Applying for a short-stay Caribbean visa in Ghana
If you live in Ghana and want to apply for a visa to visit Aruba, Curaçao or the other Caribbean parts of the Kingdom for up to 90 days, find out about the rules and how to apply.
Which documents do I need?
Which documents you need for your application, depends on your purpose of travel. Select the checklist that fits your purpose of travel to see which documents you need. If you have more than one purpose of travel, select the checklist that corresponds to your primary purpose of travel.
- Checklist: Applying for a Caribbean visa for tourism
- Checklist: Applying for a Caribbean visa for a business trip or official visit
- Checklist: Applying for a Caribbean visa to study or to attend a cultural, sporting or religious event
- Checklist: Applying for a Caribbean visa to visit family or friends
- Checklist: Applying for a Caribbean visa through the Caribbean Carpet Programme
How much does a visa cost?
When you apply for a visa at a Netherlands embassy or consulate-general, you must pay a fee. You can find the fee here.
If you are applying through an external service provider, you will also pay a service fee.
How long does it take?
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you intend to travel. In most cases, you’ll be informed within 15 calendar days whether your application has been successful.
Do I need to submit my application in person?
You must always submit your application in person. Children under the age of 18 must also apply in person. If you are participating in the Caribbean Carpet Programme, you only have to appear in person for your first visa application.
Applying for a visa in this country or region
Visa application procedure in Ghana
The Netherlands embassy in Accra uses the services of VFS Global. Make an online appointment via the website of VFS Global.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has made representation arrangements for short stay visa applications (for a stay of maximum 90 days per 180 days period) with Austria, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal.
Residents of Ghana travelling to Austria, Luxembourg, Poland or Portugal can also submit their application via VFS Global. Make an online appointment via the website of VFS Global.
Those wishing to settle in Austria, Luxembourg, Poland or Portugal and wishing to apply for a residence permit should however turn to the nearest embassy of Austria, Luxembourg, Poland or Portugal to start the proper procedure.
If you have received an approval after an appeal, you can submit your visa application at the embassy. You do not need to make an appointment.
You can walk in on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday between 8:00 and 10:00 hours to submit additional documents.
Before you come, please check the days the embassy is closed.
Bring the following documents with you to the appointment:
- a valid travel document
- the no objection letter (and a copy) stating that your objection has been successful
- any documents mentioned in the letter (if applicable). For example, a hotel or flight reservation, or proof of insurance.
You will not need to complete a new visa application form or pay for the visa again.
Holders of diplomatic and service passports have to make an appointment via the online appointment system to submit their application at the Netherlands embassy in Accra.
The average processing time of a visa application is fifteen (15) calendar days.
In case the application is incomplete, needs further investigation or in case the application has to be forwarded to the competent authorities in the Netherlands for further consideration, the assessment may take weeks or even longer.
You do not need to make an appointment to collect your document(s).
Collection times are: Monday to Friday between 8:00 and 10:00 hours.
Before you come, please check the days on which the embassy is closed.
If you are not able to collect your decision and passport, you may authorise another person to collect it on your behalf. In that case the embassy requires a written and signed authorisation letter from you, including a copy of your passport.
The embassy will report the use of false and counterfeit documents to the Ghanaian Police (CID) or GIS (Ghana Immigration Service) depending on the forgery; these documents will not be returned to the applicant.
The embassy often receives e-mails from European citizens who are in contact with someone from this region through the internet. Often these contacts result in scamming whereby the scammer does not reveal his or her true identity and requests to transfer high amounts for various reasons (legalisations, costly visa procedures, medical check-ups and supporting documents not required by Dutch authorities in relation to consular procedures, hospitalisation, inheritance, gold ornaments). Beware of this (romance) scamming.
Other than warning for this type of scamming, the embassy cannot be of assistance in taking legal steps once European citizens have become victims of this type of scamming.