What You Need to Know First
The PUBD form is the single most important piece of paper for your family's move. Fill it out at the airport when you land, or within 48 hours. Without it, your shipment faces heavy penalties and long delays, and you can lose your duty-free concession.
Genuinely used household goods and personal effects can come in free of duty when you are relocating to Ghana. Customs calls these removal articles, and they come with conditions you must meet.
Used refrigerators, air conditioners, and deep freezers are banned. This rule catches many relocating families off guard.
Ocean freight is only part of the bill. Customs clearance, agent fees, port charges, and duties on anything that is not exempt all come on top, so get a written estimate that covers every line before you book.
Background: Moving Your Family to Ghana
Moving a family to Ghana is a big step. Beyond the boxes, you are shipping your children's beds, their favourite toys, your kitchen, your clothes, and maybe the family car. It is your whole life in a container.
Ghana's main ports are Tema and Takoradi for sea cargo, and Kotoka International Airport in Accra for air freight. Tema is the busiest. The customs system is fully electronic through ICUMS, the Integrated Customs Management System. Everything runs through this one system. If your paperwork is right, your container moves through quickly. If it is not, your goods sit at the port while storage and demurrage charges build up every day.
This guide is written for parents. It focuses on what matters most when you are moving with children: getting your family's belongings to your new home safely, legally, and without losing your mind. It covers the real rules and the real steps. By the time you finish reading, you will know how to pack your boxes, what papers to file, and how to deal with the agencies that control the process.
Top 10 Do's for Families
1. Register with the Ghana Shippers' Authority First
Under the Ghana Shippers' Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122), every importer must register with the Ghana Shippers' Authority before a shipment can be processed on ICUMS. Enforcement began in August 2026.
Individuals register with a valid Ghana Card; companies use their Certificate of Incorporation. You can register online or at any Ghana Shippers' Authority office by completing a form, submitting your documents, and paying the fee. One registration covers all your shipments during the registration period. Confirm the current fee and validity period with the Authority at shippers.org.gh, or ask your shipper to check for you.
Do this before you ship anything. It is the first door you must open.
2. Fill Out the PUBD Form the Moment You Land
PUBD stands for Passengers Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration. This is the most critical form for your family's move.
Here is how it works. When you arrive in Ghana, go to the customs desk in the arrival hall and declare that you have unaccompanied baggage coming later. The Ghana Revenue Authority requires the declaration immediately on arrival or within 48 hours.
Why is this so important? When your container arrives, customs will ask for this form when clearing your household goods. Without it, the shipment faces heavy penalties and significant delays, and you may forfeit the duty-free concession.
Parent tip: Do this before you leave the airport. Do not wait until you get to your hotel. Do not wait until tomorrow. Do it while you are still in the arrival hall, even if your shipment is still at sea.
3. Prove You Are Genuinely Relocating to Get Duty-Free Treatment
Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians relocating to Ghana can bring in genuinely used personal and household effects free of duty. These are called removal articles.
This is a huge benefit for families. It means your children's beds, your sofa, your dining table, and your clothes can come in without paying import duty.
There are rules. Customs will want evidence that you lived abroad and are now moving to Ghana, so keep your old lease, utility bills, or employer letters. If you are moving for work, a letter confirming your new job in Ghana helps. Eligibility details can change, so confirm them with the Ghana Revenue Authority or your customs broker before you pack.
Your clearance file should include:
- A copy of your valid passport with entry visa or stamp
- The packing list
- The original bill of lading
- A detailed, valued inventory in English, signed and dated by you
- Your PUBD form
4. Make a Detailed Inventory, Especially for Kids' Items
Customs needs to know exactly what is in your container. Write a detailed list. Do not write "children's toys" or "household items." Write "wooden toy train set, 1 piece" and "children's bicycles, 2 units."
Your packing list, bill of lading, and inventory must all match. If they do not, your shipment gets flagged for inspection.
Parent tip: Take photos of your children's rooms before you pack. This helps you remember what you have and serves as proof if customs asks questions.
5. Separate Personal Effects from New or Gift Items
Toys, games, sports equipment, and electrical items are regulated products under Ghana's EasyPASS programme. EasyPASS is a long-running conformity assessment scheme of the Ghana Standards Authority, and only products that meet the relevant Ghana Standards are admitted through it.
Personal effects are exempt from the Certificate of Conformity requirement, but new goods in quantity can be treated differently. Keep your family's used belongings clearly listed as personal effects. If you are packing new toys or electronics in bulk, for gifts or for resale, ask your shipping company or customs broker whether a certificate is needed before the container ships.
You will also need invoices for electrical and hi-fi appliances and for every item bought less than 6 months before the shipment arrives.
Parent tip: Keep receipts for new Christmas presents and birthday gifts so they do not end up stuck at the port.
6. Check the Vehicle Rules Before You Ship the Family Car
If you are shipping a car for your family, there are strict rules, and they changed significantly in 2026.
From October 1, 2026, every used vehicle must pass a conformity assessment under Ghana Standard GS 4510 before it ships, and you need a Certificate of Conformity from an inspection body approved by the Ghana Standards Authority. Ask for the inspection fee in writing when you book.
Used vehicles more than 15 years old may not be imported. Vehicles that have been submerged in floodwater, damaged by fire, assembled from spare parts, or have compromised chassis or safety structures are also barred, and the speedometer must read in kilometres per hour.
Ghana drives on the right. Right-hand-drive vehicles are admitted only under a government-regulated conversion framework that is still being set up.
Import duty on vehicles depends largely on engine size, with bigger engines paying more. VAT, the National Health Insurance Levy, the GETFund levy, and other levies are added on top. Ask your broker for a duty estimate based on the vehicle's VIN before you buy, because two similar SUVs with different engine sizes can land at very different costs.
Parent tip: If your family car is right-hand-drive or older than 15 years, talk to your shipper before you book anything. Shipping a car that fails the rules can cost you the freight and the car.
7. Bring Prescription Medications with a Doctor's Letter
If your child or anyone in your family takes prescription medication, you can bring it for personal use. You will need a valid prescription. The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) allows patients with a prescription to import medicines for personal use.
Parent tip: Pack medications in your hand luggage, not in the container. Bring the original prescription and a letter from your doctor explaining what the medication is for. Keep it with you at all times.
8. Plan Ahead for the Family Pet
Pets need an import permit from Ghana's Veterinary Services Directorate before they travel, and the permit is time-limited, so plan your dates carefully.
You will need:
- A veterinary health certificate endorsed by the official veterinary authority in your home country
- Proof of rabies vaccination given at least 30 days before travel and no more than 12 months before arrival
- A Veterinary Import Permit from Ghana's Veterinary Services Directorate
Dogs may also need other vaccinations, a microchip, and blood test results, so check the current list with the Directorate.
Parent tip: Start this process early, ideally a few months before you travel. Airlines will not accept pets without the correct permits.
9. Budget for Duties and Taxes on What Is Not Exempt
Here is the hard truth about money. Even with duty-free removal articles, some items will still attract taxes. New items are dutiable. Multiple items of the same kind, like a second television or a third laptop, may also be taxed.
Ghana applies the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, so the import duty rate depends on the product category. On top of import duty, dutiable goods can attract:
- Value Added Tax
- National Health Insurance Levy
- GETFund Levy
- ECOWAS levy (0.5 percent on goods from outside ECOWAS)
- African Union, EXIM and Special Import levies on some goods
Most of these are calculated on the CIF value, which is cost plus insurance plus freight, so they add up quickly on new goods.
Ocean freight is only one line on the bill. Customs clearance, clearing agent fees, port charges, and delivery inland all come on top. Ask for a written estimate that lists every line before you book, and make sure your shipper quotes based on what you are actually sending.
Parent tip: Keep invoices for electronics and for anything you bought in the 6 months before the shipment arrives. Customs will want to see them.
10. Hire a Licensed Customs Broker
Ghana's Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) requires most imports to be cleared through a licensed customs house agent.
A good broker will:
- Help you classify your goods correctly
- Tell you which permits you need
- Handle the ICUMS submission
- Keep your shipment out of the red channel (the slow inspection lane)
ICUMS routes every consignment into a red, yellow, or green channel, and the channel decides how your goods are examined. Complete, accurate documentation is what moves families into the green channel.
For a family move with children's items, electronics, and a vehicle, a broker is essential.
Top 10 Don'ts for Families
1. Don't Ship Used Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, or Deep Freezers
This is the rule that catches many relocating families off guard. Used refrigerators, used air conditioners, and used deep freezers are prohibited, regardless of who you are. It is strictly enforced.
Parent tip: Sell or donate your old fridge and freezer before you leave. Buy new ones in Ghana.
2. Don't Forget the 48-Hour PUBD Deadline
You must file your PUBD form immediately on arrival or within 48 hours. If you miss this window, your shipment can face penalties and you may lose your concession. Do not think you can sort it out later. File it at the airport.
3. Don't Pack Multiples of the Same Appliance
Customs exempts items for personal use, and a second television, a third laptop, or a fourth mobile phone may be taxed. If each child has a tablet for school, that is usually fine. If you are bringing five tablets for "the family," customs may see it as commercial. Be ready to explain.
4. Don't Ship a Right-Hand-Drive Car on a Promise
This cannot be said enough. Ghana drives on the right, and right-hand-drive vehicles are admitted only through a regulated conversion process that is still being built. Do not buy or ship a right-hand-drive car on a verbal promise. Get the conversion requirements in writing first.
5. Don't Skip the Pre-Shipment Inspection
From October 1, 2026, every used vehicle must pass a conformity assessment before it ships. Register with the Ghana Shippers' Authority, book the inspection with an approved body, and get the Certificate of Conformity before the car is loaded. Without it, your vehicle can be denied clearance at the port.
6. Don't Try to Bring Restricted Foods Through Land Borders
Ghana has restricted the overland import of goods including rice, sugar, cooking oil, frozen foods, textiles, flour, canned tomatoes, and pasta, and pharmaceuticals face their own entry-point limits. These goods are expected to come in through a Ghanaian seaport. If you are shipping food items for your family, use sea freight to Tema or Takoradi. Do not try to bring them overland from a neighbouring country.
7. Don't Write Vague Descriptions on Your Packing List
"Kids' stuff." "Kitchen items." "Assorted toys." These descriptions invite a red-channel inspection. Write exactly what is in each box. "Children's storybooks, 25 pieces." "Plastic building blocks, 1 set." "Girl's bicycle, pink, 1 unit."
8. Don't Underestimate Taxes on New Items
Duty-free treatment applies to used personal effects. New items are dutiable. If you bought new furniture or new electronics shortly before the move, be ready to pay tax on them.
9. Don't Ship a Vehicle Without the Certificate of Conformity
Every used vehicle must be verified in its country of origin before shipping. Without the Certificate of Conformity, your vehicle can be denied clearance at the port, and you will pay storage fees while you try to sort it out.
10. Don't Forget About the Children's School Supplies
School books, stationery, and educational materials for use in schools approved by the Minister of Education can be imported duty-free. That relief applies to materials for schools, not for individual families. Your children's personal schoolbooks and supplies are part of your personal effects. Include them in your inventory and PUBD declaration.
Summary: Your Family's Moving Checklist
| Step | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register with the Ghana Shippers' Authority using your Ghana Card | No registration, no clearance |
| 2 | Fill out the PUBD form at the airport within 48 hours | Missing it means penalties and delays |
| 3 | Keep proof that you are relocating for duty-free removal articles | Can save you significant taxes |
| 4 | Write a detailed, valued inventory of every box | Vague lists trigger inspections |
| 5 | List used items as personal effects; ask about new toys and electronics | New goods may need a Certificate of Conformity |
| 6 | Check vehicle: left-hand drive, 15 years or newer, pre-shipment inspection, Certificate of Conformity | Wrong car can mean total loss |
| 7 | Bring prescription meds with a doctor's letter | Keeps your family healthy |
| 8 | Arrange pet permits well ahead | No permit, no pet on the plane |
| 9 | Get a written estimate covering freight, clearance and duties | Avoid financial surprises |
| 10 | Hire a licensed customs broker | Saves time, money, and stress |
Conclusion: You Can Do This
Moving a family to Ghana is a big adventure. It comes with paperwork, rules, and a few headaches. Families make this move successfully all the time. They settle into new homes, enrol their children in new schools, and build new lives.
The secret is preparation. Register with the Ghana Shippers' Authority before you ship. Fill out the PUBD form the moment you land. Write a detailed inventory. Check the rules for your children's new toys and your family car. Bring your prescriptions and your pet's paperwork.
Do these things, and your container can clear customs while you are still unpacking your suitcases. Your children will sleep in their own beds. Your kitchen will have your pots and pans. Your new life will begin smoothly.
Ghana is waiting. You are ready.
Moving from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC or Delaware? Try our free price estimator at https://guldstreetshipping.com/topics/estimate/ for a starting figure, then contact our team for a written quote.
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Guldstreet Research Team
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