A Schengen visa is a short stay visa allowing its holder to circulate in the Schengen area.
How Much Does A Schengen Visa Cost In South Africa
| Schengen visa normal tariff | 60 | 995 |
| Schengen visa low tariff (minors 6-11 years) | 35 | 580 |
| Children under 6 | 0 | 0 |
Who can apply for a Schengen Visa in South Africa?
The EU countries have established their embassies, consulates and visa application centers in South Africa, which are responsible for the admission and procession of visa applications. However, not everyone can apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa.
Only the following are eligible to file their visa applications at the Schengen embassies/consulates / VACs in South Africa
- South African passport holders
- Nationals of third countries, which are required to obtain a visa to Europe, living in South Africa under a permanent or temporary residence permit
Schengen Visa Application Requirements for South Africans
When applying for a Schengen visa in South Africa, you will have to submit a number of required documents. These documents are crucial; therefore, you really need to be careful when collecting them. Make sure they all comply with the standards set by the embassy where you are applying.
To apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa, you need to submit the following documents:
Visa application form – completely fulfilled with the required information. Try to avoid any mistakes, and give correct and honest information.
After giving the information you are asked to, print the form twice, and sign both copies at the end.
A South African valid passport or another travel document. No older than 10 years, with a validity of at least 3 more months beyond your planned date of leaving Europe.
Photo – taken within the last three months. The photo must be taken according to the photography requirements as set by the Schengen countries.
Evidence of legal residence in South Africa – as a national ID card, or residence permit.
A cover letter. In which you explain the reasons you wish to enter the Schengen Zone, the countries you are planning to visit and the amount of time you wish to spend in each and other details about your trip.
Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A booked flight reservation from South Africa to the EU and back. If you will be taking any internal flights, you will have to include those tickets too.
Proof of Accommodation. A document that shows where you will be staying while in Europe.
Means of Subsistence. A document that proves you have enough money to financially support yourself during your stay in any of the Schengen countries.
Europe Travel Health Insurance. A document that proves you have purchased travel health insurance that covers the whole territory of Schengen, in cases of medical emergencies such as accidents and illnesses, as well as repatriation to South Africa in case of death, with a minimum coverage of 516,04 South African Rand.
How to Apply for a Schengen Visa in South Africa
You will have to follow a step-by-step guideline to apply for a Schengen visa.
The application procedure for a Schengen visa in South Africa is pretty similar to that in every other country in the world.
In order to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa you must follow these steps:
Figure out which Schengen visa type you need. There are different Schengen visa types depending on your purpose of traveling from South Africa to Europe.
Find out where you need to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa. Pay attention to the embassy/consulate / VAC of which country you need to apply at, as well as under the jurisdiction of which you fall.
Decide when to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa. The earliest time you can lodge your Schengen visa application in South Africa is 3 months before your planned trip while the latest time to file your visa application is at least 15 working days before you intend to travel to Europe.
Collect the required Schengen visa documents for South Africans.
Appoint an interview at the visa application center in South Africa. Depending on the country, you may make an appointment online, by phone, or in person. Below in this article, you can find more information for each embassy/consulate located in South Africa.
Attend the interview on the day of your appointment. Show up on time and try not to be nervous. Remember that the interview is a crucial part of your visa application.
Pay the visa fee. All Schengen states have fixed and synchronized visa fees. For more information check Schengen visa fees for South Africans.
Wait for the processing of your visa. After the interview, you will have to wait for at most 15 days, for a response on your application.
If your Schengen visa is approved
If you get your visa, make sure to understand carefully the labels attached to the visa sticker, including the period it permits you to remain in Europe, otherwise, overstaying in the Schengen Area might have consequences.
The articles How to find cheap flights from South Africa to Europe and What do you need to pack when traveling from South Africa to Europe will help you not just to save money but also to have a more pleasant journey to Europe.
If your Schengen visa gets rejected
If your visa application gets denied, read the reason why didn’t grant you a visa and try to fulfill it the next time you apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa or if you think that your application was correct, and the decision on its refusal was a mistake, you can always appeal the visa rejection at the embassy/consulate of the Schengen country in South Africa.