How you can Apply for a SOUTH AFRICA VISA • Necessities & Course of for Filipino Vacationers

Okay, let’s be actual: South Africa is way. Irrespective of the place on the 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 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 just lately traveled to South Africa, and we will let you know definitively that it is among the most lovely international locations now we have set foot in. First off, let’s speak Cape City — a metropolis that’s equal components 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 received 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 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 how you can get one.

How you can 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 assemble the necessities and submit it at VFS. No advance appointments crucial.
• Bodily Visa (by way of Journey Company). That is helpful 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 situated in Makati. So in the event you’re based mostly within the province, it is perhaps fairly the effort to journey to Manila simply to (1) submit your utility and (2) declare your passport.

One of the trusted journey companies you may wish 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 likely 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. And so they weren’t the one ones. Looks like others had been encountering the identical drawback. So to be secure, 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 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 total record for Filipinos making use of for a vacationer visa, straight from the official web site.

1. Passport. Will need to have a minimum of two (2) clean pages to accommodate the visa sticker and a minimum of 30-day validity after the goal departure date from South Africa. However please observe that Philippine Immigration requires passports to be legitimate for a minimum of six (6) months.
2. 2 latest passport-size pictures. Have to be 35mm x 45mm. Taken inside the previous 30 days.
3. Absolutely achieved 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 received 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 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 below are the international locations which can be thought-about 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 have to be scheduled a minimum of 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 companies.
7. Proof of lodging. Resort 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 have to be licensed by the police in South African Commissioner or Commissioner of Oaths.
9. Marriage certificates, if relevant. You should 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 title, passport quantity, journey dates/size of keep, function 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 title and designation of sponsor. You’ll discover a pattern cowl letter beneath.

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 extra paperwork to be submitted. Try this record, in the 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.

When 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 may be it. The company will handle every part from there and can simply replace you.

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

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

My mates utilized on their very own. In line 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 price, which is PHP 2180, money solely.

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

Step 3: Wait on 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 commonplace or it is dependent 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 exchange the small print with your personal.

Once more, the letter have to 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 particular person or institution who will likely be shouldering the bills of the journey
• contact particulars
• designation and signature of sponsoring celebration

When you’re making use of by way of Constellation Travels, they are going to handle the notarization.

What does a South Africa visa appear like?

Like this:

Do you advocate a journey company for South Africa?

We utilized via Constellation Travels, Inc.

Constellation Travels additionally presents 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. When 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 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 every of our favourite cities. Yeah, South Africa is way — however consider it as an extended journey that results in one of the 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 depart South Africa with reminiscences that’ll stick with you eternally.

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