The best way 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 the planet you’re coming from, so long as it’s not on the African continent, we are able to ensure 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 aircraft will really feel like nothing.

We lately traveled to South Africa, and we are able to inform you definitively that it is without doubt one of 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 happening a sundown cruise. Heat due to the pleasant locals and scrumptious meals. You’ve received 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 Huge 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and cape buffalos) out of your bucket record. 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.

The best 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 applying course of for a bodily visa is fairly easy — nothing too sophisticated. You simply want to assemble the necessities and submit it at VFS. No advance appointments crucial.
• Bodily Visa (through Journey Company). That is useful for many 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 when you’re primarily based within the province, it could be fairly the effort to journey to Manila simply to (1) submit your utility and (2) declare your passport.

Probably the most trusted journey businesses you may 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 when you avail of it, visa processing can be included routinely.

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 bear in mind accurately, they weren’t receiving any of the e-mail notifications that had been wanted to maneuver ahead. So they only gave up and ended up making use of in particular person. They usually weren’t the one ones. Looks as if others had 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 out there.

In our case, as a result of we had 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 record 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 images. Have to be 35mm x 45mm. Taken inside the previous 30 days.
3. Absolutely achieved visa utility type (DHA-84). Emphasis on DHA-84, since you’ll discover 2 variations of this kind on-line. DHA-84 and DHA-1738. DHA-84 is the right 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 received from the Bureau of Quarantine right here in Metro Manila. To be clear, when you’re touring from the Philippines or the Americas, Europe, Center East, you don’t want a yellow fever vaccination. You solely want this when you’re coming from or staying in a yellow-fever threat nation BEFORE getting into South Africa. In our case, we’d 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 of yellow fever threat.
5. 3 months financial institution assertion. As proof of economic 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 must be made till the visa has been attained. You will 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 so on. All supporting paperwork should 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 while 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 identify, passport quantity, journey dates/size of keep, function of the journey, and handle. 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 under.

For international passport holder primarily based within the Philippines, copy of labor visa/ residence allow in Philippines (legitimate Philippine visa).

For minor dependent youngsters: there are extra paperwork to be submitted. Try this record, in direction of the underside.

When you’ve received 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 maintain every little thing from there and can simply replace you.

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

• 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 hire for P75. They may verify your paperwork and accumulate a service charge, which is PHP 2180, money solely.

And that’s it! Simply wait in your visa, if permitted.

Step 3: Wait in your visa.

How lengthy is the South Africa visa processing time?

7 working days, in line with the web site. However in line with the workers, in lots of circumstances, solely 4 working days.

In our case, our utility 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 normal or it depends upon the itinerary you submit.

Do you have 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 change the main points with your personal.

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

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

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

What does a South Africa visa appear to be?

Like this:

Do you suggest a journey company for South Africa?

We utilized via Constellation Travels, Inc.

Constellation Travels additionally provides South Africa tour packages. That is nice for many who don’t have the time, vitality or bandwidth to cope with planning a visit and making use of for a visa. If you happen to’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 handle:

Or go to their official web site at www.constellationtravels.com.ph.

And that’s it! South Africa is without doubt one of the most spectacular locations we visited, and Cape City immediately turned one among our favourite cities. Yeah, South Africa is way — however consider it as an extended journey that results in one of the vital 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 go away South Africa with recollections that’ll stick with you without end.

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