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 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 persistence. 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 lately traveled to South Africa, and we are able to inform you definitively that it is among the most lovely nations we have now set foot in. First off, let’s discuss Cape City — a metropolis that’s equal elements cool and heat. Cool as a result of it’s stuffed 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 quick 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 checklist. 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 the right way to get one.
Find out 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 easy — nothing too difficult. You simply want to collect the necessities and submit it at VFS. No advance appointments needed.
- Bodily Visa (by way of Journey Company). That is useful for individuals 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 middle right here within the Philippines and it’s situated in Makati. So in case you’re based mostly within the province, it is perhaps fairly the trouble to journey to Manila simply to (1) submit your utility and (2) declare your passport.
One of the crucial trusted journey businesses you may need to take into account 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 in case 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 pals 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 simply gave up and ended up making use of in particular person. And so they weren’t the one ones. Looks as if others have 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 as of late, so we attempt to get one whereas they’re nonetheless out there.
In our case, as a result of we have been so busy round this time, we determined to course our utility via 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 checklist for Filipinos making use of for a vacationer visa, straight from the official web site.
- Passport. Should 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 observe that Philippine Immigration requires passports to be legitimate for no less than six (6) months.
- 2 current passport-size pictures. Have to be 35mm x 45mm. Taken inside the previous 30 days.
- Absolutely achieved visa utility type (DHA-84). Emphasis on DHA-84, since you’ll discover 2 variations of this type on-line. DHA-84 and DHA-1738. DHA-84 is the proper one. Have to be accomplished in block letters and black ink. Should have the signature of the applicant, matching the signature on the passport.
- Yellow fever vaccination certificates, provided that applicant will journey via 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, in case you’re touring from the Philippines or the Americas, Europe, Center East, you don’t want a yellow fever vaccination. You solely want this in case you’re coming from or staying in a yellow-fever danger nation BEFORE coming 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 danger nation, we’re required to current a proof of yellow fever vaccination. Listed below are the nations which can 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 utility.
- Spherical-trip flight reservation. Your flight have to be scheduled no less than 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. Resort 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 many others. All supporting paperwork have to be licensed by the police in South African Commissioner or Commissioner of Oaths.
- Marriage certificates, if relevant. It’s essential to carry the unique if you submit your utility.
- 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, objective of the journey, and deal with. It must also clearly state who pays 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 checklist, 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.
In case you’re making use of by way of 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 maintain all the pieces from there and can simply replace you.
In case you favor to submit it your self, right here’s the deal with:
- Visa Utility Centre
Floor Flooring, Makati Circuit Company Heart
Tower Two, AP Reyes St. Brgy. Carmona, Theater Drive Circuit Makati, Makati Metropolis, 1630
Philippines
My pals utilized on their very own. In keeping with them you’ll be required to depart your devices, vape and energy banks exterior. There are lockers for lease for P75. They may test your paperwork and accumulate a service price, which is PHP 2180, money solely.
And that’s it! Simply wait in your visa, if accredited.
Step 3: Wait in your visa.
How lengthy is the South Africa visa processing time?
7 working days, in keeping with the web site. However in keeping with the employees, in lots of instances, solely 4 working days.
In our case, our utility 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 undecided if 10 days is normal or it will depend on the itinerary you submit.
Do you’ve got 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 exchange the small print with your personal.
Once more, the letter have to be notarized, signed, and will need to have the next:
- applicant’s title
- applicant’s signature
- passport quantity
- objective of the journey
- size of keep
- bodily deal with
- title of particular person or institution who can be shouldering the bills of the journey
- contact particulars
- designation and signature of sponsoring celebration
In case you’re making use of by way of 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 via Constellation Travels, Inc.
Constellation Travels additionally affords South Africa tour packages. That is nice for individuals who don’t have the time, vitality or bandwidth to take care of planning a visit and making use of for a visa. In case you’re availing of a tour package deal, visa utility is already included!
Get in contact with Constellation Travels via these contact numbers and e mail deal with:
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 grew to become certainly one of our favourite cities. Yeah, South Africa is much — however consider it as an extended 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 depart South Africa with recollections that’ll stick with you endlessly.
We’ll be publishing extra South Africa content material quickly!