Hey travellers,
A post dedicated to my fellow struggling South Africans. After months of travel through the EU, and facing the long processes of attaining visas myself, I felt it was necessary to share intel on how I did it. In the following article I will highlight how the system works and how you can plan for your next visit to Europe as a South African citizen.
Let me start by saying, and I mentioned this in on my Instagram a while back as well, that visa requirements are entirely dependent on the country of access and the passport you own. For example, and EU passport holder has automatic access to all European countries and generally do not require visas. As for South Africa, we do, therefore the visa process is important to understand and plan for ahead.
A little overview in case you're reading this from an unknowing position, the Schengen zone is made up of all the countries in Europe that belong to the European Union. These in short include popular destinations such as Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Croatia, Spain and Portugal to name a few. To be safe, I always recommend checking online if the European country you plan on visiting is part of the EU and if not, whether you require a local visa for entry. Some countries in Europe that are not officially part of the EU will grant access for a limited number of days if you have an EU visa for another country. One such country is Albania which will allow visits up to 90 days visa-free if you have a valid EU visa for an official country in the Schengen zone. Double check this process according to individual countries.
South African Passport
In terms of the visa process in Europe's case, South Africans would need to visit their local, country-specific embassy or the VFS to apply for visas via appointment. Keep in mind the demand for these visas is high so make appointments well in advance to not delay your trip awaiting a visa. As for granted visa applications, they can take between a week to three to be processed and collected. Courier options are often available, so be specific when applying.
The visa validity may vary but are generally 90 days and these can be selected when filling in the online application form. You can apply for either a multi-entry or single-entry visa. Single entry visas are cheaper and efficient if you have a set period within 90 days in which you plan to visit the country. As for reasons related to backpacking, gap years and on a nomadic basis, a multi-entry would be more sufficient. In terms of duration, the visa will state the number of days you are permitted to be in the country then also a date by which these days may be fulfilled. If you intend on entering multiple times, make sure you complete those days before the visa expires.
Example of an Italian Multi-entry visa
Secondly, something to keep in mind is that with a multi-entry visa you can cross borders although your first country needs to be your supposed longest stay and this is the country stated on the visa, even if you intend to cross to other European countries. Europe is considered borderless, so passports are not checked and stamped when crossing between countries. This means you will be required to enter through that country even if you plan on visiting others and want a flexible itinerary. Pro tip: plan your trip that your first country remains the same as well as your exit country to avoid complications with visa permittance.
Embassy's may ask for different documents upon application but a few that are mandatory for any visas are generally your passport, proof of residence, a bank statement proving sufficient funds in accordance with their minimum per day requirement in their local currency, proof of accommodation and proof of transport upon exit and entry. If you intend to have a flexible trip, book accommodation that does not require pre-payments and that have free cancelation policies to be able to change your plans if you so wish. If you would like a similar arrangement with your flights, a flexi-flight or dummy flights are always a useful option. Any passport used for the application should still be valid for three months post exit for the visa to be granted.
Visas to Europe are not valid for extension unless related to work permits or residencies, but tourist visas cannot be extended at South African embassies in Europe. If you wish to stay longer you would need to return to South Africa and reapply before returning. Embassies have full right to reject visas but only with good reason, so this is rarely a concern.
To conclude, prior research to any country's visa policies is helpful, but I hope I was able to highlight the overall procedure that your next trip to Europe is a swift arrangement and hassle free.
Happy traveling,
Taz xx
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