• In order to travel out of the country everyone needs a valid passport. This is applicable even when a visa is not required. In
  addition to applying at the Department of Home Affairs it is now possible to apply for your passport at selected banks: Nedbank, Standard Bank and FNB are all participating in this development.
  
  General requirements to secure a visa to an international destination:
  
  1. You have to check the current validity of your passport. Ensure that the expiry date is far from the dates that you would be
  travelling, with at least 6 months of validity remaining on your passport when you complete your travelling. Your passport
  should have at least 2 or 3 blank pages left, for stamps upon your arrival and departure.
  
  2. You need sufficient funds since travelling can be very costly. You will be required to supply bank statements, and proof from your bank that you have sufficient funds.
  
  3. You need to determine if a transit visa is required and if there will be a connecting flight. Your chosen airline can provide you with this information.
  
  4. You need a return ticket to where you are from as well as a flight ticked to where you are headed.
  
  5. Certain countries also require a Yellow Fever certificate (international law requires travellers crossing the borders of
  
  countries where yellow fever is endemic to have yellow fever vaccinations, whereafter you will be issued with a yellow fever certificate).
  
  

  

South African passport holders are required to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter any European country in the Schengen Zone.

In order to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa you need to submit the following documents:

• Visa application form (which can be obtained from www.schengenvisainfo.com/download-schengen-visa-application-form).
The form must be completed fully with the required information. You must then print the form twice and sign both copies at the end;

• A South African valid passport or other travel document, no older than 10 years with a validity of at least 3 more months
beyond your planned date of leaving Europe;

• A photo taken within the last 3 months;

• Evidence of legal residence in South Africa such 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 plan to visit, 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 Europe and back. If you will be taking any internal flights you will have to include those tickets as well;

• Proof of accommodation to show where you will be staying while on Europe;

• Means of subsistence which proves that you have enough money to financially support yourself for the duration of your stay in any of the Schengen countries;

• Europe Travel Health Insurance which proves that you have purchased travel health insurance that covers the whole
territory of Schengen, in case of medical emergencies such as accidents and illnesses, as well as repatriation to South
Africa in case of death, with a minimum coverage of € 30 000.

1. There are different Schengen visa types and you need to figure out the type you require depending on your purpose for
travelling to Europe:

• Transit visa;

• Tourism visa;

• Visa for visiting family or friends;

• Business visa;

• Visa for culture and sport activities;

• Visa for official visits;

• Study visa;

• Visa for medical reasons.

2. Find out where you need to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa, which depends on the jurisdiction you fall under:

• If you are visiting one Schengen country, file your application at the embassy/ consulate/ visa center of that country;

• If you are going to visit more than 2 Schengen countries, file your application at the embassy/consulate/visa center
of the country you will spend the most days. Alternatively, file at the embassy/ consulate/ visa center of the country
where you will first step, if you will be spending an equal amount of days in each country.

3. 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. The latest you can lodge your application is at least 15 working days before you intend to travel to Europe.

4. Collect the required Schengen visa documents;

5. Schedule an appointment for an interview at the visa application center in South Africa;

6. Attend the interview on the day appointed;

7. Pay the visa fee (R995 for adults, R580 for minors aged between 6-11 years, and R0 for children under the age of 6 years;

8. 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.

The process for South Africans to apply for a tourist US visa:

1. determine the type of visa required to travel to the US, the different types can be found here

2. you are required to have a valid South African passport with at least 6 months validity left after the date that you travel to the US;

3. complete the DS-160 form. This form can be accessed from here;

4. visit the following website to create a user account, enter the DS-160 confirmation number for each applicant applying for a visa: here

5. complete the information requested including the courier document return process;

6. pay the non-immigrant visa fee which is $160 (R2 756, 72);

7. schedule and attend a Consular Section appointment;

8. follow the instructions given to you after the above meeting.

The process for South Africans to apply for a UK visa:

1. you need to choose the type of visa for the purpose you intend to visit the UK:

• visitor’s visa;

• work visa;

• study visa;

• family visas;

• visas for children;

• routes to British citizenship.

2. Ensure that you have a valid South African passport. South African passports must be valid for at least 6 months after your
return to South Africa. Passports require 2 valid blank pages when you leave or return to South Africa. Visa pages are invalid
if damaged or stained by stamps from other pages. Damaged passports should be replaced prior to applying for a visa.

3. Establish where you should apply for your UK visa. If you are applying for a standard visitor visa, a permitted paid
engagement visa or a marriage visitor visa you will be using “Access UK.” In all other cases you apply via Visa4UK.

4. Gather your required documents. You will need both the original as well as A4 photocopies of the originals:

• Financial documents showing that you have sufficient funds available;

• Confirmation of legal residence, if you are not a national of the country in which you are applying or your right to
reside there is not included in your passport;

• Details of employment or studies where you have stated in your application that you are either employed or in full- time studies;

• If self-employed, business registration documents;

• Business activities, where you are coming to the UK to undertake activities relating to your occupation/
employment outside of the UK, you should submit documents showing what you will be doing in the UK.

• If you are under the age of 18 years and not travelling with your parents, you will be required to have the
following documents: 1) A copy of the biographical page of your parent/legal guardian’s passport, which contains
the passport number and is signed by them. 2) A letter signed by your parents or guardian confirming where you
are staying in the UK and with whom, and who you are travelling with to the UK. 3) Your unabridged birth
certificate which indicates your relationship between yourself and your parents/guardian

5. Check your application fee by visiting: Check application fee

6. Follow the Access UK’s process or the Visa4UK process, depending on your intentions for the visit.

7. Attend your appointment with all the required documents. You will also be required to submit biometric information
(photographs and fingerprints). Your application will then be sent to the relevant embassy/ consulate for processing.

1. The first step in the process is to prepare your application. You need to know whether you require a visa or a permit, and which type you want to apply for.

The types of Visas

There are different types of visas which are designed for different purposes:

• Tourist visa (e-Visa) – this form of visa will be available soon and will eliminate the need to physically go to an embassy or
consulate for citizens of eligible countries. Once approved the eVisa will be sent to applicants by email. Travellers will
then be able to gain entry into South Africa by presenting the Evisa at the border;

• Visit visa – this visa allows visitors to enter for a maximum period of 90 days for tourism or business purposes;

• Business visa – this allows eligible citizens to enter for maximum period of 90 days to work or invest in the South African economy;

• Medical visa – this allows stays of up to six months. A form BI-1738 must be completed and a letter from your doctor or
medical institution which states the reasons why the treatment is necessary. It also necessary to show that you
have the means to pay the medical fees as well as the living costs;

• Relative’s visa – immediate family members of a South African citizen or resident can apply for a relatives visa. This
visa is issued for a maximum period of two years at a time. Applicants need to complete a BI-1738 Form, demonstrate
proof of financial means, provide the passport or identification of their relative who is a South African citizen or resident;

• Retired persons visa – people who want to retire in South Africa can apply for this visa. Applicants need to meet the
financial requirements and complete the BI-1738 Form; • Work visa – these are issued to foreigners who possess
specific skills which are in demand. The duration of the visa depends on the type of work which the applicant will do. Applications can either be made at a Visa Facilitation
Services Center (VFS) in South Africa or at an embassy or consulate abroad;

• Study visa – students who wish to study in South Africa on a full-time basis can obtain a study visa by completing a
BI-1738 Form which allows people to study at all levels of education. The visa will be valid for the duration of the course.

The necessary documentation include proof of acceptance for the course, parental consent (if under the age of 18),
proof of financial means, and proof of medical cover;

• Exchange visa – this is for people who are 25 years old or under and who want to participate in cultural, economic or
social exchange programmes. These programmes must be organized by a state institution or a public higher educational
institution in conjunction with a governmental body of a foreign state. These visas are valid for the duration of the
programme and cannot be renewed or extended.

2. The next step is to either apply for a visa or permit online on the VFS website, or apply for a visa or permit at the Visa Facilitation Center.

The procedure to follow for the physical application is as follows:

• fill in the correct online form;

• pay the mandatory fee of R1 350 in order to schedule an appointment after filing the application form;

• pay the relevant fees online via three methods: payment at Standard Bank branches using the system generated bank
deposit slip, or by credit/debit card, or by electronic funds transfer (EFT). Any outstanding fees can be paid at the Visa
Facilitation Center by a debit/credit card. No payments will be collected in cash at the Center;

• check all the required documents for the application.

3. On the day of the appointment you are required to arrive 15 minutes early at the Center. Your online application form, proof
of payment and supporting documents, along with a valid passport or travel document will be required. Once the visa
application process is completed you will be issued with an acknowledgment receipt.

4. Enrol your fingerprints and photograph at the Visa Facilitation Center, this includes a digital finger scan and a digital photograph.

5. You then need to decide whether you would prefer to collect your documents in person at the Center or have a
representative collect the decision on your behalf. The representative needs to carry an authorization letter with the
name of the applicant and his/her passport number, followed by the name and ID number of the representative collecting the application.

*Proof of Address Residential

*At least 3 months bank statements

*If employed : Letter from employer confirming that you are employed and that you will be re
returning to employment.

• *Allow minimum of eight weeks for application to be processed and accepted by the relevant embassy. Book Flights accordingly.

*The Fee for VISA application will be determined by the relevant embassy

*If you are self-employed you will need a tax clearance certificate from SARS.

*If you are married and you are dependent on a spouse you need a copy of your marriage certificate.

*Nature of VISA applied for needs to be specified eg Work VISA, Holiday VISA

*Make sure that you have sufficient money in your bank account for your travel expenses.

*The country you visiting don’t to be burdened that you will become a refugee and now become dependent on their country.

*Application forms for relevant VISAS can be downloaded from the countries embassy website.

*For Minors (Children)

*Need unabridged birth certificate that takes another 6 weeks from home affairs.

*Make sure passport is NOT Expired.

*Plan accommodating time for home affairs VISA granting time.

*Must have passport. If not, application for passport could take about 6 – 8 weeks to obtain.
___________________________________________________________
Hi, I’m Kailash Pillay, an attorney from the city of Johannesburg. My passion for the law
stems from a desire to improve upon the lives of the vulnerable who fall prey to a
corrupt system.
I studied at the University of Johannesburg where I obtained my Bachelor of Laws
degree, the starting point to the long journey of becoming a legal practitioner.
This profession has taught me to persevere through the complexities of the law and to
continually develop my skills as a legal professional.