Learn how to Apply for a SOUTH AFRICA VISA • Necessities & Course of for Filipino Vacationers

Okay, let’s be actual: South Africa is much. Regardless of the place on the earth you’re coming from, so long as it’s not on the African continent, we are able to 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 are able to inform you definitively that it is likely one of the most stunning international locations we now have 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 occurring 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 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 find out how to get one.

Learn how 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 simple — nothing too difficult. You simply want to assemble the necessities and submit it at VFS. No advance appointments essential.
• Bodily Visa (through Journey Company). That is helpful for many who don’t have the time to lodge their utility themselves or those that reside removed from Manila. Sure, there’s just one visa utility heart right here within the Philippines and it’s situated in Makati. So when you’re primarily based within the province, it is likely to be fairly the effort to journey to Manila simply to (1) submit your utility and (2) declare your passport.

Some of the trusted journey companies you may need to think about is Constellation Travels. It’s a giant established company and an establishment within the Philippine journey scene. In addition they supply all-inclusive South Africa tour packages, and when you avail of it, visa processing can 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 had 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 as if others had been encountering the identical downside. So to be protected, 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 out there.

In our case, as a result of we had been so busy round this time, we determined to course our utility by way 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 listing for Filipinos making use of for a vacationer visa, straight from the official web site.

1. Passport. Will need to have no less than two (2) clean pages to accommodate the visa sticker and no less than 30-day validity after the goal departure date from South Africa. However please word that Philippine Immigration requires passports to be legitimate for no less than six (6) months.
2. 2 current passport-size pictures. Have to be 35mm x 45mm. Taken throughout the previous 30 days.
3. Totally achieved visa utility 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.
4. Yellow fever vaccination certificates, provided that applicant will journey by way 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, 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 threat nation BEFORE getting into South Africa. In our case, we might 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 here are the international locations which can be thought of yellow fever threat.
5. 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 utility.
6. Spherical-trip flight reservation. Your flight should be scheduled no less than 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 will get this from journey companies.
7. Proof of lodging. Resort reserving is accepted.
8. 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 should be licensed by the police in South African Commissioner or Commissioner of Oaths.
9. Marriage certificates, if relevant. You should carry the unique whenever you submit your utility.
10. Copies of passport bio web page. We submitted two (2) copies.
11. 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 primarily based 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 direction of the underside.

When you’ve obtained all of your docs collectively, it’s time to submit your utility.

Step 2: Submit your utility.

Should you’re making use of through a journey company, simply ship it to them and they are going to be lodging your utility in your behalf. That will be it. The company will care for every part 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 Heart
  Tower Two, AP Reyes St. Brgy. Carmona, Theater Drive Circuit Makati, Makati Metropolis, 1630
  Philippines

My associates utilized on their very own. In line with them you’ll be required to go away your devices, vape and energy banks outdoors. There are lockers for hire for P75. They may verify your paperwork and accumulate a service price, which is PHP 2180, money solely.

And that’s it! Simply wait to your visa, if authorized.

Step 3: Wait to your visa.

How lengthy is the South Africa visa processing time?

7 working days, in line with the web site. However in line with the workers, in lots of instances, solely 4 working days.

In our case, our utility was submitted on July 18. Our passports with visa had 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 customary or it is dependent upon the itinerary you submit.

Do you could have a pattern South Africa visa utility cowl letter?

Right here’s a pattern cowl letter I created. That is the format that I used. Simply change the small print with your personal.

Once more, the letter should 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 individual or institution who can be shouldering the bills of the journey
• contact particulars
• designation and signature of sponsoring social gathering

Should you’re making use of through Constellation Travels, they are going to care for the notarization.

What does a South Africa visa appear like?

Like this:

Do you suggest a journey company for South Africa?

We utilized by way of 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 utility is already included!

Get in contact with Constellation Travels by way of these contact numbers and e 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 a protracted journey that results in one of the unforgettable journey experiences you’ll ever have. From the wild fantastic 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 perpetually.

We’ll be publishing extra South Africa content material quickly!