Application Procedure

Applications can be submitted at the Netherlands Visa Reception Centre (NVRC) between 08:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 01:00 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. on working days, Monday to Friday without prior appointment OR at the Visa Section of the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands by prior appointment.

Applicants do not have to submit their application in person but may choose to send a representative to the reception centre instead, to submit their documents. However, applicants wishing to submit their documents at the Visa Section of the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands by prior appointment must do so in person only. For the interview itself, every applicant without exception, will continue to be required to come personally to the Visa Section.

Applicants are requested to collect their passports from the Visa reception center either personally or through a third person. A third person needs to produce a signed letter of authority, the receipt and proof of Identity.

Based on the nature of the Visa application, applicants are required to fill out the visa application form
(click here to download) in CAPITAL LETTERS and prepare documents as per the visa requirements checklist. (click here for Visa Requirements checklists).

Applicants are strongly advised to submit their applications at least 4 weeks prior to their intended date of departure.

The use of fake, forged or stolen documents will be reported to the Ghana Police CID by the Embassy; these documents will not be returned.

Applications accepted at the NVRC are auto scheduled for an interview on the next available working day. Applicants will be issued an Interview letter cum receipt.

Exception Category applicants have to schedule an appointment

Visa fees are payable at the Embassy for all applicants. See Visa fees and handling charges for details.

Persons with a valid residence permit for any of the EU or EEA countries, Andorra, Canada, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the United States, do not need to apply for an Airport Transit Visa.

In Case of a pending application the passport will be stamped and no application can be submitted at any other Schengen Embassy until the Visa is either issued or the application is rejected. In case of rejection, the applicant will be officially informed of the reason.

Processing time:
In general applications will be processed in three working days from the date of submission at the NVRC.

In certain specific cases a visa application has to be presented to the concerned authorities in the Netherlands for a decision. This process could take between four and eight weeks.

In case of a refusal the applicant will be officially informed of the reason through a formal refusal letter issued by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In case additional documents are required, this will be requested by the officer at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and will need to be submitted by the applicant at the embassy at a specified time.

Applicants will be informed by the officer at the NVRC with reference to the precise time and date of collection.