Schengen Visa for South Africa Passport Holders

For information about Schengen visas for South African passport holders, you are in the right place. As the second largest economy in Africa, South Africa enjoys a favorable position in terms of Schengen visa issuance rates. The country falls in the top 15 in the world in terms of Schengen visa applications in 2017. SA is hailed as the Rainbow Nation due to its great cultural and ethnic diversity. South Africans have it easy when it comes to getting visas compared to citizens of the rest of the continent. Europe remains the favorite destination for South African passport holders.

What is Schengen Visa?

Schengen is a small country in Luxembourg where the Schengen agreement was signed in 1985. This agreement removes travel restrictions for citizens of 26 countries, most of which also double as members of the European Union. Citizens of any of these 26 countries do not need a visa to travel to any other member country.

South Africans and citizens of other non-Schengen countries require a Schengen visa before traveling to Schengen countries. Fortunately, the applicant needs only one visa from any of these states to visit the Schengen zone. A Schengen visa is therefore a travel permission to travel and reside in the Schengen countries. This is for a short stay of 90 days maximum within the 180 days allowed. However, A Schengen visa does not grant the holder any right to engage in employment.

Who Needs a Visa in South Africa?

Currently, the Schengen area has not established any visa-free arrangement with South Africa. This means that South African passport holders must get issued with Schengen visa before leaving for the Schengen area. You must be a South African citizen to be eligible to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa. Legal residents in the country can also apply. However, there are categories of persons that do not require Schengen visas in South Africa. These include the following;

• Citizens of Schengen area countries living in South Africa
• South African passport holders with dual citizenship (South Africa and any Schengen state) In this case, you will be required to use your Schengen country passport.
• South African passport holder with dual citizenship (South Africa and another country that has established a visa-free arrangement with the Schengen area). In this case, you will be required to use that country’s visa-exempt passport.

Visa Categories for South Africa Passport Holders

As an SA passport holder or resident, there are different visa categories that you can apply for in South Africa. These categories are as follows;

Schengen Visa Frequencies for South Africa

South Africa is one of the economic giants in Africa and enjoys good diplomatic and economic relations with Europe. Consequently, South African passport holders get favorable visa issuance success rates compared to citizens of other countries in the continent. The following graph shows the most recent statistics for Schengen visa issuance for South Africa;

Where to Go for Schengen Visa in South Africa

As a South African passport holder and resident, you need to apply for a Schengen visa. You can do this from the Schengen countries’ embassies, consulates, and Visa Application Centers (VACs) in South Africa. However, you cannot randomly choose;

• If you have only one destination country, apply through that country’s embassy
• If you have more than one destination country, apply through the country’s embassy in which you intend to stay the longest.
• If you are unable to decide where you intend to have your main stay, apply through the country’s embassy the first of which you intend to enter.

All the Schengen countries have embassies and consulates in South Africa where applicants can make their visa applications. There are also VFS Global and Copago International as VACs (for Netherlands and France respectively) in South Africa. For Hungary and Latvia, you should go to the embassy of Hungary in Pretoria. Likewise, for Italy and Malta, you should go to the Italian embassy in Pretoria.

Required Documents to Apply for Schengen Visa in South Africa

To apply for a Schengen visa, you must tender all the required documents to the right embassy in South Africa. The following documents must be submitted in the process of applying for a Schengen visa in South Africa;

1. Valid South African passport.

• This must not be older than ten years
• Must have at least two blank pages
• Must be valid for at least three months after the date of your return to South Africa.
• The temporary passport is not accepted
• Must provide photocopies of used passport pages
• Must provide previously issued visas if any

2. Completed common Schengen visa application form

• Every applicant must fill theirs
• Provide a photocopy and the original
• Must be dated and signed

3. Two color passport photos

• Clearly showing the face on a clear background
• Must not be edited or photoshopped.
• Taken within the last three months

4. South Africa identification document

• Original and photocopy
• Or residence permit

5. Cover letter

• Should outline all your travel details

6. Flight reservation for a visa which must show;

• Applicant names as they appear on the passport
• Flight dates (departure from and return to South Africa)
• Flight numbers

7. Proof of accommodation for visa covering the entire travel
8. Medical travel insurance for a visa must be at least 30,000 Euros (533,964 South African Rand)
9. Proof of sufficient funds which include;

• Bank statements issued within the last three months
• Proof of traveler’s checks
• Tax receipts for foreign exchange purchased
• Original letter from the bank proving sufficient funds
• Recent credit card statements

10. Proof that you have paid Schengen visa application fees as required

To help you prepare important documents such as cover letters, insurance coverage, accommodation, and flight reservations, you should consider consulting Schengen Flight Reservation Visa.

Other Documents Required for Schengen Visa in South Africa

You also need to furnish the visa processing office with additional documents. This is depending on your visa circumstances. These may include the following;

Schengen Visa Fees for South Africa Passport Holders

All South African passport holders and residents applying for a Schengen visa in the country must pay the required fees. The following table gives the current Schengen visa fees applicable in South Africa;

With the right information, a Schengen visa for South African passport holders is now fairly easy to get. Additionally, you can get help with important visa application steps and documents such as flight reservations for visas affordable and fast. You can also have all your questions answered by professionals right now.