Press release by the EU Delegation to Ghana
07.03.2013

The European Union (EU) will begin soon the operation of the Visa Information Systems (VIS) in relation to Schengen short-stay visas as decided in 2009 by the European Commission (EC).

In West Africa including Ghana, Schengen States' consulates will from March 14, 2013 collect fingerprints and digital photos from all visa applicants. Those data will be stored in the new VIS. It will allow better prevention of fraud, better protection against security stress and facilitate borders control for the citizens.

The Schengen States' consulates in Ghana include Spain, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.

The following countries are within the Schengen area and adhere to the Schengen Agreement. They include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece Hungary, Iceland (not a EU Member State), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein (not a EU Member State), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (not a EU Member State), Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (not a EU Member State).

This data collected can be consulted by all visa-issuing authorities of the Schengen States, and is counter-checked by border authorities at the entry of the visa holder into the Schengen area. An applicant will have to give their fingerprints every 5 years, meaning that frequent travelers will not have to do it each time they apply for a visa.

The VIS is a technical corollary to the establishment of a common area of freedom, security and justice in the EU and the free movement of persons inside the Schengen area.

Citizens from third countries like Ghana will benefit from the VIS through a streaming of visa application and border control procedures, as well as easier ways to establish applicants' lawful use of previous visas and bona fide status (e.g. when applying for a multiple-entry visa)

Background:

The start of operations of the VIS is part of the gradual worldwide deployment of the VIS over the coming years in all Schengen States' consulates. It is planned that the global roll-out will take at least two (2) more years.

The Commission's decision determining the first three regions for the roll-out of the VIS was adopted in 2009 on the basis of criteria set out in the VIS Regulation (risk of irregular immigration, threats to the internal security of the Schengen States, technical feasibility for collecting biometrics). The Commission's decision determining the next eight regions was adopted in April 2012.

In accordance with the decision, after West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) and Central Africa (Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principle), the VIS will be deployed in June 2013 in East Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) and Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

The next regions for the deployment are South America (September 2013); Central Asia, South East Asia and the occupied Palestinian territory (November 2013).

The Commission will adopt in the first semester 2013, a decision setting the sequence for the roll-out in the remaining regions of the world.

Already, the VIS has been rolled-out in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) in October 2011, in the Near East (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) in May 2012, and in the Gulf regional (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) in October 2012. 

Issued in Accra by the EU Delegation to Ghana
March 7, 2013

Effective from 19th January 2012, citizens of Benin going to Switzerland can apply for visas at the Belgian Consulate in Cotonou. As some exceptions apply, we recommend they submit their visa applications 3 weeks prior to the intended date of travel.

Belgian Consulate in Cotonou, Benin
Development Cooperation Bureau / Visa
Bureau CD/OS: Les Cocotiers, Lot 12 N
Bureau Visa: Les Cocotiers, Lot 52, Carre 1416
Cotonou

Tel.: +229 21 30 30 79
Fax  +229 21 30 68 62
Email:  cotonou@diplobel.be

Starting on 1st July 2010, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana will represent Belgium for the issuance of short-term Schengen visas. Please note that the same requirements, application forms and instructions as for Switzerland will apply. Please submit supporting documents in English.

To find out whether or not you need a visa for Switzerland, please consult the webpage of the Swiss Office of Migration.

Citizens of Ghana, Togo and Benin are required to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland.

Applications for visas may be submitted personally to the Visa Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Accra on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 09h00 until 11h00.

Application forms can be obtained at the Embassy of Switzerland in Accra or by downloading and printing - Visa Application Form -, which can be found hereinafter in PDF format. Please consult the leaflets on this page for information on how to apply for different types of visas.

Nationals who do require a visa should take into consideration that there are various types of visa. These are briefly outlined below:

Tourist Visa
For persons who holiday in Switzerland, staying at a hotel or rented flat or who visit Switzerland on a coach tour.

Visitor Visa
For persons who are going to spend some time with relatives or friends living in Switzerland.

Business Visa
For persons who wish to meet their Swiss business partners.

Transit Visa
For persons entering Switzerland only for onward travel.

Airport Transit Visa
For persons changing flights at a Swiss Airport.

In accordance with the agreement of 6 November 1963 between Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, Swiss entry regulations also apply to applications for entering the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Each application is checked individually and no guarantee can be given that a visa will be issued. The Embassy cannot be held responsible for costs involved when a visa is refused. Please note that in certain cases the application has to be submitted to the authorities in Switzerland. In such cases, it may take some weeks until a decision is taken (up to 12 weeks).

No vaccination certificates are required for Switzerland.