Update your details
The law requires you to tell the authority within 30 days when your details change, or when you find an error in them.
That covers a change of name, address or other circumstances, and information that is incomplete, wrong or out of date. Not doing so without good reason can lead to a fine, a prison term, or both.
What to bring
- Your Ghana Card. The officer reads it to find your record, and takes it back if a new one is printed.
- The document that supports the change, where one exists. A change of name must be gazetted. A marriage certificate, an affidavit or an Assembly Press receipt is not enough.
What happens at the office
- A registration officer reviews the documents that support your request.
- The officer helps you complete and sign or mark the electronic request form, and submits it for you.
- An approval officer reviews the request. You are told whether it is approved, and why if it is not.
- Once it is approved, you pay at a CalBank branch, with the CalBank app, or by dialling *771#. If the update needs a new card, your old one is taken from you.
- The officer enters the serial number and PIN from your payment, and takes your fingerprints, iris scan, photograph and signature.
- The officer enters the new details and prints them for you to check and sign or thumbprint. If anything is wrong, say so now.
- Your new Ghana Card is printed and handed to you.
Not every request can be completed on the day. You are told when a decision has been made.
What it costs
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Record update only, at a district office | Free |
| Record update with a new card, at a district office | GH₵200 |
| Record update only, at a Premium Centre | GH₵165 |
| Record update with a new card, at a Premium Centre | GH₵410 |
| Nationality update, at a district office | GH₵200 |
| Nationality update, at a Premium Centre | GH₵410 |
| Record update only, outside Ghana | Free |
Questions
An officer spelt my name wrongly. Do I still pay?
Yes. At registration you were given a printout to check and sign. Once you confirmed it, a correction is charged for.
Can I change my date of birth?
No. It can be corrected only if the officer entered a date different from the one on the document you presented or on your application form.
Why is a marriage certificate not accepted for a change of name?
Marriage does not change a name by itself, and the certificate states the names of the two people as they were. To take a spouse's name, the change must be gazetted.
Can I update the photograph on my card?
Yes, if the photograph is of poor quality or does not meet the standard. Check with the registration office first, and bring a reason for the request.