--- title: "Ghana Spouse of a citizen requirements 2026: 4-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/spouse-of-citizen/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Ghana · Spouse visas # Ghana Spouse of a citizen **First stay:** 4 yrs Residence Permit (Dependant) for the spouse of a Ghanaian national Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 4 yrs (Ghana residence permits are granted for up to four years in the first instance, and the immigration officer decides the length. The Immigration Act 2000 allows a residence permit of up to eight years in total, and a four-year permit can be extended for a further period of up to four years.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport ## Key facts Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Ghana. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** GHS 388 ≈ $33 - **First stay:** 4 yrs ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: GHS 388 ≈ $33** - GHS 388 (≈ $33) Residence permit (dependant) fee for nationals other than ECOWAS citizens; GHS 259 (≈ $22) for ECOWAS citizens. **Renewal: Renewable, 8 years max** A residence permit is first granted for up to four years, and the Immigration Act allows permits of up to eight years in total. [Parliament of Ghana](https://repository.parliament.gh/server/api/core/bitstreams/65703ca0-e98b-429c-9636-ea8a2602d7c8/content) [Ghana Immigration Service](https://gis.gov.gh/faq-2/) **Permanent residence: After 3 years of residence** A foreign spouse of a Ghanaian citizen qualifies for indefinite residence after 12 months of residence immediately before applying plus at least two years of residence before that. You must hold a valid residence permit and intend to settle permanently. [Parliament of Ghana](https://repository.parliament.gh/server/api/core/bitstreams/65703ca0-e98b-429c-9636-ea8a2602d7c8/content) **Citizenship: Conditions** The foreign spouse of a Ghanaian citizen can apply to be registered as a citizen; the Minister may ask you to show the marriage is genuine. [Ghana Immigration Service](https://gis.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legal-Handbook-2016.pdf) **Where to apply: Inside the country** Ghana issues residence permits to people who have already been lawfully admitted to the country, so you apply after you arrive. [Parliament of Ghana](https://repository.parliament.gh/server/api/core/bitstreams/65703ca0-e98b-429c-9636-ea8a2602d7c8/content) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Time on this route is capped at 8 years in total ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is the spouse of a Ghanaian national who has acquired a foreign passport. - The spouse has been married for more than four years. #### What you must show and pay - **A fee of GHS 388 (≈ $33)** · Residence permit (dependant) fee for nationals other than ECOWAS citizens; GHS 259 (≈ $22) for ECOWAS citizens. #### Documents - Application letter requesting a residence permit and two passport-size photographs. - Copy of the marriage certificate and copy of the applicant's Non-Citizen Identification card. - Copy of a bank statement or indenture. - Letter of support from the principal guarantor. - Two guarantors with copies of their Ghanaian passport or national identification card. #### Steps 1. The applicant signs a bond form at the closest Immigration Office. ## When you become tax resident How Ghana decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Foreign-source income:** A resident individual's assessable income is worldwide income from all sources, taxed on a progressive scale reaching 35% above GHS 600,000 (≈ $51,000) a year; a non-resident individual is taxed on Ghana-source income at 25%. [All tax rules for Ghana](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Bank account / funds** Copy of a bank statement or indenture - **Police certificate and civil documents** Copy of the marriage certificate and copy of the applicant's Non-Citizen Identification card Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Dependant permit for the spouse of a Ghanaian national who has acquired a foreign passport. A spouse is eligible when married for more than four years. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of GHS 388 (≈ $33) · Residence permit (dependant) fee for nationals other than ECOWAS citizens; GHS 259 (≈ $22) for ECOWAS citizens. (source 2) #### Requirements - The applicant is the spouse of a Ghanaian national who has acquired a foreign passport. (source 1) - The spouse has been married for more than four years. (source 1) - Application letter requesting a residence permit and two passport-size photographs. (source 1) - Copy of the marriage certificate and copy of the applicant's Non-Citizen Identification card. (source 1) - Copy of a bank statement or indenture. (source 1) - Letter of support from the principal guarantor. (source 1) - Two guarantors with copies of their Ghanaian passport or national identification card. (source 1) - The applicant signs a bond form at the closest Immigration Office. (source 1) #### Stay - Ghana residence permits are granted for up to four years in the first instance, and the immigration officer decides the length. The Immigration Act 2000 allows a residence permit of up to eight years in total, and a four-year permit can be extended for a further period of up to four years. - First stay: up to 48 months, decided case by case. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Family Children and other dependants can also receive the dependant permit. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Residence Permit (Dependant)](https://gis.gov.gh/service/residence-permit-dependant/) · Ghana Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Immigration Service fees and charges (review of fees, effective 15 May 2025)](https://gis.gov.gh/fees-and-charges/) · Ghana Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 3. [ECOWAS Member States](https://www.ecowas.int/member-states/) · Economic Community of West African States · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Frequently asked questions: residence permits](https://gis.gov.gh/faq-2/) · Ghana Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), sections 13, 15, 16 and 18](https://repository.parliament.gh/server/api/core/bitstreams/65703ca0-e98b-429c-9636-ea8a2602d7c8/content) · Parliament of Ghana · checked 2026-10-12 6. [Immigration Regulations, 2001 (L.I. 1691), regulation 9](https://gis.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legal-Handbook-2016.pdf) · Ghana Immigration Service (Legal Handbook) · checked 2026-10-11 7. [Citizenship Act, 2000 (Act 591), sections 10, 13 and 14](https://gis.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legal-Handbook-2016.pdf) · Ghana Immigration Service (Legal Handbook) · checked 2026-10-11 ## Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spouse of a citizen | – | 4 yr, renewable | – | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/morocco/spouse-of-citizen/) Morocco | – | – | – | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/spouse-of-citizen/) South Africa | – | – | Limited | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/spouse-of-citizen/) Mauritius | – | 2 yr | – | | [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/family-reunification/) Cabo Verde | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen? A fee of GHS 388 (≈ $33). Residence permit (dependant) fee for nationals other than ECOWAS citizens; GHS 259 (≈ $22) for ECOWAS citizens. ### How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen? Ghana residence permits are granted for up to four years in the first instance, and the immigration officer decides the length. ### Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen? Children and other dependants can also receive the dependant permit. ### Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Ghana? Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Ghana, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. ### How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Ghana? No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: A resident individual's assessable income is worldwide income from all sources, taxed on a progressive scale reaching 35% above GHS 600,000 (≈ $51,000) a year; a non-resident individual is taxed on Ghana-source income at 25%. ## More in Ghana [Investor · $200k joint venture](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/gipc-joint-enterprise-usd-200k/) [Investor · $1M trading firm](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/gipc-trading-usd-1m/) [Company work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/work-residence-permit-company/) [PR via marriage](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ghana/spouse-of-citizen-indefinite-residence/) ## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere [🇳🇬 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/nigeria/spouse-of-citizen/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Residence Permit (Dependant)](https://gis.gov.gh/service/residence-permit-dependant/) · Ghana Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Immigration Service fees and charges (review of fees, effective 15 May 2025)](https://gis.gov.gh/fees-and-charges/) · Ghana Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 3. [ECOWAS Member States](https://www.ecowas.int/member-states/) · Economic Community of West African States · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Frequently asked questions: residence permits](https://gis.gov.gh/faq-2/) · Ghana Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), sections 13, 15, 16 and 18](https://repository.parliament.gh/server/api/core/bitstreams/65703ca0-e98b-429c-9636-ea8a2602d7c8/content) · Parliament of Ghana · checked 2026-10-12 6. [Immigration Regulations, 2001 (L.I. 1691), regulation 9](https://gis.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legal-Handbook-2016.pdf) · Ghana Immigration Service (Legal Handbook) · checked 2026-10-11 7. [Citizenship Act, 2000 (Act 591), sections 10, 13 and 14](https://gis.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legal-Handbook-2016.pdf) · Ghana Immigration Service (Legal Handbook) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.