Schengen Visa Information
Travel and visa requirements
The Schengen Visa
About the Schengen Visa
A Schengen visa is a short stay visa that allows you to visit any of the members of the Schengen Area for a period of 90 days per stay. This is the most common visa for those traveling to Europe. Holders of this visa are allowed to travel freely into and exit from any of the Schengen member states. If your visit in any of the Schengen member state will exceed 90 days, you must apply for the national visa of the country.
The 26 countries that make up the Schengen Area are; Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Schengen visa countries
Please select a country from the list of Schengen States listed below for visa requirements:
Schengen visa requirements
Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Schengen visa.
The following documents should be submitted during the application for a Schengen Visa:
- Correctly completed visa application form. Two copies of the form should be printed after the form has been filled and each of the copies should be signed at the end.
- Valid South African passport. The passport should have been issued within the last 10 years and must have a validity of at least 6 months from the intended date of exiting the country.
- Two copies of passport-sized photographs taken within the last three months. The passport should follow the photo specification for a visa application.
- A copy of your national ID or residence permit for South Africa.
- A cover letter which explains the reason for your visit to the Schengen area. All the countries you are planning to visit and the duration of each visit should be stated in the letter.
- A copy of your round-trip flight itinerary.
- Proof of accommodation valid for the duration of your stay in the Schengen area.
- A document which shows that you have sufficient means to cater for yourself during your stay in the Schengen countries.
- Valid travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage.
Schengen Visa Application Process
Tips on applying for the Schengen Visa
- Ensure you confirm the type of visa that best suits the purpose of your visit to the Schengen country.
- Locate the embassy/consulate/VAC nearest to you to apply for the Schengen visa.
- Make a decision on the best time to apply for the visa. The earliest time to apply for the visa is three months before your planned trip from South Africa to the Schengen country.
- Ensure you have all the required documents needed for the application of a Schengen visa.
- Schedule an interview with the visa application center in South Africa. The appointment could be made online, through phone, or in person depending on the country.
- On the day of the interview, ensure you show up on time and try not to be nervous.
- Make payment for the visa application.
- Wait to get a response from the visa application center after the interview.
Schengen Visa Fees
Applicants are required to pay a nominal visa fee when applying for a Schengen visa. This fee is non-refundable even if the application was rejected and the visa was not issued by the consular department of the embassy. The approval and issuance of a visa is based entirely on the discretion of the consulate general.
| Visa Type | Visa Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Short stay (90 days) | 60.00 |
| Long-term stay (over 90 days) | 99.00 |
| Children visa (6-12 years old kids) | 35.00 |
| All visa types for Georgia, Kosovo, Russia, and Ukraine citizens | 35.00 |
| All visa types for students and accompanying teachers when traveling on educational purposes (proof needed) | Free |
| All visa types for researches when traveling on scientific research purposes (proof needed) | Free |
| All visa types for non-profit organizations representatives aged 25 or below when traveling for participating in educational events | Free |
*Different rates may apply for different Schengen countries
How to apply for Schengen visa
More tips on applying for the Schengen Visa
To apply for a Schengen Visa you would have to go to the Embassy or Consulate of the selected country in person with the documents required to apply for your preferred visa and fill all the necessary forms. When applying for a Schengen Visa it is recommended that you book your appointment with the embassy at least 15 days (but not more than 12 weeks) to your intended trip.
After your appointment has been scheduled you will need to double check that your documents are complete and prepare to answer some of the questions that you might be asked, These questions basically revolve around your travel plans and personal details. Depending on the Schengen country you apply to, you would be required to provide biometric identifiers such as fingerprints and photographs which will be held on the Visa Information System and can be used for your next Schengen visa applications.
Do I need a Schengen visa?
You will need to apply for a Schengen visa prior to visiting the countries in the Schengen visa countries list above if you hold a passport from the following countries:
*You do not have to be at the country of your citizenship to apply for a Schengen visa. You can do it from the country of your permanent residence, but you will have to submit a proof of your legal status there.
Insurance for Schengen visa
How much travel insurance do you need to apply for a Schengen visa
Documents required for Schengen visa - checklist
Here you can find the checklist for the documents required for applying for Schengen visa. It is general list for all the countries but you should also check the specific requirements of the country you are going to visit.
- Valid passport.
- Two passport photographs.
- Completely filled and signed visa application form.
- Valid travel medical insurance.
- Proof of accommodation for the duration of your stay.
- Evidence of financial sustainability.
- Contact details.
- Salary payslips.
- Certificate of employment from your employer.
- Photocopies of all documents including copies of all Schengen visas that have been issued in the past.
- Letter of invitation.
Additional documents may be required depending on the Schengen country you are applying to and the type of visa you are applying for.
In addition to the general list you may be required to have a proof of your entrepreneur status (if applicable), family status (marriage certificate etc), national passport (in some countries). Usually all the documents are to be copied.
* All documents are to be A4 format.