Okay, let’s be actual: South Africa is much. Irrespective of the place on the planet you’re coming from, so long as it’s not on the African continent, we will make sure that South Africa is much from you. It’s not precisely your typical fast getaway, and the flight itself goes to check your endurance. However right here’s the factor — South Africa is so price the additional time and expense. Think about: breathtaking landscapes, epic wildlife safaris, and a tradition that’s as numerous as it’s fascinating. When you’re there, all these hours on the aircraft will really feel like nothing.
We not too long ago traveled to South Africa, and we will inform you definitively that it is likely one of the most lovely nations we have now set foot in. First off, let’s speak Cape City — a metropolis that’s equal elements cool and heat. Cool as a result of it’s crammed with scenic adventures like biking across the metropolis or happening a sundown cruise. Heat due to the pleasant locals and scrumptious meals. You’ve bought Desk Mountain looming over you, Instagram-worthy seashores, and vineyards only a brief drive away. Then, the safaris. Kruger Nationwide Park is the place you go to tick off the Large 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and cape buffalos) out of your bucket listing. You’ll be so near nature, it’ll really feel such as you’re in a Nationwide Geographic documentary.
And sure, we needed to apply for a South Africa visa previous to our journey. On this article, we’re gonna present you precisely methods to get one.
How you can Get a South Africa Visa
There are 3 ways to get a South African visa:
- On-line. Filipinos are eligible to use for an eVisa on the official web site.
- Bodily Visa (Direct). Apply for a bodily visa by yourself in Makati. South Africa visa processing is dealt with by VFS. The appliance course of for a bodily visa is fairly simple — nothing too difficult. You simply want to collect the necessities and submit it at VFS. No advance appointments needed.
- Bodily Visa (through Journey Company). That is useful for many who don’t have the time to lodge their software themselves or those that reside removed from Manila. Sure, there’s just one visa software middle right here within the Philippines and it’s situated in Makati. So when you’re based mostly within the province, it is likely to be fairly the trouble to journey to Manila simply to (1) submit your software and (2) declare your passport.
One of the trusted journey businesses you may need to take into account is Constellation Travels. It’s an enormous established company and an establishment within the Philippine journey scene. In addition they provide all-inclusive South Africa tour packages, and when you avail of it, visa processing will likely be included robotically.
Anyway, Filipinos like us are eligible to use for an evisa on-line. However we selected to use for a bodily visa for two causes.
- First, as a result of my mates who tried to use on-line bumped into issues with the web site. If I keep in mind appropriately, they weren’t receiving any of the e-mail notifications that have been wanted to maneuver ahead. So they simply gave up and ended up making use of in particular person. They usually weren’t the one ones. Looks like others have been encountering the identical drawback. So to be secure, we additionally opted to get a bodily visa.
- Second, we simply wished an precise, bodily visa on our passport. I do know that is fairly shallow, however bodily visas are getting rarer and rarer nowadays, so we attempt to get one whereas they’re nonetheless obtainable.
In our case, as a result of we have been so busy round this time, we determined to course our software by an company, Constellation Travels.
So yeah, with out additional ado, let’s get proper into it.
Step 1: Full the necessities.
Right here’s the complete listing for Filipinos making use of for a vacationer visa, straight from the official web site.
- Passport. Will need to have a minimum of two (2) clean pages to accommodate the visa sticker and a minimum of 30-day validity after the goal departure date from South Africa. However please observe that Philippine Immigration requires passports to be legitimate for a minimum of six (6) months.
- 2 current passport-size photographs. Have to be 35mm x 45mm. Taken inside the previous 30 days.
- Totally achieved visa software type (DHA-84). Emphasis on DHA-84, since you’ll discover 2 variations of this manner on-line. DHA-84 and DHA-1738. DHA-84 is the right one. Have to be accomplished in block letters and black ink. Will need to have the signature of the applicant, matching the signature on the passport.
- Yellow fever vaccination certificates, provided that applicant will journey by or keep in yellow fever belt. We secured an Worldwide Certificates of Vaccination (ICV), which we bought from the Bureau of Quarantine right here in Metro Manila. To be clear, when you’re touring from the Philippines or the Americas, Europe, Center East, you don’t want a yellow fever vaccination. You solely want this when you’re coming from or staying in a yellow-fever danger nation BEFORE getting into South Africa. In our case, we’d be touring Kenya first earlier than flying to South Africa. However as a result of Kenya is a danger nation, we’re required to current a proof of yellow fever vaccination. Listed here are the nations which might be thought of yellow fever danger.
- 3 months financial institution assertion. As proof of monetary capability. Have to be licensed by financial institution, issued inside seven (7) days earlier than the time of software.
- Spherical-trip flight reservation. Your flight have to be scheduled a minimum of 15 working days earlier than your goal flight date. Reservation solely, not precise tickets. No mounted flight preparations must be made till the visa has been attained. You may get this from journey businesses.
- Proof of lodging. Lodge reserving is accepted.
- If invited by somebody in South Africa: Invitation letter from host. Have to be signed by inviter. Additionally submit licensed proof of billing, ID, and so forth. All supporting paperwork have to be licensed by the police in South African Commissioner or Commissioner of Oaths.
- Marriage certificates, if relevant. You should carry the unique once you submit your software.
- Copies of passport bio web page. We submitted two (2) copies.
- Cowl letter. Have to be notarized and have the next: applicant’s full title, passport quantity, journey dates/size of keep, function of the journey, and tackle. It also needs to clearly state who can pay for the journey and the contact particulars of approved signature’s title and designation of sponsor. You’ll discover a pattern cowl letter under.
For international passport holder based mostly within the Philippines, copy of labor visa/ residence allow in Philippines (legitimate Philippine visa).
For minor dependent youngsters: there are further paperwork to be submitted. Try this listing, in the direction of the underside.
When you’ve bought all of your docs collectively, it’s time to submit your software.
Step 2: Submit your software.
Should you’re making use of through a journey company, simply ship it to them and they are going to be lodging your software in your behalf. That will be it. The company will maintain the whole lot from there and can simply replace you.
Should you desire to submit it your self, right here’s the tackle:
- Visa Utility Centre
Floor Ground, Makati Circuit Company Middle
Tower Two, AP Reyes St. Brgy. Carmona, Theater Drive Circuit Makati, Makati Metropolis, 1630
Philippines
My mates utilized on their very own. In response to them you’ll be required to depart your devices, vape and energy banks exterior. There are lockers for lease for P75. They are going to verify your paperwork and acquire a service charge, which is PHP 2180, money solely.
And that’s it! Simply wait to your visa, if authorised.
Step 3: Wait to your visa.
How lengthy is the South Africa visa processing time?
7 working days, in response to the web site. However in response to the workers, in lots of instances, solely 4 working days.
In our case, our software was submitted on July 18. Our passports with visa have been prepared for pickup on July 26. In order that’s 6 working days.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
What number of days are we allowed to remain in South Africa?
I utilized for 10 days; I used to be granted a visa that’s legitimate for a single keep of as much as 10 days.
I’m unsure if 10 days is normal or it relies on the itinerary you submit.
Do you’ve gotten a pattern South Africa visa software cowl letter?
Right here’s a pattern cowl letter I created. That is the format that I used. Simply exchange the small print with your individual.
Once more, the letter have to be notarized, signed, and should have the next:
- applicant’s title
- applicant’s signature
- passport quantity
- function of the journey
- size of keep
- bodily tackle
- title of particular person or institution who will likely be shouldering the bills of the journey
- contact particulars
- designation and signature of sponsoring get together
Should you’re making use of through Constellation Travels, they’ll maintain the notarization.
What does a South Africa visa seem like?
Like this:
Do you advocate a journey company for South Africa?
We utilized by Constellation Travels, Inc.
Constellation Travels additionally presents South Africa tour packages. That is nice for many who don’t have the time, power or bandwidth to cope with planning a visit and making use of for a visa. Should you’re availing of a tour bundle, visa software is already included!
Get in contact with Constellation Travels by these contact numbers and electronic mail tackle:
Or go to their official web site at www.constellationtravels.com.ph.
And that’s it! South Africa is likely one of the most spectacular locations we visited, and Cape City immediately turned one in every of our favourite cities. Yeah, South Africa is much — however consider it as an extended journey that results in one of the vital unforgettable journey experiences you’ll ever have. From the wild great thing about its nationwide parks to the dynamic city life in Cape City and past, you’ll depart South Africa with recollections that’ll stick with you without end.
We’ll be publishing extra South Africa content material quickly!