Reviewed by the FIRMUS Advisory Immigration & Compliance Team
Short answer: A company in Ghana can employ expatriates through a GIPA expatriate quota, a GIS work permit or, less often, an immigrant quota from the Ministry of the Interior, and all three end with the same residence permit in the passport. A GIPA automatic quota is granted by the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (formerly GIPC) to a GIPA-registered company that has invested at least US$50,000; it costs the cedi equivalent of US$350 per position, lasts five years and gives 2 to 12 positions depending on capital invested. A GIS work permit needs no quota and costs US$1,293 a year for non-ECOWAS nationals (US$647 for ECOWAS). For a company with quota positions available, the quota route is cheaper every year: about US$1,108 in the first year and US$616 for renewal for a non-ECOWAS expatriate. Whiles work permit issued by Ghana Immigration Service cost US$1,663 for the first year and US$1,521 for renewal.
What Is the Difference Between a GIPA (GIPC) Quota and a Work Permit?
A GIPA quota is an approval given to a company to fill a set number of expatriate positions, while a work permit is an approval GIS gives for one named expatriate. Technically, the end product is the same: the residence permit sticker in the passport is identical, with the same details, and the difference is visible only in the application documents on the expatriate’s file at GIS.
The practical differences are who approves it, how much it costs and how long it lasts. A quota is approved by GIPA, costs US$350 per position and lasts five years, and the expatriate then pays the lower GIS quota permit fee every year. A work permit is approved by GIS each year at the full permit fee, with new application forms at every renewal.
The two main routes side by side. Both end with the same residence permit.
Which Route Should Your Company Use?
Use the GIPA quota if your company is registered with GIPA, invested the required investment thresholds and has positions available; use a GIS work permit when no quota position is available. Find your situation below:
| Your company’s situation | Best route | Annual GIS fee (non-ECOWAS) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered with GIPA, US$50,000+ invested, quota positions available | GIPA automatic quota | US$350 quota fee
US$388 – Immigration fee |
| Registered with GIPA but all automatic positions are filled | Apply to GIS for work | US$1,293 |
| Capital below US$50,000, so no automatic quota | GIS work permit | US$1,293 |
| Ghana-registered employer without a GIPA quota, or a short assignment | GIS work permit | US$1,293 |
| Specialist recommended by the Immigrant Quota Committee | Immigrant quota (Ministry of the Interior) | US$647 |
| Mining, upstream petroleum or a free zone company | Sector regulator first (see below), then GIS | Sector regulator fees + GIS fees |
| Missionary, NGO or church worker | GIS permit for NGOs | US$388 |
Source: GIS Fees and Charges (schedule effective 15 May 2025).
How Many Expatriates Can a Company Employ in Ghana? GIPA Quota Bands
Under section 49 of the GIPA Act, 2026 (Act 1173), a GIPA-registered company gets 2 to 12 automatic quota positions, depending on the capital it has invested. Companies with foreign ownership, whether joint ventures or wholly foreign-owned, register with GIPA as foreign investors after incorporating at the Office of the Registrar of Companies, and can then apply for these positions:
| Capital invested (US$) | Automatic quota positions |
|---|---|
| 50,000 to 500,000 | 2 |
| Above 500,000 to 1,000,000 | 4 |
| Above 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 | 6 |
| Above 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 | 8 |
| Above 6,000,000 to 10,000,000 | 10 |
| Above 10,000,000 | 12 |
Source: GIPA Act, 2026 (Act 1173), s. 49, in force from 15 July 2026.
A company that needs more expatriates than its automatic quota allows can apply to GIPA for additional positions. Quota approvals are subject to conditions set by GIPA on the advice of the Ghana Immigration Service.
How to Get a GIPA Expatriate Quota: Step by Step
Getting a quota permit is a two-stage process: GIPA approves the quota position, then GIS issues the expatriate’s quota residence permit.
Step 1: Apply to GIPA for the quota
After registering with GIPA, the company applies for its quota positions by submitting:
- An official application letter addressed to the CEO of GIPA, giving the name and designation of each person the quota is for
- The person’s CV
- The passport bio-data page
- A copy of the employment contract
- The quota fee (the cedi equivalent of US$350 per position), paid to the bank on behalf of GIPA once GIPA issues an invoice
GIPA processes quota requests in an average of two to three weeks, or within 24 hours through its premium service (an extra US$140). If the application is approved, GIPA sends an official notification letter to GIS on the company’s behalf.
Source: GIPA fee schedule effective 2 February 2026.
Step 2: Apply to GIS for the quota residence permit
The company collects a copy of the GIPA approval letter from GIPA and presents it to GIS with:
- Application letter for the residence permit from the company
- Business registration documents (Certificate of Incorporation, Form 3, Constitution, Beneficial Ownership Profile Form) and, for existing companies, the Tax Clearance Certificate
- Valid GIPA certificate
- Completed residence permit form
- Two recent passport photographs
- The GIPA quota approval letter
- CV and employment contract
- Police report from the country of origin
- Medical report from the Ghana Immigration Service clinic
- Copy of the Non-Citizen Ghana Card
- Payment of the GIS fee for a quota residence permit
How to Get a Ghana Work Permit from GIS
A work permit is an approval GIS grants for a company to employ a named foreign national. It specifies the names, number and job descriptions of the people authorized to be employed. Foreign nationals who wish to work in Ghana can register a business in Ghana, or be employed by a Ghanaian company, and then apply for a work permit through that entity.
The official fee for a one-year work permit is US$1,293 for non-ECOWAS nationals and US$647 for ECOWAS nationals. GIS indicates 8 to 10 weeks for processing; in our experience after years of processing several applications, we at Firmus typically secures work permit within 3 to 4 weeks. Once approved, GIS issues the work permit approval letter, and the residence permit is endorsed in the passport. The work permit alone does not let the employee start work: the residence permit completes the process. For the full process, see our step-by-step Ghana work permit guide.
Requirements for the work permit and residence permit
- A completed work and residence permit application form
- Application letter on the company’s letterhead
- Business registration documents: Certificate of Incorporation, Constitution, Form 3 and Beneficial Ownership Profile Form
- Tax Clearance Certificate (for existing companies)
- Letter of employment or contract
- GIPA certificate (if registered)
- Biodata page of the applicant’s passport
- Curriculum vitae
- Medical report from the Ghana Immigration Service clinic confirming the employee is fit to work
- Non-Citizen Ghana Card from the National Identification Authority (NIA)
- Police clearance certificate from the employee’s country of origin or current residence
- Two passport-size photographs
- Educational and professional certificates
- Passport and residence permit copy of the employer’s signatory
Immigrant Quota and Sector Routes
Aside the GIPA quota and the GIS work permit options, some expatriates come in through an immigrant quota or a sector regulator.
Immigrant quota (Ministry of the Interior): granted by the Ministry of the Interior on the recommendation of the Immigrant Quota Committee, which assesses the applicant’s skills. It serves the same purpose as the GIPA quota. The GIS permit fee is US$647 for non-ECOWAS nationals and US$500 for ECOWAS nationals, renewed annually.
Sector routes: upstream oil and gas companies need Petroleum Commission approval for expatriate positions (L.I. 2204); mining companies receive an immigration quota through the Minerals Commission and must run a localization programme (Act 703, sections 29 and 50); and free zone enterprises apply through the Ghana Free Zones Authority (Act 504, section 34). GIS then issues the permit.
GIPA Quota vs Work Permit: Side-by-Side Comparison
The quota route costs less and lasts longer; the work permit route needs no GIPA quota and has no fixed limit on numbers.
| Feature | GIPA automatic quota | GIS work permit |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Longer-term expatriates of a GIPA-registered company with quota positions available | Employers with no quota position available, or short assignments |
| Issuing authority | GIPA approves the quota; GIS issues the residence permit | GIS |
| Approval letter | Issued by GIPA in favour of the expatriate | Issued by GIS |
| How many | 2 to 12 automatic positions by capital invested; more on application | No fixed limit; the company must justify the need and GIS decides on the merits |
| Validity | Quota valid five years; residence permit renewed annually | One year, renewed annually |
| Renewal | The quota residence permit is renewed directly at GIS each year | New application forms are completed and submitted each year |
| Fees (new) | US$350 GIPA quota + US$388 non-ECOWAS
GIS residence permit (US$388 ECOWAS) |
US$1,293 work permit (US$647 ECOWAS) |
| Fees (annual renewal) | US$388 non-ECOWAS residence permit (US$388 ECOWAS) | US$1,293 (US$647 ECOWAS) |
| Processing time | GIPA 2–3 weeks (24 hours with premium), then the GIS stage; about 2 weeks to renew in our experience | GIS indicates 8–10 weeks; about 3–4 weeks in our experience. |
| End product | Residence permit sticker in the passport | The same residence permit sticker in the passport |
Source: GIPA fee schedule effective 2 February 2026; Ghana Immigration Service, Fees and Charges. Fees are reviewed periodically.
How Much Does Each Route Cost in 2026?
Cost per expatriate (non-ECOWAS)
| Cost (US$) | GIPA quota route | GIS work permit route |
|---|---|---|
| GIPA quota fee | 350 | — |
| GIS permit fee | 388 | 1,293 |
| Non-Citizen Ghana Card | 120 | 120 |
| GIS medical | 250 | 250 |
| Year 1 total cost | 1,108 | 1,663 |
| Each renewal year (permit + card renewal US$78 + medical renewal US$150) | 616
($388+$78+$150) |
1,521
($1,293+$78+$150) |
Source: GIPA, GIS and NIA fee schedules.
Take note: The quota route needs GIPA registration, but every company with foreign participation must register with GIPA anyway, so registration is not an extra cost of choosing the quota route. The main factor to consider is whether you have invested the required capital thresholds to apply for the quota.
Replacing or Adding a Quota Position
A quota position can be replaced when the expatriate holding it resigns, leaves Ghana, moves to another employer or dies. The company applies to GIPA with the new employee’s details and evidence that the former employee has left the position, such as a confirmation of departure from GIS, a death certificate, or evidence of a new permit with a new employer. GIPA charges the cedi equivalent of US$350 for a replacement, and the process takes about three to four weeks before the new employee applies to GIS for the quota residence permit. Substituting a quota letter costs the cedi equivalent of US$175. Our guide to replacing or adding a GIPA expatriate quota covers the documents, timelines and costs step by step.
Bringing Your Expatriates’ Families
Under either route, an expatriate’s spouse, children under 18 and parents over 60 apply to GIS for a dependant residence permit: GH¢388 for non-ECOWAS nationals and GH¢259 for ECOWAS nationals, plus a Non-Citizen Ghana Card each. A dependant permit allows the family to live in Ghana but not to work; a spouse who wants to work needs their own permit.
GIPA Quota and Work Permit FAQs
What is the difference between a GIPC quota and a work permit in Ghana?
A GIPA (formerly GIPC) quota is approved by GIPA for a company to fill a set number of expatriate positions for five years; a work permit is approved by GIS for one named expatriate for one year. Both end with the same residence permit, but the quota route costs less every year.
What is a GIPA expatriate quota?
A work authorisation that allows a GIPA-registered company to employ a set number of foreign nationals in Ghana. The number of positions depends on the capital invested, and each quota is valid for five years.
What is a work permit from the Ghana Immigration Service?
An authorisation from GIS that allows a company to employ a named expatriate in Ghana. Work permits are renewed annually.
How many expatriates can a foreign company employ in Ghana?
Under section 49 of the GIPA Act, 2026, a GIPA-registered company gets 2 to 12 automatic quota positions depending on the capital invested, and it can apply to GIPA for more. Beyond that, it can use GIS work permits, which have no fixed limit.
Who is eligible for a GIPA expatriate quota?
GIPA-registered companies that have invested at least US$50,000 in capital.
What is the minimum capital investment for an expatriate quota?
US$50,000, which gives two automatic quota positions. The maximum automatic quota is twelve positions, for investment above US$10 million.
How many quota positions does a trading company get?
A foreign trading company must invest at least US$500,000 in cash equity, which gives two automatic positions; it needs more than US$500,000 to reach four. At least 75% of its employees must be skilled Ghanaians.
Which is cheaper, a GIPA quota or a work permit?
For a GIPA-registered company with long-term expatriates, the quota route is cheaper: about US$1,108 in the first year and US$616 a year after that per non-ECOWAS expatriate, against US$1,663 and US$1,521 for a work permit.
What is an immigrant quota in Ghana?
A quota granted by the Ministry of the Interior on the recommendation of the Immigrant Quota Committee, which assesses the applicant’s skills. The GIS permit fee is US$647 for non-ECOWAS nationals and US$500 for ECOWAS nationals.
Can I hire more expatriates than my automatic quota allows?
Yes. Apply to GIPA for additional positions, which are approved subject to conditions set on the advice of GIS, or use GIS work permits for the extra staff.
Can a company with less than US$50,000 capital employ an expatriate?
Yes, through a GIS work permit. It will not qualify for automatic GIPA quota positions.
Does a GIPA quota replace the need for a work permit?
Yes. The GIPA quota takes the place of the separate GIS work permit application, but the expatriate must still apply to GIS for the quota residence permit after the quota letter is issued.
Can an expatriate work in Ghana with only a GIPA quota approval?
No. You need a residence permit from GIS to complete the process.
Does a GIPA quota cover the expatriate’s spouse and children?
No. Family members apply to GIS for dependant residence permits: GH¢388 for non-ECOWAS nationals and GH¢259 for ECOWAS nationals, plus a Non-Citizen Ghana Card each.
Do quota positions need a Ghanaian understudy?
Yes. Section 48 of the GIPA Act adds local-recruitment and understudy obligations for quota positions, so name an understudy for each expatriate and keep training records.
Can a shareholder or director use a quota position?
Yes. Owners, shareholders and directors who work in the company commonly use quota positions, and section 48 allows management positions to be filled by any nationality.
How long does a GIPA quota remain valid?
Five years, renewable. The residence permit issued on the quota is valid for one year and renewed annually at GIS.
How long is a Ghana Immigration work permit valid?
One year, renewable every year.
What happens to a quota position when an expatriate resigns?
The position becomes vacant and can be filled by a replacement. The company applies to GIPA with evidence that the former employee has left, such as a GIS confirmation of departure, and pays the US$350 replacement fee.
What documents does a GIPA quota application need?
An application letter to the CEO of GIPA naming the person and their designation, their CV, passport bio-data page and employment contract, and payment of the quota fee once GIPA issues an invoice.
Does an expatriate with a work permit also need a residence permit?
Yes. Every expatriate living in Ghana needs a residence permit.
Does my company need to register with GIPA before applying for a quota?
Yes. A company with foreign participation must first register with GIPA, after incorporating at the ORC, and hold a valid GIPA certificate before it can apply for quota positions. GIPA registration is now renewed annually.
Need a quota or work permit in Ghana? Talk to FIRMUS Advisory about the best route for your expatriate staff. WhatsApp +233 57 646 1118 · info@firmusadvisory.com · 17 Swaniker St, Abelemkpe, Accra
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Fees, quota bands and processing times are set by GIPA and the Ghana Immigration Service and can change. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or speak to FIRMUS Advisory before applying.
