Open Bank Account Ghana Foreigner 2026 — Ghana Card, Documents and Real Costs

Opening a bank account in Ghana as a foreigner requires careful attention to identity documents and associated fees in 2026. The Ghana Card, or its non-citizen versions such as the Refugee Identity Card, has become the sole identity document for financial transactions in the country. This policy change came into effect on December 1, 2025, following the revision of Notice BG/GOV/SEC/2025/36 by the Bank of Ghana.

To open an account, foreign nationals must first secure the Ghana Card or equivalent, which can be obtained after cumulative residence in Ghana for at least 90 days. The card is issued through the Foreigner Identification Management System of the National Identification Authority. The costs associated with obtaining the card are US$120 for the first issuance, US$78 for annual renewal, and US$75 for replacement.

Once the card is obtained, foreigners must visit a bank in person to register for an account. The required documents typically include a passport, a residence permit, a certified birth certificate, and a sworn oath of identity. Banks may also require additional documents such as a residence or work permit, proof of address (like a utility bill, tenancy agreement, or digital address), and an employment letter for salaried expats.

Biometric verification is mandatory and involves fingerprinting, capturing a portrait, and iris scanning. This process is cross-referenced against the national identity database. Some banks may also conduct a liveness check via a mobile banking app. If the verification fails, the bank will flag the account and provide a 90-day window to rectify the records.

Foreigners without a Ghana Card or equivalent are restricted to performing only one-off transactions, such as receiving remittances, depositing money from third parties, withdrawals, and card payments, using a valid passport as their identity document. Those staying in Ghana for under 90 days can only carry out these limited transactions.

Ghana recognizes two types of foreign-currency accounts: the Foreign Currency Account (FCA) and the Foreign Exchange Account (FEA). The FCA is funded exclusively from sources outside Ghana, while the FEA holds foreign currency earned within the country. Mixing up these account types is a common mistake among foreigners. The central bank has issued guidelines for international money transfer operators in December 2025, allowing them to handle only inward, person-to-person remittances, which must be settled in cedis through a designated settlement account at a partner bank.

Foreigners receiving money from abroad should ensure they open the appropriate account type and obtain written confirmation before signing any documents. The central bank's guidelines for money transfer operators, effective from December 2025, stipulate that they may only handle inward remittances, settling them in cedis at a prescribed benchmark rate on the same day.

These operators are prohibited from outbound transfers, deposit-taking, lending, foreign-exchange trading, and paying remittances into business or corporate accounts.