Your rights, in plain words.
For everyone, local citizens and immigrant communities alike. Describe what is happening the way you would tell a friend. Plainright explains the law that applies, the steps to take, the deadlines that matter and where to find free help.
Immigration: what you need to know now
Rules changed often in 2025 and 2026. See what changed, pick your situation, or ask about your own case.
Living in or visiting Ghana: the essentials
Ghana by the numbers
- South Africa: 90 days + 90
- Kenya: 90 days + 90
- Tanzania: 90 days
- Ghana: 30 days + 30
- Côte d'Ivoire: 90 days
Show as a table
| Country | First stay (days) | Extension (days) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 90 | 90 | 90 days visa-free; one extension through VFS Global |
| Kenya | 90 | 90 | Up to 90 days on the eTA; extendable to 180 |
| Tanzania | 90 | None | Up to 90 days per entry |
| Ghana | 30 | 30 | As granted on arrival; extensions at the Ghana Immigration Service |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 90 | None | As stated on the visa, often up to 90 days |
Sources: Department of Home Affairs (South Africa); Directorate of Immigration Services and etakenya.go.ke (Kenya); Immigration Services Department (Tanzania); Ghana Immigration Service and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ghana); SNEDAI (Côte d'Ivoire). Checked 8 November 2026. Rules for your passport may differ.
Had an accident? What to do now
Car crashes, rental cars, uninsured drivers, injuries at work, falls and dog bites: the first steps, the deadlines that protect you and who pays.
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Ghana: what to know before and after you arrive
Visas and costs, airports, getting to your hotel, renting a car, the laws that surprise visitors, buying property, getting married, what to avoid and what is important to know. Rules change often; each item links to the Ask tool for a full, current answer.
Ghana compared with the region
- South Africa: 90 days + 90
- Kenya: 90 days + 90
- Tanzania: 90 days
- Ghana: 30 days + 30
- Côte d'Ivoire: 90 days
Show as a table
| Country | First stay (days) | Extension (days) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 90 | 90 | 90 days visa-free; one extension through VFS Global |
| Kenya | 90 | 90 | Up to 90 days on the eTA; extendable to 180 |
| Tanzania | 90 | None | Up to 90 days per entry |
| Ghana | 30 | 30 | As granted on arrival; extensions at the Ghana Immigration Service |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 90 | None | As stated on the visa, often up to 90 days |
- South Africa: Free
- Kenya: US$31
- Tanzania: US$50
- Ghana: US$260
- Côte d'Ivoire: US$80
Show as a table
| Country | Cost (US$) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 0 | Free for U.S., UK, EU and Canadian citizens; R500 ETA for visa-required nationalities |
| Kenya | 31 | eTA about US$30–32.50 |
| Tanzania | 50 | US$50 single entry; US$100 multiple entry for U.S. citizens |
| Ghana | 260 | E-visa fee announced at US$260 for non-Africans; free ETA for Africans |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 80 | E-visa about €73–80, paid online |
Sources: Department of Home Affairs (South Africa); Directorate of Immigration Services and etakenya.go.ke (Kenya); Immigration Services Department (Tanzania); Ghana Immigration Service and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ghana); SNEDAI (Côte d'Ivoire). Checked 8 November 2026. Rules for your passport may differ.
- South Africa: Open to foreigners on the same terms as citizens
- Kenya: Leases of up to 99 years; no freehold
- Tanzania: No land ownership; investment land through TIC
- Ghana: Leases of up to 50 years
- Côte d'Ivoire: Urban land with ACD; rural land reserved for Ivorians
Show as a table
| Country | Foreign cap | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | None | Open to foreigners on the same terms as citizens |
| Kenya | None | Leases of up to 99 years; no freehold |
| Tanzania | None | No land ownership; investment land through TIC |
| Ghana | None | Leases of up to 50 years |
| Côte d'Ivoire | None | Urban land with ACD; rural land reserved for Ivorians |
Sources: Deeds Registries Act (South Africa); Constitution art. 65 (Kenya); Land Act 1999 (Tanzania); Constitution art. 266 and Land Act 2020 (Ghana); Law 98-750 (Côte d'Ivoire). Checked 8 November 2026.
How to spot a scam in Ghana
Scams change every month, but they share the same warning signs. If two or more of these appear together, stop and check before you pay or share anything.
Warning signs
- Pressure to act now: a deadline of minutes or hours, or a threat of arrest, deportation or a frozen account.
- Payment in an unusual way: gift cards, cryptocurrency, a personal bank account, or cash handed to a courier.
- Someone you met online, often recently, who asks for money, an investment or help moving funds.
- A caller or message claiming to be police, immigration, a court, a bank or a delivery company and asking for codes, passwords or a transfer. Real officials never ask for one-time codes.
- Returns that are guaranteed or far above normal, or a 'task' job that pays you first and then asks you to deposit money.
- A link or QR code that leads to a site that looks official but has a slightly different address.
- A request to keep it secret from your family, your bank or the police.
- An offer to 'recover' money you already lost, for an upfront fee. This is a second scam.
Common scams in Ghana
- Double sales of family land.
- Fake gold and diamond deals.
- Romance and online-dating scams.
- Copy e-visa websites.
- Street money changers.
Where to report
If it already happened: the first hour
- Stop paying and stop replying. Do not send 'one last fee'.
- Call your bank or e-wallet at once and ask them to stop or recall the transfer. Speed matters: minutes count.
- Keep the evidence: screenshots, phone numbers, account numbers, links, receipts and dates.
- Report it to the official channel listed on this page and to the police, and keep the report number.
- Change your passwords and turn on two-step verification on email, banking and social media.
- If you are a foreign national, tell your embassy or consulate; they can help with lost passports and contacts.
Real cases
Two buyers paid the same family for one plot.
How to avoid it: Search at the Lands Commission and use a lawyer.
A traveller without a certificate was vaccinated at the airport.
How to avoid it: Carry your certificate.
A visitor was offered cheap gold that turned out to be fake.
How to avoid it: Buy only from licensed dealers.
Visas and costs
- E-visa for non-African visitors; fee announced at US$260 for a tourist or business visa.
- Free electronic travel authorisation for African passport holders.
- ECOWAS citizens enter visa-free.
- Extensions at the Ghana Immigration Service.
Airports
- Accra – Kotoka International (ACC), the main gateway.
- Kumasi – Prempeh I International (KMS).
- Tamale (TML) and Takoradi (TKD) for domestic flights.
From the airport to your hotel
- Use app rides (Uber, Bolt) or hotel transfers from Kotoka.
- Agree taxi fares before leaving.
- Accra traffic is heavy at rush hour.
Renting a car or motorbike
- Driving is on the right.
- Carry an International Driving Permit.
- Many visitors hire a car with a driver.
- Avoid driving at night outside cities.
Laws and what to know
- Same-sex relations are criminalised.
- Do not photograph airports, government buildings or the military.
- Drug offences carry long prison sentences.
- Carry identification.
Buying property
- Foreigners can hold leases of up to 50 years.
- Search the title at the Lands Commission.
- Confirm the family, stool or chief has authority to sell.
- Register the lease and pay through a bank.
Getting married
- Ordinance (civil) marriage at the Registrar General's Department or a licensed place of worship.
- Notice of 21 days is usually published.
- Customary marriages can also be registered.
What to avoid
- Paying for land without a Lands Commission search.
- Copy e-visa websites.
- Changing money with street dealers.
- Romance and gold-sale scams.
Important to know
- Emergency: 112; police 191; ambulance 193; fire 192.
- Carry your yellow fever certificate.
- The Ghana Tourism Authority licenses hotels and tour operators.
Key local laws
- Constitution of Ghana, 1992 — fundamental rights and freedoms.
- Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573) — visas, permits and the Right of Abode.
- Land Act 2020 (Act 1036) — leases, registration and the Lands Commission.
- Rent Act 1963 (Act 220) — advance rent and rent disputes.
- Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) — employment and the National Labour Commission.
- Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act 2013 (Act 865) — foreign investment rules.
- Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) and Cybersecurity Act 2020 (Act 1038).
- Wills Act 1971 (Act 360) and Intestate Succession Law 1985 (PNDCL 111).
City guides
Airports, immigration offices, hospitals and local rules in the places foreigners go most.
Accra
- Airport
- Kotoka International (ACC).
- Immigration
- Ghana Immigration Service headquarters, Accra.
- Hospitals
- Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Nyaho Medical Centre, The Bank Hospital.
- Know this
- Traffic is heavy; use app rides.
Kumasi
- Airport
- Prempeh I International (KMS).
- Know this
- The Manhyia Palace and Kejetia market are busy; watch for pickpockets.
Cape Coast and Elmina
- Airport
- Road from Accra, about 3 hours.
- Know this
- Use licensed guides at the castles.
Legal topics in depth
Property, marriage, children, inheritance, work, business, taxes and arrest.
Buying land
- Foreigners hold leases of up to 50 years.
- Search the title at the Lands Commission.
- Confirm the seller's authority.
- Register the lease.
Marriage
- Ordinance marriage at the Registrar General's Department.
- Customary marriages can be registered.
- Expect 21 days' notice.
Right of Abode and diaspora
- Open to people of African descent.
- Apply to the Ministry of the Interior.
- Allows living in Ghana without a visa or permit.
Work
- Work needs a work permit and residence permit.
- Apply through the Ghana Immigration Service.
- Employers apply for the quota.
Arrest and police
- You have the right to a lawyer.
- You must be brought before a court within 48 hours.
- Ask for your consulate to be told.
Consumer rights
- Get written agreements for rentals and car purchases.
- Keep receipts.
- Complain to the Ghana Standards Authority for faulty goods.
Step by step
Office, time, cost, documents and each step for the most common procedures.
Apply for the e-visa
Bring
- Passport
- Photo
- Yellow fever certificate
- Return ticket
Steps
- Apply online
- Pay if required
- Print the approval
Extend your stay
Bring
- Passport
- Reason for extension
- Proof of funds
Steps
- Apply before your permit ends
- Keep the receipt
Register a land lease
Bring
- Lease document
- Search report
- Site plan
Steps
- Search the title
- Sign before a lawyer
- Register the lease
Real cases and scams
What actually happens to foreigners, and how to avoid it.
Two buyers paid the same family for one plot.
How to avoid it: Search at the Lands Commission and use a lawyer.
A traveller without a certificate was vaccinated at the airport.
How to avoid it: Carry your certificate.
A visitor was offered cheap gold that turned out to be fake.
How to avoid it: Buy only from licensed dealers.
A traveller paid an unofficial site.
How to avoid it: Apply only through the Ghana Immigration Service.
Fees, offices and procedures in Ghana change often. Confirm with the office or a licensed lawyer before you rely on them.
Visas and staying legal in Ghana
The 2026 e-visa platform, free travel authorisation for African passport holders, ECOWAS visa-free entry, the Right of Abode for the diaspora, land leases and overstays. Rules change often; this page was last checked on .
Choose your situation
Forms finder
| Document | What it is for | Who needs it |
|---|
Deadlines you cannot miss
| What | When | Source |
|---|
How the law works
The building blocks behind every answer: where law comes from, how common law and precedent work, how courts are organized, and the core ideas of contracts, torts and property.
Time limits
Statutes of limitations. Exceptions exist, so confirm your deadline.
| Type of claim | Deadline | Source |
|---|
Key court system facts
Legal terms in plain words
Law libraries
Read the law yourself. These free, reliable libraries hold the statutes, regulations and court decisions that Plainright cites, for Ghana.
What changed in the law
The latest visa, immigration and legal updates in Ghana that affect visitors and residents, in plain words, with who is affected and a link to the source. Updated every week; last update .
Lawyers and free help near me
When your situation is serious, urgent or involves a court deadline, speak with a licensed attorney or a nonprofit legal service. Press one button and Plainright lists three to six highly rated law offices and the immigration help centers and legal aid offices near you, anywhere in Ghana.
Talk to a lawyer licensed in Ghana
Only a lawyer licensed in Ghana can represent you in its courts and agencies. Use the finder below for highly rated law offices and free legal help, or open the map to see lawyers near you.
Find a licensed lawyer in Ghana
Lawyer requests open as soon as Plainright's registration with Ghana's Data Protection Commission is complete. Until then, use the official lawyer registers below to find and check a licensed lawyer.
- General Legal CouncilLawyers in good standing.
- Ghana Bar Association lawyer locatorFind a lawyer by region.
- Legal Aid CommissionFree legal aid for people who qualify.
How law offices are selected
- Open and operating according to its current public business listing.
- Rated 4.5 stars or higher from at least 25 reviews; low-rated and thinly reviewed offices are never shown.
- Practice match: the office's listing or its own website must name your type of problem.
- Reachable: a published phone number and website are required.
- Nearby: within about 25 miles of the location you give.
- No middlemen: referral directories and lead-generation sites are excluded.
- Fair ranking: offices are ordered by rating weighted by the number of reviews, so a few five-star reviews cannot outrank hundreds of strong ones.
- No payment: no office can pay to appear or to move up. Any future sponsored listing would be labelled and shown separately.
How help centers are selected
- Free help: government legal aid, bar association legal-aid centres and embassy lists of lawyers.
- Everyday legal problems: legal aid societies, legal services programs, court self-help centers, bar association programs and law-school clinics near you.
- Left out: notarios, tax and "multiservice" shops, insurance agencies and help centers rated below 4 stars.
- All of Ghana: every region.
Listings and ratings come from Google; office websites are checked automatically. Always confirm a lawyer's licence with the Ghana Bar Association before hiring.
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