The right way 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 this planet you’re coming from, so long as it’s not on the African continent, we will 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 value the additional time and expense. Think about: breathtaking landscapes, epic wildlife safaris, and a tradition that’s as numerous 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 will let you know definitively that it is among the most lovely international locations we have now 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 Large 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 get one.

The right way 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 sophisticated. 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 many who don’t have the time to lodge their software themselves or those that reside removed from Manila. Sure, there’s just one visa software heart 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 software and (2) declare your passport.

One of the vital trusted journey businesses you would possibly need to contemplate is Constellation Travels. It’s an enormous 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 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 mates who tried to use on-line bumped into issues with the web site. If I keep in mind appropriately, they weren’t receiving any of the e-mail notifications that had been wanted to maneuver ahead. So they simply gave up and ended up making use of in particular person. They usually weren’t the one ones. Looks like others had been encountering the identical drawback. So to be protected, we additionally opted to get a bodily visa.
• Second, we simply wished 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 accessible.

In our case, as a result of we had been so busy round this time, we determined to course our software by means 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 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 be aware that Philippine Immigration requires passports to be legitimate for no less than six (6) months.
2. 2 current passport-size photographs. Should be 35mm x 45mm. Taken throughout the previous 30 days.
3. Totally completed visa software type (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. Should 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 means 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, 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 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 international locations which can be thought-about yellow fever threat.
5. 3 months financial institution assertion. As proof of economic capability. Should be licensed by financial institution, issued inside seven (7) days earlier than the time of software.
6. 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 fastened 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. Should be signed by inviter. Additionally submit licensed proof of billing, ID, and so on. All supporting paperwork have to be licensed by the police in South African Commissioner or Commissioner of Oaths.
9. Marriage certificates, if relevant. You will need to carry the unique once you submit your software.
10. Copies of passport bio web page. We submitted two (2) copies.
11. Cowl letter. Should be notarized and have the next: applicant’s full identify, passport quantity, journey dates/size of keep, goal 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 identify and designation of sponsor. You’ll discover a pattern cowl letter beneath.

For overseas 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. Take a look at this checklist, in the direction of the underside.

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

Step 2: Submit your software.

In the event you’re making use of by way of a journey company, simply ship it to them and they are going to be lodging your software in your behalf. That might be it. The company will care for every part from there and can simply replace you.

In the event you choose to submit it your self, right here’s the tackle:

• Visa Software Centre
  Floor Flooring, Makati Circuit Company Heart
  Tower Two, AP Reyes St. Brgy. Carmona, Theater Drive Circuit Makati, Makati Metropolis, 1630
  Philippines

My mates utilized on their very own. In accordance with them you’ll be required to go away your devices, vape and energy banks exterior. There are lockers for lease for P75. They are going to verify your paperwork and gather a service price, which is PHP 2180, money solely.

And that’s it! Simply wait on your visa, if accredited.

Step 3: Wait on your visa.

How lengthy is the South Africa visa processing time?

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

In our case, our software 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 undecided if 10 days is commonplace or it relies on the itinerary you submit.

Do you will have a pattern South Africa visa software cowl letter?

Right here’s a pattern cowl letter I created. That is the format that I used. Simply exchange the main points with your individual.

Once more, the letter have to be notarized, signed, and will need to have the next:

• applicant’s identify
• applicant’s signature
• passport quantity
• goal of the journey
• size of keep
• bodily tackle
• identify of particular person or institution who can be shouldering the bills of the journey
• contact particulars
• designation and signature of sponsoring get together

In the event you’re making use of by way of Constellation Travels, they’ll care for the notarization.

What does a South Africa visa seem like?

Like this:

Do you suggest a journey company for South Africa?

We utilized by means of Constellation Travels, Inc.

Constellation Travels additionally gives South Africa tour packages. That is nice for many who don’t have the time, power or bandwidth to take care of planning a visit and making use of for a visa. In the event you’re availing of a tour package deal, visa software is already included!

Get in contact with Constellation Travels by means of these contact numbers and electronic 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 in all our favourite cities. Yeah, South Africa is much — however consider it as an extended journey that results in probably the most 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 go away South Africa with reminiscences that’ll stick with you without end.

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