Trending Now!! : NIA Introduces New Ghana Card Fees Effective February 2, 2026

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced a revised fee structure for Ghana Card services, including a GH¢200 charge for card replacement, which will take effect from Monday, February 2, 2026.

The new fees were communicated in a press release issued on January 26, 2026. According to the Authority, the charges were approved by Parliament under the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2512) in November 2025.

Under the revised arrangement, first-time Ghana Card applicants aged 25 years and above will pay GH¢30 at district registration offices, while registration remains free for persons under 25. Annual renewal of the Ghana Card at district offices will attract a fee of GH¢150. A nationality update will cost GH¢200.

The NIA further stated that record updates which do not require card replacement will continue to be offered free of charge at district offices. However, record updates that involve issuing a new card will attract a GH¢200 fee. Card transfer services, excluding courier charges, will cost GH¢75.

For services under the Foreigner Identification Management System (FIMS), first-time registration will cost the cedi equivalent of US$120. Annual renewal will be charged at the cedi equivalent of US$78, while multiple-year renewals—covering a minimum of two years—will cost the cedi equivalent of US$75 per year. Card replacement under the FIMS will cost the cedi equivalent of US$78, while nationality updates will attract a charge equivalent to US$120. Record updates involving card replacement will cost the equivalent of US$70, while updates without replacement will remain free.

At NIA Premium Centres, first-time registration will cost GH¢410. Card replacement services will be charged at GH¢520. Card renewal, nationality updates, and record updates that require card replacement will each cost GH¢410. Record updates that do not require a new card will cost GH¢165.

Explaining the rationale behind the fee adjustments, the Authority cited the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), which mandates public institutions to periodically review their fees in line with prevailing economic and operational conditions.

The NIA noted that it had operated under the 2023 fee structure for more than two years, during which operational costs increased significantly without corresponding adjustments. The Authority identified technology licensing, cybersecurity services, utilities, logistics, and personnel expenses as key cost drivers that have remained high.

The statement emphasized that the Ghana Card has become a critical component of the country’s national infrastructure and that sustaining the system over the long term requires periodic fee reviews after prolonged cost absorption.

The press release was signed by Mr. Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the National Identification Authority.