject to lower fees than their counterparts elsewhere. Additionally, permits for certain dependents might be lower than that of certain principal applicants. Also, the type of permit determines the government fee that attaches to it. For example, a residence permit for work may differ from a permit obtained for purposes of retirement. A list of government fees for all permits can be found here https://www.gis.gov.gh/fees_charges.html

A residence permit allows the holder to live in Ghana for purposes specified in the permit. A residence permit does not authorize the holder to pursue any work, employment, business, trade, or profession unless such authorisation is specified in the permit.   Again, the holder may travel in and out of Ghana for as many times within the validity of the permit. Provided the permit is valid, they may engage in multiple travels in and out of Ghana without the need to obtain a visa.

A residence permit may be issued for up to four years in the first instance. The duration of permit granted is determined by an immigration officer. There is no specified guidance to assess how long a permit may be granted. In practice, most applications are generally granted for a year.

A residence permit is not the same as a visa. A residence permit is an authorization granted to a noncitizen to reside in Ghana for the period of time stated in the permit. To be eligible, they must show an intention to live in Ghana for a specified purpose.

A visa on the other hand is granted to a noncitizen by a Ghana mission abroad. Whiles visas are issued by consular officers abroad, the period of stay granted to a traveller to stay in Ghana is determined by an immigration officer. A visa does not guarantee entry to Ghana. A person may be denied entry if they fail to satisfy the immigration officer that they meet the conditions of entry to Ghana. A noncitizen who enters Ghana would usually be admitted for a period of 60 or 90 days depending on their nationality. If they wish to reside in Ghana for a substantial period of time, (usually more than 90 days) they must obtain a residence permit. Accordion Content

The length of time within which a noncitizen may obtain residence generally depends on the type of permit they are applying for. Although there are no clearly defined processing times, the processing of a permit may generally take between 8 to 10 weeks.