Welcome
Long stay (more than 90 days, e.g. to study, work etc. in Germany)
If you intend to stay in Germany permanently or for more than 90 days, you have to apply for a national visa (long stay). This type of visa has to be applied for if you want to join a family member living in Germany or if you are interested to study or work in Germany.
Please note that the German Embassy requires all applicants to schedule an appointment in order to apply for a visa. Appointments have to be booked via the free online appointment system
According to Art. 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (also known as: General Data Protection Regulation), information about the collection of personal information must be provided to visa applicants. To learn more about this topic, please read the Data Protection Information Sheet.
The German Embassy in Accra accepts visa applications only from permanent residents of GHANA, LIBERIA and SIERRA LEONE (habitual abode of at least six months).
Preparing your application
You should start preparing your application as soon as you have plans to stay long term in Germany. The entire visa application process can take several months.
Please prepare your application as follows:
- Please fill out the visa application form
- Please compile the documents you need to submit with your visa application. If supporting documents are missing, your application may be refused. The Embassy has prepared detailed document checklist for each type of visa:
Employment Visa Application/Working in Germany
- Do not forget your biometric photo and the declaration on data protection and submission of incomplete information
- Book an Interview Appointment to submit your application. Please keep in mind that depending on the purpose of your trip, long waiting periods are possible due to a high demand for interview appointments.
Submitting your application
In order to submit your application, you have to attend your appointment in person. During the interview appointment, you are asked to submit your complete application with all supporting documents and pay the visa fee. Your fingerprints will also be taken on this occasion.
Please do not send any documents to the Embassy before your interview appointment. The Visa Section is not able to store such documents and will disregard them.
What happens during processing?
The Embassy will review your application and assess whether your visa application meets all the legal requirements. The processing time depends on the purpose of your trip and can vary from a few weeks to several months. It also depends on whether other German authorities, such as the local Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde) or the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), have to give their approval. In cases of family reunion, a document verification might be necessary, which lengthens the processing time significantly. The Embassy will contact you as soon as a decision has been made on your application. The Embassy asks for your understanding that the Visa Section is unable to answer any questions on the status of your visa application during the processing period. After that, enquiries can only be answered if they are made by the applicant, his/her legal representative or another person authorized in writing by the applicant.
Return of your passport
Your passport can be collected in person or by an authorized third person. If the visa is granted, it is your duty to verify whether the information printed on the visa sticker is correct and complete. Any errors have to be reported to the Embassy immediately upon collection.
There are various reasons why your visa application may be rejected. The reasons will be stated in the refusal letter. If your visa application was rejected and you do not agree with the decision, you or an authorized third party can appeal against the visa refusal within one month. The appeal has to be done in writing and has to contain a signature. The appeal letter has to state your file number and mailing address (P.O. Box).
Please note that the processing of an appeal may take up to three months. The Embassy asks for your understanding that the Visa Section is unable to answer any questions on the status of your appeal during this period. After that, enquiries can only be answered if they are made by the applicant, his/her legal representative or another person authorized in writing by the applicant.
You also have the possibility to submit a new visa application at any time with complete, informative and verifiable documentation.
Have a good trip! Information for visa holders
If all the information on your visa sticker is correct, you are free to travel to Germany within the period of validity of your visa. Please do not forget to register at the Residents Registration Office (Meldebehörde) shortly after you arrive in Germany and to make an appointment with the Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde) to receive your residence permit for Germany.
Your entry visa will allow you to travel within the Schengen area.