Okay, let’s be actual: South Africa is much. Irrespective of the place on this planet you’re coming from, so long as it’s not on the African continent, we will make certain 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 various as it’s fascinating. When you’re there, all these hours on the airplane will really feel like nothing.
We not too long ago traveled to South Africa, and we will inform you definitively that it is among the most lovely international locations we now have set foot in. First off, let’s discuss Cape City — a metropolis that’s equal components 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 obtained 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 Huge 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and cape buffalos) out of your bucket record. 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.
The way to 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 easy — 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 helpful 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 heart right here within the Philippines and it’s situated in Makati. So should you’re primarily based within the province, it is perhaps fairly the effort to journey to Manila simply to (1) submit your software and (2) declare your passport.
Some of the trusted journey businesses you would possibly wish to take into account is Constellation Travels. It’s a giant established company and an establishment within the Philippine journey scene. In addition they provide all-inclusive South Africa tour packages, and should you avail of it, visa processing will probably 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 associates who tried to use on-line bumped into issues with the web site. If I bear in mind appropriately, they weren’t receiving any of the e-mail notifications that have been wanted to maneuver ahead. So they only gave up and ended up making use of in individual. And so they 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 needed an precise, bodily visa on our passport. I do know that is fairly shallow, however bodily visas are getting rarer and rarer lately, 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 means of 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 record 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 images. Have to be 35mm x 45mm. Taken inside the previous 30 days.
- Absolutely completed visa software kind (DHA-84). Emphasis on DHA-84, since you’ll discover 2 variations of this kind on-line. DHA-84 and DHA-1738. DHA-84 is the proper 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 means of or keep in yellow fever belt. We secured an Worldwide Certificates of Vaccination (ICV), which we obtained from the Bureau of Quarantine right here in Metro Manila. To be clear, should you’re touring from the Philippines or the Americas, Europe, Center East, you don’t want a yellow fever vaccination. You solely want this should you’re coming from or staying in a yellow-fever threat nation BEFORE coming 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 threat nation, we’re required to current a proof of yellow fever vaccination. Listed below are the international locations which can be thought-about yellow fever threat.
- 3 months financial institution assertion. As proof of economic 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 fastened 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 will need to carry the unique while 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 identify, passport quantity, journey dates/size of keep, objective of the journey, and tackle. It must also clearly state who can pay for the journey and the contact particulars of approved signature’s identify and designation of sponsor. You’ll discover a pattern cowl letter under.
For overseas passport holder primarily based within the Philippines, copy of labor visa/ residence allow in Philippines (legitimate Philippine visa).
For minor dependent kids: there are further paperwork to be submitted. Take a look at this record, in direction of the underside.
When you’ve obtained all of your docs collectively, it’s time to submit your software.
Step 2: Submit your software.
For those who’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 deal with every little thing from there and can simply replace you.
For those who choose to submit it your self, right here’s the tackle:
- Visa Software Centre
Floor Flooring, Makati Circuit Company Middle
Tower Two, AP Reyes St. Brgy. Carmona, Theater Drive Circuit Makati, Makati Metropolis, 1630
Philippines
My associates utilized on their very own. In accordance with them you’ll be required to go away your devices, vape and energy banks outdoors. There are lockers for lease for P75. They are going to examine your paperwork and accumulate a service charge, which is PHP 2180, money solely.
And that’s it! Simply wait on your visa, if authorised.
Step 3: Wait on your visa.
How lengthy is the South Africa visa processing time?
7 working days, in accordance with the web site. However in accordance with the workers, in lots of circumstances, 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 is dependent upon the itinerary you submit.
Do you’ve 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 change the main points with your individual.
Once more, the letter have to be notarized, signed, and will need to have the next:
- applicant’s identify
- applicant’s signature
- passport quantity
- objective of the journey
- size of keep
- bodily tackle
- identify of individual or institution who will probably be shouldering the bills of the journey
- contact particulars
- designation and signature of sponsoring occasion
For those who’re making use of through Constellation Travels, they may deal with the notarization.
What does a South Africa visa appear to be?
Like this:
Do you suggest a journey company for South Africa?
We utilized by means of Constellation Travels, Inc.
Constellation Travels additionally affords South Africa tour packages. That is nice for many who don’t have the time, vitality or bandwidth to take care of planning a visit and making use of for a visa. For those who’re availing of a tour package deal, visa software is already included!
Get in contact with Constellation Travels by means of 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 among the most spectacular locations we visited, and Cape City immediately turned one in all our favourite cities. Yeah, South Africa is much — however consider it as a protracted journey that results in one of the 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 go away South Africa with recollections that’ll stick with you endlessly.
We’ll be publishing extra South Africa content material quickly!