A Schengen visa allows the holder to travel for up to 90 days during a 180-day period within the Schengen area. The Schengen area is made up of 26 countries with open borders. Passengers are not required to go through passport control.
Despite the fact that a Schengen visa in Ghana grants you access to all member nations, you must first get a visa from the country you wish to visit. A Schengen visa can be applied for up to 90 days before your intended travel date.
Traveling within the Schengen region is similar to traveling within Ghana, from Accra to Kumasi. Although only an ID is required, airlines may check to determine if you have a valid Schengen visa. Even my passport was not scrutinized throughout my flight from Paris to Frankfurt.
If you live in Ghana and want to apply for a short-stay visa for the Schengen area, Mrpocu.com has a guide to help you apply for a Schengen visa in Ghana.
List Of Schengen State
The following is a list of Schengen member states where Schengen visas allow passengers to freely travel.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
List Of Exempted Countries
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
- United Kingdom
Visa Requirement For Schengen Areas
Except for visiting friends, family, or settling, all member states have the same visa requirements.
The following are the conditions for obtaining a Schengen Visa:
General Requirements for all Schengen Countries
- Appointment confirmation; if the embassy requires you to book an appointment in advance.
- Completed and signed visa application form for Schengen visa. Most embassies prefer the signing date matches the date of submission.
- 1 recent passport picture with white background
- Visa fee; payable in Ghana Cedis
- A valid passport and 1 copy of the passport data page. It should have at least two blank pages for visa and stamps and must be valid for at least 6 months.
- Previous passports, if any or available
- Birth certificate
- Flight reservation for the round-trip (not a paid ticket)
- Travel health insurance is valid for all Schengen States. It’s always good for your insurance to exceed your intended number of days.
- Proof of accommodation/hotel reservation.
11. Proof of sufficient financial means for an intended stay
- If you are paying for your trip yourself, personal bank statement for the past three to six months
- If you will be sponsored by someone, you have to state it in your application.
- If costs will be covered by the host/institution, it should be indicated in the invitation letter. Each country has a special document/invitation letter where such undertaking is made. See the country-specific requirements for more details (coming soon).
12. Proof of social and economic ties to the country of residence
- marriage certificate and birth certificates of dependent children, if applicable
- current personal bank statements for the last 3 months
- for children and students: official leave letter from school or university, including proof of paid school fees and reports
- if employed: letter of introduction from employer and payslips of the last 3 months
- if self-employed: business registration documents, tax clearance certificate, proof of active business (bills of lading, import declaration forms, invoices)
What do I need to do?
- A passport or other travel document issued within the last ten years must be submitted. This must have at least two blank pages and be valid for at least another three months after you leave the Schengen area.
- A completed and signed visa application form is required. Each person listed on your travel document must fill out their own visa application. A parent or guardian must sign forms for youngsters under the age of 18.
- Ask your parents or guardians to sign a consent form if you are under the age of 18 and traveling without one or both of your parents or guardians.
- In most situations, your digital photo will be taken at the Visa Application Centre in a nation where visa applications are processed by an external service provider. In all other circumstances, you will be required to send a photo along with your application.
- Fingerprints will be captured when you submit your application. These will be good for a period of 59 months. Fingerprints are not required for some candidates, such as children under the age of 12.
- Have you provided biometric data (fingerprints and photos) in the 59 months leading up to this application? After that, you have the option of having someone else submit your application on your behalf. It is not necessary for you to come in person. This also applies if you had your fingerprints taken for a visa application submitted through another Schengen member state within the last 59 months.
Please be aware that if your fingerprints are not found in the system during the examination of your application, you will be required to come in and provide them. In addition, if your application warrants it, you may be invited for an interview.
Minors Applicant for Schengen Visa
Minors are applicants under the age of eighteen. If a minor is not accompanied by both parents, both parents’ approval is required, as well as copies of their passports/photo ID.
Adequate proof must be supplied in the case of exclusive parental custody (e.g. court order, death certificate of other parents).
Additional requirements based on the purpose of travel
Business
- Signed invitation letter from inviting company
- Proof of inviting company is registered
- Verifiable proof of business with inviting company or proof of down payment, if applicable
- Letter from company in the country of residence stating the purpose of the trip
Airport Transit
- Visa/residence permit for the final destination. It is almost impossible to obtain a transit visa when your final destination is a visa-free country.
- Proof of purpose of the trip to the country of final destination (e.g. invitation letter)
Visit
Invitation letter signed by the host, as well as a copy of the host’s passport and residence permit. Depending on whatever member state you are from, you will receive different invitation letters.
If relevant, provide proof of family relationship (e.g., a birth certificate).
If the journey is to attend a funeral, bring a copy of the deceased’s death certificate and confirmation of the funeral home’s appointment.
Medical Treatment
- Letter from a local doctor stating the diagnosis
- Letter from foreign hospital/doctor stating agreement to treat patient and expected duration
of treatment. - Overview of estimated costs of surgery/treatment.
- Proof of sufficient financial means for treatment and costs of living during the stay
- Proof of advance payment of at least 50% – receipt from foreign hospital/doctor
How Much Does Schengen visa Cost?
You must pay a charge when applying for a visa at a Dutch embassy or consulate. You will have to pay an additional cost to an external service provider, such as a visa agency if you apply through them.
The visa fee shall be waived for applicants belonging to one of the following categories:
- children under 6 years;
- school pupils, students, postgraduate students, and accompanying teachers who undertake stays for the purpose of study or educational training;
- researchers traveling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research or participating in a scientific seminar or conference*;
- representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations.
*as defined in point (2) of Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 )
How much does a Schengen visa cost in Ghana?
A visa application will cost you 90 euros to process. The visa fee must be paid in cash in Ghana Cedi at the Embassy’s current exchange rate. The processing cost is non-refundable if the visa is denied. Visa application forms are available on the Embassy’s website and are free of charge.
How Long Does Schengen Visa Take in Ghana?
You must apply at least 6 months before you plan to go. Seafarers can apply nine months prior to their scheduled departure date. You must apply at least 15 working days ahead of time.
In most situations, you will get a notification of your application’s success within 15 calendar days. However, it can take up to 45 days in exceptional cases, such as when additional documents are necessary.
How much bank balance is required for Schengen visa?
The bank statement must indicate a minimum balance of €3000 for the last six months. If you do not have this amount in your bank account, you can show a statement from a family member or guardian, along with a letter confirming that they are funding your journey and stay.
Does Schengen visa require an interview?
If you are applying for a Schengen visa, you may have to attend an in-person interview
How will my application be assessed?
Some Schengen member states seek to share visa applicant information. For certain nationalities, this verification (known as a ‘consultation’) is required and can take up to 7 days.
The Schengen Information System will also check your application (SIS II). Furthermore, the information of your application will be examined and kept in the Visa Information System (VIS).
To make better, faster decisions on visa applications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs employs data-driven decision-making. See the privacy statement for additional information on how your data will be handled.