Residence Permit
Student
A foreign national admitted to a school in Ghana must by law hold a student permit to live in Ghana for the length of the course. The school applies to the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) with the admission letter and fee receipts. The applicant also needs a Non-Citizen Identification card. GIS fees are lower for ECOWAS nationals than for other nationals.
Life in Ghana
Money
3
Currency
Ghanaian Cedi
GHS
Ghanaian Cedi
Cost of living
42
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
5–35%
Income tax (national)
VAT 15%
35% applies to chargeable income above GHS 600,000 per year (GHS 50,000 per month).
Living
1
Happiness
#113 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign students admitted to a Ghanaian educational institution.
Eligibility
Admission
Admission to a school in Ghana, shown by a copy of the admission letter.
School application
An application letter from the school addressed to the Comptroller-General of GIS.
Fees paid
Copies of school fee receipts.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementNon-Citizen ID
- Document checklistApplication letter
- FeesResidence Permit (Student) - ECOWAS nationals
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 1 more requirement
- 7 documents
- 4 fees
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Ghana
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Ghana
- Visit & tourismGhana eVisa - Business (B1) and Tourist (B2); Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for African nationals
- Work permitsWork and Residence Permit
- FamilyResidence Permit
- FamilyIndefinite Residence for a foreign spouse of a Ghanaian
Study in other countries
- GreeceNational long-stay visa (type D) for studies, followed by a residence permit for studies
- CroatiaTemporary stay for the purpose of university studies
- HungaryResidence permit for the purpose of studies
- IrelandStudent permission (Stamp 2) for full-time degree programmes
- IcelandResidence permit for students
- ItalyNational (D) visa for study - university enrolment
