Ghana Spain Visa: Complete Immigration Guide for Ghanaian Citizens
If you’re a Ghanaian citizen planning to move to Spain, you’ll need a visa before you travel. Ghana has no visa-free arrangement with the Schengen Area, but the process is straightforward when you understand your options. We can help professionals, families, and entrepreneurs navigate Spanish immigration , here’s everything you need to know about getting your ghana spain visa and building your life in Europe.
Key Facts for Ghanaian Citizens
- Visa Required: Yes (Schengen visa for tourism, National visa for residency)
- Most Common Visas: Digital Nomad, Work Visa, Non-Lucrative, Student
- Processing Time: 15-45 days (Schengen), 1-3 months (residence)
- Spanish Consulate: Embassy in Accra (the Spanish consulate handles applications)
- Citizenship Timeline: 10 years of legal residence
- Tax Treaty: No (no bilateral agreement)
- Dual Citizenship: Ghana allows it; Spain requires renunciation declaration (not enforced by Ghana)
- Apostille: Not available (Ghana is not a Hague Convention member. Full legalization required)
Why Ghanaians Choose Spain
Ghana’s strong English education system and growing professional class have produced workers who want international opportunities. Spain offers a clear path to EU residency and citizenship, plus access to Europe’s single market of 450 million consumers. Professionals seeking career growth and quality of life find Spain’s combination of opportunity and lifestyle attractive.
Ghana Spain Visa Options
Your visa type depends on your situation and goals. Here are the main pathways available to Ghanaian citizens:
Not sure which visa fits your situation? Each path has different requirements, timelines, and tax implications. Book a consultation and we’ll map out the optimal visa and tax strategy for your move.
Spanish Embassy in Ghana
All ghana spain visa applications go through the Spanish Embassy in Accra, with the Spanish consulate handling the submission process.
Accra – Embassy of Spain
Drake Avenue Extension, Airport Residential Area
P.M.B. KA 44, Accra, Ghana
Tel: +233 302 77 40 04 / +233 302 77 40 05
Email: [email protected]
Covers: All of Ghana
Tax Considerations for Ghanaians in Spain
No Tax Treaty Between Ghana and Spain
Ghana and Spain have no bilateral tax agreement. This means you could face taxation in both countries without automatic relief mechanisms.
Key Points:
- Beckham Law: Qualifying new residents pay flat 24% tax on Spanish income for 6 years. Foreign income exempt. Digital nomad visa holders typically qualify.
- Ghana Relief: Ghana allows foreign tax credits for taxes paid abroad, limited to Ghana’s average tax rate.
- Planning Essential: Without a treaty, proper structuring before your move is critical. Tax advisors who specialize in Ghana-Spain situations.
Required Documents for Ghanaians
Important: Ghana is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. All Ghanaian documents require full consular legalization, not a simple apostille stamp. This process takes longer and requires careful coordination.
Document Legalization Process for Ghana:
- Step 1: Obtain original document (criminal record from Ghana Police CID, birth certificate from Births and Deaths Registry)
- Step 2: Notarization in Ghana if required
- Step 3: Authentication by Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Step 4: Legalization by Spanish Embassy in Accra
- Step 5: Sworn translation into Spanish by official translator
Standard Documents Required:
- Passport valid for at least 12 months with 2 blank pages
- Criminal Background Check from Ghana Police Service CID (Accra), legalized
- Birth Certificate from Births and Deaths Registry, legalized
- Medical Certificate from authorized physician
- Proof of Income (bank statements for 6 months, employment contracts)
- Health Insurance from Spanish-authorized provider
- Application Form completed and signed
- Photos passport size, white background (35-45mm)
The legalization process typically adds 2-4 weeks to your timeline. We coordinate with contacts in Accra to handle document preparation and ensure everything meets Spanish consular requirements. Learn more about our document legalization service.
Healthcare in Spain
Once you’re working legally and contributing to Spanish Social Security, you gain access to Spain’s public healthcare system, ranked 7th globally. Coverage is comprehensive and essentially free for contributors.
During your first months, before Social Security enrollment completes, you’ll need private health insurance. Policies from Sanitas, Adeslas, or Mapfre typically cost €50-150 monthly depending on coverage level.
Path to Spanish Citizenship for Ghanaians
Ghanaian citizens can apply for Spanish citizenship after 10 years of continuous legal residence. This is the standard timeline for most nationalities. The 2-year fast track only applies to former Spanish colonies (Latin America, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea) and Portugal.
Your 10-year timeline:
- Year 1: Arrive on initial visa, obtain NIE, register with Social Security
- Years 1-5: Renew residence permits (first renewal after year 1, then every 2 years)
- Year 5: Apply for long-term EU residence (major milestone. Work freely anywhere in EU)
- Years 5-10: Maintain residence, build your life in Spain
- Year 10: Apply for citizenship
Citizenship requirements: Pass the CCSE exam (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge) and DELE A2 (Spanish language). Both are manageable with preparation.
Dual citizenship: Spain requires a formal renunciation declaration during naturalization. However, Ghana allows dual citizenship and doesn’t recognize Spain’s renunciation requirement. In practice, you keep both passports. After naturalizing, use your Spanish passport for travel. Using only your Ghanaian passport for 3+ years after naturalization could result in losing Spanish citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ghanaian citizens need a visa to visit Spain?
Yes. Ghanaians need a Schengen visa for tourism (up to 90 days) or a National visa for longer stays. There’s no visa-free access to Spain or the Schengen Area for Ghanaian passport holders.
Can I apostille my Ghanaian documents for Spain?
No. Ghana is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Your documents require full consular legalization: authentication by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalization by the Spanish Embassy in Accra. This process takes 2-4 weeks longer than apostille.
How long does it take Ghanaians to become Spanish citizens?
10 years of continuous legal residence. Ghana was a British colony, not Spanish, so the 2-year fast track doesn’t apply. You’ll also need to pass language (DELE A2) and cultural knowledge (CCSE) exams.
Will I lose my Ghanaian citizenship if I become Spanish?
No. Ghana allows dual citizenship since 2000. Spain requires a renunciation declaration during naturalization, but Ghana doesn’t recognize it. In practice, you keep both passports. After naturalizing, use your Spanish passport for travel to maintain your Spanish citizenship.
Is there a tax treaty between Ghana and Spain?
No. There’s no double taxation agreement between Ghana and Spain. This means careful tax planning is essential before your move. The Beckham Law can help qualifying new residents pay only 24% on Spanish income for 6 years.
What’s the best visa for Ghanaian tech professionals?
The Digital Nomad Visa is ideal if you work remotely for non-Spanish companies with income of €2,763+ monthly. The EU Blue Card is better if you have a job offer from a Spanish company paying €40k+. Both allow Beckham Law tax benefits.
We Handle Everything
Spanish bureaucracy is relentless. Visa applications, tax residency, NIE appointments, ongoing compliance. Getting any of it wrong costs time and money. We handle the paperwork and planning so you can focus on actually building your life here.
This guide provides general information about moving from Ghana to Spain. Requirements can change. Contact us for personalized advice on your situation. Information accurate as of January 2026.