Okay, let’s be real: South Africa is far. No matter where in the world you’re coming from, as long as it’s not on the African continent, we can be sure that South Africa is far from you. It’s not exactly your typical quick getaway, and the flight itself is going to test your patience. But here’s the thing — South Africa is so worth the extra time and expense. Imagine: breathtaking landscapes, epic wildlife safaris, and a culture that’s as diverse as it is fascinating. Once you’re there, all those hours on the plane will feel like nothing.
We recently traveled to South Africa, and we can tell you definitively that it is one of the most beautiful countries we have set foot in. First off, let’s talk Cape Town — a city that’s equal parts cool and warm. Cool because it’s filled with scenic adventures like biking around the city or going on a sunset cruise. Warm because of the friendly locals and delicious food. You’ve got Table Mountain looming over you, Instagram-worthy beaches, and vineyards just a short drive away. Then, the safaris. Kruger National Park is where you go to tick off the Big 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and cape buffalos) from your bucket list. You’ll be so close to nature, it’ll feel like you’re in a National Geographic documentary.
And yes, we had to apply for a South Africa visa prior to our trip. In this article, we’re gonna show you exactly how to get one.
How to Get a South Africa Visa
There are three ways to get a South African visa:
- Online. Filipinos are eligible to apply for an eVisa on the official website.
- Physical Visa (Direct). Apply for a physical visa on your own in Makati. South Africa visa processing is handled by VFS. The application process for a physical visa is pretty straightforward — nothing too complicated. You just need to gather the requirements and submit it at VFS. No advance appointments necessary.
- Physical Visa (via Travel Agency). This is beneficial for those who don’t have the time to lodge their application themselves or those who reside far from Manila. Yes, there’s only one visa application center here in the Philippines and it’s located in Makati. So if you’re based in the province, it might be quite the hassle to travel to Manila just to (1) submit your application and (2) claim your passport.
One of the most trusted travel agencies you might want to consider is Constellation Travels. It’s a big established agency and an institution in the Philippine travel scene. They also offer all-inclusive South Africa tour packages, and if you avail of it, visa processing will be included automatically.
Anyway, Filipinos like us are eligible to apply for an evisa online. But we chose to apply for a physical visa for 2 reasons.
- First, because my friends who tried to apply online ran into problems with the website. If I remember correctly, they weren’t receiving any of the email notifications that were needed to move forward. So they just gave up and ended up applying in person. And they weren’t the only ones. Seems like others were encountering the same problem. So to be safe, we also opted to get a physical visa.
- Second, we just wanted an actual, physical visa on our passport. I know this is quite shallow, but physical visas are getting rarer and rarer these days, so we try to get one while they are still available.
In our case, because we were so busy around this time, we decided to course our application through an agency, Constellation Travels.
So yeah, without further ado, let’s get right into it.
Step 1: Complete the requirements.
Here’s the full list for Filipinos applying for a tourist visa, straight from the official website.
- Passport. Must have at least two (2) blank pages to accommodate the visa sticker and at least 30-day validity after the target departure date from South Africa. But please note that Philippine Immigration requires passports to be valid for at least six (6) months.
- 2 recent passport-size photos. Must be 35mm x 45mm. Taken within the past 30 days.
- Fully accomplished visa application form (DHA-84). Emphasis on DHA-84, because you’ll find 2 versions of this form online. DHA-84 and DHA-1738. DHA-84 is the correct one. Must be completed in block letters and black ink. Must have the signature of the applicant, matching the signature on the passport.
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate, only if applicant will travel through or stay in yellow fever belt. We secured an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV), which we got from the Bureau of Quarantine here in Metro Manila. To be clear, if you’re traveling from the Philippines or the Americas, Europe, Middle East, you don’t need a yellow fever vaccination. You only need this if you’re coming from or staying in a yellow-fever risk country BEFORE entering South Africa. In our case, we would be touring Kenya first before flying to South Africa. But because Kenya is a risk country, we are required to present a proof of yellow fever vaccination. Here are the countries that are considered yellow fever risk.
- 3 months bank statement. As proof of financial capacity. Must be certified by bank, issued within seven (7) days before the time of application.
- Round-trip flight reservation. Your flight must be scheduled at least 15 working days before your target flight date. Reservation only, not actual tickets. No fixed flight arrangements should be made until the visa has been attained. You can get this from travel agencies.
- Proof of accommodation. Hotel booking is accepted.
- If invited by someone in South Africa: Invitation letter from host. Must be signed by inviter. Also submit certified proof of billing, ID, etc. All supporting documents must be certified by the police in South African Commissioner or Commissioner of Oaths.
- Marriage certificate, if applicable. You must carry the original when you submit your application.
- Copies of passport bio page. We submitted two (2) copies.
- Cover letter. Must be notarized and have the following: applicant’s full name, passport number, travel dates/length of stay, purpose of the trip, and address. It should also clearly state who will pay for the trip and the contact details of authorized signature’s name and designation of sponsor. You’ll find a sample cover letter below.
For foreign passport holder based in the Philippines, copy of work visa/ residence permit in Philippines (valid Philippine visa).
For minor dependent children: there are additional documents to be submitted. Check out this list, towards the bottom.
Once you’ve got all your docs together, it’s time to submit your application.
Step 2: Submit your application.
If you’re applying via a travel agency, just send it to them and they will be lodging your application on your behalf. That would be it. The agency will take care of everything from there and will just update you.
If you prefer to submit it yourself, here’s the address:
- Visa Application Centre
Ground Floor, Makati Circuit Corporate Center
Tower Two, AP Reyes St. Brgy. Carmona, Theater Drive Circuit Makati, Makati City, 1630
Philippines
My friends applied on their own. According to them you’ll be required to leave your gadgets, vape and power banks outside. There are lockers for rent for P75. They will check your documents and collect a service fee, which is PHP 2180, cash only.
And that’s it! Just wait for your visa, if approved.
Step 3: Wait for your visa.
How long is the South Africa visa processing time?
7 working days, according to the website. But according to the staff, in many cases, only 4 working days.
In our case, our application was submitted on July 18. Our passports with visa were ready for pickup on July 26. So that’s 6 working days.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
How many days are we allowed to stay in South Africa?
I applied for 10 days; I was granted a visa that is valid for a single stay of up to 10 days.
I’m not sure if 10 days is standard or it depends on the itinerary you submit.
Do you have a sample South Africa visa application cover letter?
Here’s a sample cover letter I created. This is the format that I used. Just replace the details with your own.
Again, the letter must be notarized, signed, and must have the following:
- applicant’s name
- applicant’s signature
- passport number
- purpose of the trip
- length of stay
- physical address
- name of person or establishment who will be shouldering the expenses of the trip
- contact details
- designation and signature of sponsoring party
If you’re applying via Constellation Travels, they will take care of the notarization.
What does a South Africa visa look like?
Like this:
Do you recommend a travel agency for South Africa?
We applied through Constellation Travels, Inc.
Constellation Travels also offers South Africa tour packages. This is great for those who don’t have the time, energy or bandwidth to deal with planning a trip and applying for a visa. If you’re availing of a tour package, visa application is already included!
Get in touch with Constellation Travels through these contact numbers and email address:
Or visit their official website at www.constellationtravels.com.ph.
And that’s it! South Africa is one of the most spectacular destinations we visited, and Cape Town instantly became one of our favorite cities. Yeah, South Africa is far — but think of it as a long journey that leads to one of the most unforgettable travel experiences you’ll ever have. From the wild beauty of its national parks to the dynamic urban life in Cape Town and beyond, you’ll leave South Africa with memories that’ll stay with you forever.
We’ll be publishing more South Africa content soon!
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