Medical Certificates To Be Obtained In-Country

The situation

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has issued a directive, effective February 15, which requires first time applicants for Work and Residence Permits to obtain their medical certificates from the GIS Medical Facility in Accra.

A closer look

• Prior rule. Previously, applicants for Work and Residence Permits were allowed to provide medical certificates from their countries of origin which enabled the work and residence permit process to be started prior to their arrival in the country.
• Background. The directive is aimed at streamlining and regulating the issuance of Work and Residence Permits in the country, as well as protecting public health by ensuring that the medical certificates are not fraudulent.
• Impact on foreign nationals. Applicants for Work and Residence Permits will incur additional costs since they will have to travel to Ghana to undergo their medical examination at the GIS headquarters and then leave the country to apply for their work and residence permit outside of Ghana. Foreign nationals should also anticipate that the personal appearance requirement will increase the amount of time that it will take to file a work or residence permit applications and therefore delay work start dates.
• Looking ahead. Fragomen will provide further details as soon as they are released, including whether foreign nationals who enter Ghana for their medical examinations will be able to work while awaiting the outcome of their Work and Residence Permits.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to africainfo@fragomen.com.