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Residence & citizenship

Ghanaian Indefinite Residence Status

Permanent-residence status allowing a foreign national to remain in Ghana indefinitely, enter without a visa and work without a work permit.

Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
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Under review — check current rules

GIS does not publish a fixed prior-residence duration or fee for Indefinite Residence Status on the service page; qualifying periods and fees should be confirmed with GIS before being stated.

Important information

Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Ghana government website before you apply.
On this page
Official name
Indefinite Residence Status
Route type
Permanent residence
Issuing authority
Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of the Interior
Streams
General applicants; foreign spouses of Ghanaians

Who it is for

  • Foreign nationals who wish to reside permanently in Ghana
  • General applicants such as entrepreneurs, investors and professionals
  • Foreign spouses of Ghanaian citizens

Requirements

  • Completed application form (two copies of all documents)
  • Two passport photographs
  • Attestation letters from two Ghanaians (Notaries Public, lawyers or senior public officers) with copies of their national ID
  • Passport photocopies
  • Police report from Ghana
  • Medical report from the GIS clinic
  • Non-citizen ID photocopy
  • General applicants: sponsor letter, evidence of property, company documents (audited accounts for 3 years and tax clearance for 6 years) and evidence of social contribution
  • Foreign spouses: spouse support letter with birth certificate, marriage/divorce/death certificate copies, spouse's passport photocopy, and tax clearance or evidence of financial support

What you can do

  • Remain in Ghana indefinitely
  • Enter Ghana without a visa
  • Work in Ghana as an employee or self-employed person without a work permit
  • Sponsor dependant permits for non-Ghanaian children under 18 and other dependants

How to apply

Submit the completed application, in duplicate, with all supporting documents to the Ghana Immigration Service headquarters (Ridge, Accra). Government fees are payable on application.

Frequently asked questions

  • The GIS service page lists audited accounts for the previous 3 years and tax clearance for the previous 6 years among the general-applicant requirements.

Official sources

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.

Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.

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