Important — Ghanaian nationals need a visa for all Spain trips
Ghanaian passport holders are not visa-exempt for Spain. Unlike nationals of the US, UK, Australia and Canada who can enter Spain visa-free for short stays, Ghanaian nationals require a Schengen short-stay visa (Category C) for any visit — including tourist trips under 90 days. For language courses lasting more than 90 days, you need a separate national student visa (Category D). Both are processed through BLS International in Accra.
May 2025 reform — RD 1155/2024
Spain's student visa rules changed significantly on 20 May 2025. Key requirements now in force: apply at least 2 months before your course start date; your acceptance letter must confirm tuition has been paid in full; your passport must be valid for the full duration of your planned stay and not older than 10 years; for Spanish language courses the school must hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation. New rights: student visa holders can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate permit (higher-education students only; language-school students need a separate work authorisation); a 1-year post-study job-search visa is available to university graduates on completion.
Is Accra the right consulate for you?
The Embassy of Spain in Accra covers Ghana and Togo. If you reside in either country, this is where your student visa application is handled.
Accra covers Ghana + Togo. The Embassy holds concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Togo, where Spain maintains only an honorary consulate in Lomé that does not process visas. Togo residents apply here in Accra, through the BLS centre, the same as Ghanaian residents.
Neighbouring countries are not covered by Accra: Benin is handled by the Embassy of Spain in Abuja (Nigeria), Sierra Leone by Conakry (Guinea), and Liberia by Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).
Your current place of residence determines which consulate handles your application — not the place of issue on your passport. Togo residents cross to Accra to lodge their application, as the Lomé honorary consulate does not issue visas.
Document checklist
Submit originals and photocopies of all documents. All documents — including those already in English — must be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation (see below).
1
National visa application form
The national (Type D) visa application form, completed in full and signed. If the applicant is a minor, a parent or accredited representative must sign.
Use our form helper tool for field-by-field guidance.
2
Passport photograph
Two recent passport-size colour photographs. Light background, facing forward, no dark glasses or face coverings.
3
Valid passport
Original + photocopy of the bio-data page and any pages with previous visas or stamps. Must be valid for the full duration of your planned stay and have at least 2 blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago are not accepted.
4
School acceptance letter + proof of paid tuition
From an Instituto Cervantes-accredited school. Must state the programme name, start and end dates, total cost, and confirm that tuition has been paid in full. Must be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
All schools on this site hold Cervantes accreditation. Enrol and save €500 →
5
Proof of financial means
Minimum €600 per month for the full duration of your stay (100% IPREM 2025, i.e. €7,200 per year). Options:
Self-funded: Original bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank, showing sufficient balance.
Sponsored by family: Letter of sponsorship signed by the sponsor + copy of sponsor's ID/passport + sponsor's bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank.
If accommodation for the full stay is paid in advance, that amount may be deducted from the required funds.
Self-funded: Original bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank, showing sufficient balance.
Sponsored by family: Letter of sponsorship signed by the sponsor + copy of sponsor's ID/passport + sponsor's bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank.
If accommodation for the full stay is paid in advance, that amount may be deducted from the required funds.
6
Spanish health insurance
From a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer. Must cover all risks with no copayments, no deductibles and no coverage limits, for the full duration of your stay. Travel insurance is not accepted.
Note: BLS Ghana lists insurance as "optional" for national visas, but Spain's national rules (RD 1155/2024) require full DGSFP cover — treat it as mandatory. We partner with Atlántida, a DGSFP-registered insurer. Get a quote →
7
Police Clearance Certificate Stays over 180 days
Criminal record check from the Ghana Police Service — Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Accra. Apply via Ghana Police e-Services online. It must then go through the full legalization chain (see below) and be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
Ghana is not a Hague Apostille member — this certificate is legalized, not apostilled. Allow several weeks for the full chain.
8
Medical certificate Stays over 180 days
Issued by a registered medical practitioner, certifying the applicant does not suffer from any disease with serious public health implications per the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Must be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation.
9
Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction
A recent document showing your full name and current address in Ghana or Togo — utility bill, lease agreement, or similar official correspondence.
Ghana's legalization chain — no apostille
Ghana is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Ghanaian public documents for use in Spain cannot be apostilled — they must go through the full legalization (attestation) chain, then be translated into Spanish.
1
Obtain the police clearance from Ghana Police CID
Apply for the criminal record check at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra via Ghana Police e-Services. A notarisation by a Ghanaian Notary Public and certification by the Judicial Service of Ghana may be required as a pre-step — confirm current requirements when you apply.
2
Authentication by Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The document is authenticated / attested by Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (Legal & Consular Bureau) in Accra.
3
Legalization by the Spanish Embassy in Accra
The document, once authenticated by the Ghana MFA, is then legalized by the Embassy of Spain in Accra. This step replaces the apostille that Hague-member countries would use.
4
Sworn Spanish translation
Finally, have the legalized document translated into Spanish by a sworn translator (traductor jurado). The Embassy accepts translations only from certified sworn translators in Spain — from Spain's official traductores jurados list held by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Budget time to send your legalized originals to a Spain-based sworn translator.
BLS submission tips
- Applications are lodged at the BLS Spain Visa Application Centre in Accra — book your appointment at ghana.blsspainglobal.com
- Use the SLU page (student stay over 180 days) or SSU page (student stay under 180 days) on ghana.blsspainvisa.com for the current checklist
- Visa fee: GHS 1,211 (all ages), paid in cash and non-refundable, plus a separate GHS 227 BLS service charge. This is roughly €90, but the GHS figure is revised with the exchange rate — confirm the current amount at BLS before your appointment
- Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are collected in person at the BLS centre
- Insurance is listed as "optional" on the BLS site, but Spanish law requires full DGSFP cover — include it regardless
- Some sources indicate national visas may still be lodged by direct Embassy appointment. Confirm with the Embassy whether you submit at BLS or by appointment before you book — see the sidebar for official links
- Apply at least 2–3 months before your course start date to allow for the police clearance, legalization chain and sworn translation
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa just to visit Spain as a tourist? +
Yes. Ghanaian nationals require a Schengen short-stay visa (Category C) for any trip to Spain, even for stays under 90 days. This is different from nationals of the US, UK, Australia and Canada who can enter Spain visa-free for short stays. For study of more than 90 days, you need a national student visa (Category D) instead. Both are processed through BLS International in Accra.
I live in Togo — where do I apply? +
In Accra. The Embassy of Spain in Accra is accredited to both Ghana and Togo. Spain only maintains an honorary consulate in Lomé, which does not process visas, so Togo residents apply through the BLS centre in Accra the same way Ghanaian residents do.
Where do I get my police clearance certificate? +
From the Ghana Police Service — Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra. Apply via Ghana Police e-Services. It's required for student stays over 180 days. Because Ghana is not a Hague Apostille member, the certificate must then be authenticated by Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, legalized by the Spanish Embassy in Accra, and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
Why is there no apostille? +
Ghana has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so Ghanaian documents cannot be apostilled for use in Spain. Instead they go through the full legalization chain: Ghana Police CID clearance → authentication by Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs → legalization by the Spanish Embassy in Accra → sworn Spanish translation. This takes longer than an apostille, so start early.
Who can translate my documents into Spanish? +
The Embassy in Accra accepts translations only from certified sworn translators (traductores jurados) based in Spain, from the official list held by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is a Ghana-specific requirement — you cannot simply use a local translator. Budget time to send your legalized originals to a Spain-based sworn translator and receive the certified translation back.
Do I really need Spanish health insurance if BLS says it's optional? +
Yes. The BLS Ghana site describes insurance as "optional" for national visas, but Spain's national immigration rules (RD 1155/2024) require full private health cover from a DGSFP-authorised Spanish insurer, with no copayments, deductibles or coverage limits. Treat it as mandatory — files without proper cover risk refusal.
How much is the visa fee? +
The student visa fee is GHS 1,211 (the same for all ages), paid in cash and non-refundable, plus a separate GHS 227 BLS service charge. That's roughly €90, but the GHS amount is revised with the exchange rate, so confirm the current figure at the BLS centre before your appointment.
How early should I apply? +
Start preparing at least 2–3 months before your course start date. The police clearance, the legalization chain (Ghana MFA → Spanish Embassy) and the sworn Spanish translation each take time, and BLS appointment slots can fill up. The decision is typically around one month once your complete file is submitted, but can be longer. Do not book non-refundable flights until your visa is in hand.
Can I work in Spain on a student visa? +
Yes — since the May 2025 reform (RD 1155/2024), university / higher-education students can work up to 30 hours per week without a separate work permit (students at language schools still need a work authorisation). You still need to demonstrate sufficient financial means at the application stage — work rights don't replace the financial proof requirement.