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

Okay, let’s be actual: South Africa is way. Regardless of the place on this planet you’re coming from, so long as it’s not on the African continent, we will make sure that South Africa is way 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 value 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 just lately traveled to South Africa, and we will let you know definitively that it is among the most lovely nations we now have 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 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 bought 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 Massive 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 methods 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 applying course of for a bodily visa is fairly simple — nothing too sophisticated. You simply want to collect the necessities and submit it at VFS. No advance appointments essential.
• Bodily Visa (through 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 heart right here within the Philippines and it’s positioned in Makati. So in the event you’re based mostly within the province, it may be fairly the effort to journey to Manila simply to (1) submit your utility and (2) declare your passport.

One of the trusted journey businesses you would possibly need to contemplate is Constellation Travels. It’s a giant established company and an establishment within the Philippine journey scene. Additionally they supply all-inclusive South Africa tour packages, and in the event you avail of it, visa processing will probably be included mechanically.

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. They usually weren’t the one ones. Looks like others have been encountering the identical drawback. 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 nowadays, so we attempt to get one whereas they’re nonetheless accessible.

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 total checklist 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 observe that Philippine Immigration requires passports to be legitimate for no less than six (6) months.
2. 2 current passport-size photographs. Have to be 35mm x 45mm. Taken throughout the previous 30 days.
3. Absolutely completed visa utility kind (DHA-84). Emphasis on DHA-84, since you’ll discover 2 variations of this way 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 via or keep in yellow fever belt. We secured an Worldwide Certificates of Vaccination (ICV), which we bought from the Bureau of Quarantine right here in Metro Manila. To be clear, in the event 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 the event you’re coming from or staying in a yellow-fever threat 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 threat nation, we’re required to current a proof of yellow fever vaccination. Listed here are the nations which are 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 mounted flight preparations needs to be made till the visa has been attained. You may get this from journey businesses.
7. Proof of lodging. Lodge 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 many others. All supporting paperwork should be licensed by the police in South African Commissioner or Commissioner of Oaths.
9. Marriage certificates, if relevant. You need to carry the unique if 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 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 kids: there are further paperwork to be submitted. Try this checklist, in direction of the underside.

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

Step 2: Submit your utility.

If you happen to’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 deal with the whole lot from there and can simply replace you.

If you happen to desire to submit it your self, right here’s the tackle:

• Visa Utility 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. Based on them you’ll be required to depart your devices, vape and energy banks outdoors. There are lockers for hire for P75. They are going to examine your paperwork and acquire a service charge, 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 workers, 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 unsure if 10 days is normal or it is determined by the itinerary you submit.

Do you will 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 exchange the small print with your individual.

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 will probably be shouldering the bills of the journey
• contact particulars
• designation and signature of sponsoring social gathering

If you happen to’re making use of through Constellation Travels, they’ll deal with the notarization.

What does a South Africa visa appear to be?

Like this:

Do you advocate a journey company for South Africa?

We utilized via Constellation Travels, Inc.

Constellation Travels additionally provides South Africa tour packages. That is nice for individuals who don’t have the time, power or bandwidth to cope with planning a visit and making use of for a visa. If you happen to’re availing of a tour bundle, visa utility is already included!

Get in contact with Constellation Travels via 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 among the most spectacular locations we visited, and Cape City immediately grew to become one among our favourite cities. Yeah, South Africa is way — however consider it as a protracted journey that results in one of the crucial 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 without end.

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