Ghana: Visa and immigration

Do I need a visa and/or work permit?

UK nationals must have a visa in order to enter Ghana. Visas are granted for the purposes of tourism, study, business and transit and you must make sure you obtain the correct one to suit your circumstances.

If you enter Ghana on a tourist visa you are not allowed to undertake any paid work while in the country. Ghana has Immigrant Quotas which dictate the amount of immigrants allowed in each profession. Immigrant Quota permission must be obtained before going to Ghana and the appropriate work visa must also be sought.

If you are going to Ghana on business purposes you must produce evidence of this, i.e. a letter from the employer or company.

Most visas are valid for a period of three months, although visas lasting for one year are available for specific purposes. Visas can be granted for single or multiple entry. Overstaying on your visa without proper authority is a serious matter and may lead to detention or refusal to allow you to leave the country until a fine is paid. 

How do I apply for a visa and/or work permit?

Applications for each type of visa can be made online at the Ghana High Commission  website. It also gives details of the requirements for obtaining a visa. 

Professionals (doctors, lawyers, nurses) are required to provide particulars of their qualifications to determine the eligibility of their registration.

If you are not a UK national, contact the Ghanaian embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits.

You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in Ghana. 

How do I apply for permanent residency?

You can only apply for permanent residency if:

• you are married to a Ghanaian who has lived in Ghana for five years or more and you wish to stay indefinitely;
• if you have resided in Ghana for more than ten years and have made a substantial contribution to the Ghanaian economy.

If you fulfill one of the above criteria and would like to apply for permanent residency you must complete the relevant application form and provide several pieces of documentation. For more information see the Ghana Immigration Service .