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Residence & citizenship

Ghanaian Right of Abode

A settled-residence status for former Ghanaians and people of African descent in the diaspora, giving the right to live in Ghana permanently, enter without a visa and work without a permit.

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Under review — check current rules

The GIS service page does not itself publish the qualifying residence period (widely reported elsewhere as 7 years with 2 continuous) or any fee; confirm qualifying periods and fees with GIS before stating them.

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
Right of Abode
Route type
Settled residence status
Granted by
Minister of the Interior, with approval of the President
Applied through
Director of Immigration
Eligible groups
Former Ghanaians; persons of African descent in the diaspora

Who it is for

  • Former Ghanaians (by birth, adoption, registration or naturalisation) who lost citizenship on acquiring a foreign nationality
  • Persons of African descent in the diaspora

Requirements

  • Completed application form
  • Two current passport-sized photographs
  • Letter of application from the sponsor / applicant
  • Attestation letter from two Ghanaians who are Notaries Public, lawyers or senior public officers, with copies of their national ID
  • Passport photocopy (bio-data and residence permit pages)
  • Ghana police clearance and non-citizen ID card
  • Former Ghanaians: renunciation certificate, evidence of property, auto-biography and birth certificate
  • Africans in the diaspora: evidence of contribution to Ghanaian economic development (shares, bank statements, audited accounts, employment provided) plus company registration, audited accounts, tax clearance and SSNIT returns, and a medical report from the GIS clinic

What you can do

  • Reside permanently in Ghana
  • Enter Ghana without a visa
  • Work or be employed without a work permit

How to apply

An application is made to the Minister of the Interior through the Director of Immigration, in person, on the appropriate form with all relevant supporting documents. The grant requires the approval of the President.

Frequently asked questions

  • No. It is a form of indefinite residence that removes visa and work-permit restrictions, but it is not a grant of Ghanaian citizenship.

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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