Ghana: Proposed Changes to Require Applicants' Presence in Ghana Prior to Applying for a Work Permit

The Ghana Immigration Service has proposed a new rule that would require foreign nationals to be in Ghana to submit a work permit application (except for in-quota work permit applications). Under the proposed changes, applicants would need to enter Ghana with an approved entry visa, submit their work permit application using their original passport including the work permit fee in person (the passport would be returned to the applicant on the same day) at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and lastly, would need to undergo a medical assessment and pay the related fees at the GIS Medical Centre. Foreign nationals would not be able to start working until the work permit has been processed and approved, which can take up to six weeks. Currently, foreign nationals can apply for a work permit from outside Ghana, undergo a medical assessment after the approval of their work permit, and start work after that. Employers should take note of the proposed changes that may result in longer adjudication times for application outcomes. We will monitor and report on related developments.