South Africans are some of the most traveled Africans and can be found in almost every country on the planet. If you are a South African citizen with a thirst for adventure, you should consider visiting Spain for your next holiday. The Spain visa requirements for South African citizens are easy to meet, and successful applicants may travel to any of the provinces in the country. We review the Spanish Schengen visa and the steps to apply for it successfully for South African passport holders.
The Schengen Visa To Spain
South African nationals need a tourist visa to enter Spain as South Africa is not on the visa-free list. The Schengen visa is a special visa issued by countries in the Schengen Area, mainly nations in the European Economic Area. This visa permits visitors to stay in any EU/Schengen country for 90 days and is valid for 180 days. Also, it is issued for short-term visits like tourism, business, or family visits.
The electronic system is the process of applying for some Schengen visas, but others require the applicant to be present. A South African may travel to different countries in the Schengen area with the same area, but they must visit the issuing country first. For instance, if they obtain a Schengen visa to Spain, they must visit there first before they qualify to travel to other countries in the area.
What makes the Schengen visa an ideal visa is that the holder can use the same visa rather than apply for multiple visas for different countries.
Spain Visa Requirements For South African Citizens
South African applicants must meet the visa requirements before the visa is issued to them. Here are the documents you will need.
Completed Application: A signed and completed Schengen visa applications form is required for this visa.
The form must contain valid information.
South African Passport: A valid South African passport that will not expire in the next 6 months, counting from the day it is issued. The passport must also not be older than 10 years and have at least 2 unused pages left.
Cover Letter: A Cover letter showing details about the trip and other travel information.
Proof of Accommodation: Proof of accommodation such as a hotel reservation or a house address where they will stay.
Proof of funds: A bank statement covering entries for the last 3 months and showing a balance sufficient to meet the required minimum daily expenses of €100.
Travel Insurance: A Schengen-recognized travel insurance policy offering a minimum cover of €30,000. The package should include COVID-19 coverage and any other medical expenses the visitor may incur during their visit.
Flight Bookings: Flight reservations for the return flight to South Africa at the end of the trip show that the visitor has plans to return to South Africa afterward.
How To Apply For A Spain Visa
South Africans may apply for a visa using one of two methods. The first method involves visiting the Spain embassy or any of its consulates in Johannesburg, Pretoria, or Cape Town. Applicants will be required to submit a completed and signed application form alongside the required documents. They will then be asked to come for an interview later, which must be honored. Questions will be asked during the interview about their trip.
After the interview, they will receive feedback about their visa application via email or phone. Successful applicants will be issued visas so they can make the trip.
The second option is to use the online method, which only works for short-term tourist, business, or transit visas. This option is relatively easy as they don’t have to submit physical copies of their documents or visit the Spanish embassy. They can apply for the visa from the comfort of their home with their smartphones or computer. Here are the steps to take to apply for a Spanish visa online if you are not from any of the visa free EU countries.
Log onto VisaHQ
Select Spain as your destination
Select South Africa as your country
Choose your preferred visa
Fill out the application form
Scan the required documents
Pay the visa fee
Submit for approval
Kindly note that submitting invalid or incorrect information will lead to application rejections; the visa fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee you will get the visa. Applicants are advised to be truthful when applying for a visa. Lastly, the Spanish authorities on duty at the airport have the right to deny the applicant entry, even if they have a visa, once they discover discrepancies in their documentation.
This is why applicants must use only valid documents and provide accurate information in line with the Spain visa requirements for South African citizens.