Schengen Visa For South African Citizens
A Schengen Visa For South African Citizens, also known as a Schengen Visa South Africa, and a Schengen Visa For South Africans, is one of many types of visas issued by the Schengen states. It allows its holder to travel freely within the Schengen area. This visa is normally valid for a period of thirty days within a six month period, which must be spent in the country of issuance.
If you’re a South African considering a visit to Europe for business or pleasure, you’re likely familiar with the Schengen Visa. However, applying for a Schengen Visa can be a confusing process. The application form is fortunately fairly simple and straightforward, but there are still some considerations that you should make before deciding whether traveling to Europe is right for your needs.
Schengen Visa For South African Citizens
As a citizen of South Africa, there are specific requirements you need to fulfill in order to avail a Schengen visa. What matters more is that you will not be able to travel across Europe with just an entry visa to Schengen country or worse still, an invitation letter.
Schengen Visa Requirements for South Africans
Known as the “rainbow nation” for its multiethnic society and multicultural diversity, South Africa is the second richest country in the continent of Africa. With a total GDP as high as $341.216 billion, its passport holders have it easier to travel the world, in comparison to the rest of the continent’s residents.
The European capitals remain among the main travel destinations for the citizens of South Africa. In 2019, South Africa was among the top 15 countries the residents of which filed most short-stay visa applications at the Schengen embassies/consulates in the country.
Those residing in South Africa will have to go through procedures and requirements in order to be able to obtain the permit that allows them to travel throughout the 26 European countries, part of the Schengen zone.
Do South Africans Need a Visa to Enter Europe?
Yes, South African passport holders are required to obtain a Schengen visa in order to enter any European country in the Schengen Zone.
However, there are some categories of people residing in South Africa that are exempt from the visa requirement, as following:
- Internationals living in South Africa, coming from one of the Schengen member states or the countries that have established visa-free regime with the Schengen states*
- South African passport holders, that hold dual citizenship – South African and of one of the Schengen member states (These persons will have to travel with their European passport)
- South African passport holders, that hold dual citizenship – South African and of one of the countries that have a visa-free regime with the Schengen Zone (These people will have to travel with their Schengen-visa-exempt-country passport)*
*Starting May 1, 2023, these categories of citizens will have to apply for an ETIAS prior to their travel towards Europe, in order to be allowed to enter the territory.
Who Can Apply for a Schengen Visa in South Africa?
The EU countries have established their embassies, consulates and visa application centres in South Africa, which are responsible for the admission and procession of visa applications. However, not everyone can apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa.
Only the following are eligible to file their visa applications at the Schengen embassies/consulates / VACs in South Africa
- South African passport holders
- Nationals of third countries, which are required to obtain a visa to Europe, living in South Africa under a permanent or temporary residence permit
Schengen Visa Application Requirements for South Africans
When applying for a Schengen visa in South Africa, you will have to submit a number of required documents. These documents are crucial; therefore, you really need to be careful when collecting them. Make sure they all comply with the standards set by the embassy where you are applying.
To apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa, you need to submit the following documents:
- Visa application form – completely fulfilled with the required information. Try to avoid any mistakes, and give correct and honest information. Here you can find a guide on how to fill up a visa application form! After giving the information you are asked to, print the form twice, and sign both copies at the end.
- A South African valid passport or another travel document. No older than 10 years, with a validity of at least 3 more months beyond your planned date of leaving Europe.
- Photo – taken within the last three months. The photo must be taken according to the photography requirements as set by the Schengen countries.
- Evidence of legal residence in South Africa – 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 are planning to visit and 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 the EU and back. If you will be taking any internal flights, you will have to include those tickets too.
- Proof of Accommodation. A document that shows where you will be staying while in Europe.
- Means of Subsistence. A document that proves you have enough money to financially support yourself during your stay in any of the Schengen countries.
- Europe Travel Health Insurance. A document that proves you have purchase travel health insurance that covers the whole territory of Schengen, in cases of medical emergencies as accidents and illnesses, as well as repatriation to South Africa in case of death, with a minimum coverage of €30.000.
Other specific requirements when applying for a different Schengen visa type in South Africa:
- Business Schengen visa requirements
- Tourist Schengen visa requirements
- Visitor Schengen visa requirements
How to Apply for a Schengen Visa in South Africa
You will have to follow a step-by-step guideline to apply for a Schengen visa. The application procedure for a Schengen visa in South Africa is pretty similar to that in every other country in the world.
In order to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa you must follow these steps:
- Figure out which Schengen visa type you need. There are different Schengen visa types depending on your purpose of travelling from South Africa to Europe.
- Find out where you need to apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa. Pay attention to the embassy/consulate / VAC of which country you need to apply at, as well as under the jurisdiction of which you fall.
- 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 while the latest time to file your visa application is at least 15 working days before you intend to travel to Europe.
- Collect the required Schengen visa documents for South Africans.
- Appoint an interview at the visa application centre in South Africa. Depending on the country, you may make an appointment online, by phone, or in person. Below in this article, you can find more information for each embassy/consulate located in South Africa.
- Attend the interview on the day of your appointment. Show up on time and try not to be nervous. Remember that the interview is a crucial part of your visa application.
- Pay the visa fee. All Schengen states have fixed and synchronized visa fees. For more information check Schengen visa fees for South Africans.
- 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.
If your Schengen visa is approved
If you get your visa, make sure to understand carefully the labels attached to the visa sticker, including the period it permits you to remain in Europe, otherwise, overstaying in the Schengen Area might have consequences.
The articles How to find cheap flights from South Africa to Europe and What do you need to pack when travelling from South Africa to Europe will help you not just to save money but also to have a more pleasant journey to Europe.
If your Schengen visa gets rejected
If your visa application gets denied, read the reason why didn’t grant you a visa and try to fulfil it the next time you apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa or if you think that your application was correct, and the decision on its refusal was a mistake, you can always appeal the visa rejection at the embassy/consulate of the Schengen country in South Africa.
Schengen Visa Fees for South Africans
Prior to the submission of your visa application at the embassy/consulate of the Schengen country in South Africa, you will have to pay a visa fee in order for your application to be processed.
Schengen visa fees for South Africans are as following:
| VISA CATEGORY | VISA FEE IN EURO | VISA FEE IN RAND |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen visa normal tariff | 80 | 1,344 |
| Schengen visa low tariff (minors 6-11 years) | 40 | 672 |
| Children under 6 | 0 | 0 |
Where to Apply for a Schengen Visa in South Africa
As mentioned above, you should pay attention to which embassy/consulate in South Africa you need to file your applications.
The Schengen area has rules in this regard, and applicants cannot just submit their documents at whichever embassy they wish to. According to these rules, depending on the number of countries you visit and the number of days you spend in each, you will have to apply as follows:
- Visiting one Schengen country – then apply at the body responsible for visa submission of that country in South Africa (the embassy/consulate/visa centre).
- Visiting more than one Schengen countries – then where you need to apply depends on the number of days you plan to spend in each:
- when spending an equal amount of days in two or more countries – apply to the body responsible for visa submission, of the country in which you will be visiting first.
- when spending an unequal amount of days in two or more countries – apply to the body responsible for visa submission, of the country in which you will be spending more days.
Following, find a list of the Schengen member states and their competent bodies for accepting visa applications in South Africa:
Apply for a visa to Austria 
The Austrian Embassy in South Africa has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. This means South African citizens will have to submit their Austrian visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
The VACs accept Schengen visa applications every workday from 08:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:00.
Contact details & address:
- Johannesburg: 1st Floor Rivonia Village, Corner Rivonia Boulevard and Mutual Road, Sandton
- Cape Town: Office 504, 5th Floor, 47 On Strand, Strand Street
- Durban: Unit 101A 1st Floor, 91 -123 Cowey Road(Problem Mkhize), Essenwood, 4000
Phone: +27(0)124253001
Email: info.atza@vfshelpline.com & feedback.atza@vfshelpline.com
Apply for a visa to Belgium 
The Embassy of Belgium in South Africa has outsourced visa submission to TLS Contact. This means South African citizens will have to submit their Belgium visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Johannesburg, and Cape Town.
The VAC in Johannesburg accepts Schengen visa applications every workday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, whereas the one in Cape Town every workday from 08:30 am to 13:30.
Contact details & address:
- Cape Town: Media Quarter, Upper Ground Floor 2, De Smit Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town 8005, Western Cape
- Johannesburg: 8 Gwen Lane, 24 Central Building, Sandown, Sandton, 2031
Phone: (+27) 012 472 3801
Apply for a visa to Czechia 
The Embassy of Czech Republic in South Africa has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. This means South African citizens will have to submit their Schengen visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban.
The VACs accept Schengen visa applications every workday from 08:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 15:00.
Contact details & address:
- Johannesburg: 1st Floor Rivonia Village, Corner Rivonia Boulevard and Mutual Road, Sandton
- Cape Town: 47 Strand Street, Office 502, 5th Floor, Cape Town, 8001
- Pretoria: 1st Floor, Cherry Lane Office Park, 114 Fehrsen Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Brooklyn
- Durban: Unit 101A 1st Floor, 91 -123 Cowey Road (Problem Mkhize Road), Essenwood, 4000
Phone: +27 (0) 12 425 3009
Email: info.czza@vfshelpline.com
Apply for a visa to Denmark 
The Danish Embassy in South Africa has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global. This means South African citizens will have to submit their Danish visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban.
The VACs accept Schengen visa applications every workday from 08:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 15:00.
Contact details & address:
- Cape Town: Office 504-506, 5th Floor, 47 on Strand Street, Strand Street
- Pretoria: 1st Floor Cherry Lane Office Park114 Fehrsen Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Brooklyn
- Durban: Unit 101A 1st Floor, 91 -123 Cowey Road(Problem Mkhize), Essenwood, 4000
Phone: +27 (0) 12 4253001
Email: info.dkza@vfshelpline.com & feedback.dkza@vfshelpline.com
Apply for a visa to Estonia 
The Swedish Embassy in Pretoria represents Estonia. On the other hand, Sweden has outsourced visa submission to VFS Global in South Africa. This means South African citizens will have to submit their Estonian visa applications at one of the Visa Application Centers located in Cape Town and Pretoria.