South Africa is my first country to visit in Africa and I’m happy that I went there first. It features incredible things that this continent has to offer; rich culture, amazing wild safaris, great food, and tasty wine.
Yes, as a Philippines passport holder, you are required to apply for a visa. However, compared to European, US tourist visa, and even Japan visa, South Africa visa for Filipinos are much easier to obtain.
South Africa might not be in the top 10 or even top 20 places that Filipinos want to visit. However, you are missing out on something incredible.
Not only does South Africa have one of the most beautiful safaris (where wild animals are roaming freely in their natural habitat), but they also offer a straightforward and easy visa.
Applying for the South African visa is one of my favourites. It was so easy and smooth that I nearly forgot what the process was like. I had to look back at my calendar, email, and journal to refresh my brain on the process.
In this guide, I will show you the South Africa visa requirements, the cost, where and how to apply, and other tips.
BASIC INFORMATION ON SOUTH AFRICA VISA
Before we begin on the step-by-step guide on applying for the South Africa visa for Filipinos, here are some information that will help you decide and the application:
MUST-READ: Complete list of visa-free countries for Philippines passport holders
Visa difficulty
I personally would give the South Africa visa application for Filipinos an easy to medium-easy or 8/10 score.
This is because the Embassy has released a thorough list of requirements. As long as you have all these documents and have proven that you will be flying back to the Philippines,
How much does a South Africa visa cost
This depends on how many days you plan to stay. It’s either free or up to 2,525.00 PHP. You can find more information on this VFS page.
South Africa visa processing time
On average, the process takes about 7 days from the date that you submitted it. However, when I applied, it actually took 10 days.
Where to apply for South Africa visa
Application for South Africa visa for Filipinos has to be summited visa VFS. They will look at your documents to make sure that you have everything and then send them to the Embassy.
After the decision, the Embassy will send your passport back to VFS, where you can collect it.
How soon can I apply for South Africa visa
You can apply as early as three months before your trip, but no later than 15 calendar days before your target flight departure from the Philippines to South Africa.
SOUTH AFRICA VISA REQUIREMENTS
You can contact the South Africa Embassy via email if you have any questions at manila@dirco.gov.za.
- Passport – must be valid at least 30 days AFTER you plan to leave South Africa and at least two blank visa pages
- 2 pieces passport-sized photos – no older than 30 days
- Filled out form-11 (DHA-84) – must use blank ink, hand-written, and in uppercase letters
- Yellow Fever vaccination certificate – see if you need it
- Bank statement – minimum 3 months, not older than 7 days
- Bank certificate – certified by the bank, no older than 7 days
- Round-trip flight reservation – don’t need to be fixed flight
- Hotel reservations
- Photocopy of passport bio page
- Cover letter- signed by the applicant including name, passport number, duration of visit, address, contact details, who will find the trip, and purpose of the trip, must be certified and notarised
- If with a host:
- Invitation letter from a host in South Africa (with certified proof of billing and ID/passport)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Residence permit in the Philippines – if the applicant is a foreigner
- If minor:
- copy of curriculum vitae (school calendar and/or enrollment certificate)
- parental consent affidavit – here’s the form
- passport copies of the parents
- birth certificate of the minor and parents
- death certificate if the parent/s has passed
- and/or divorce certificate
You can find more information on the requirements here.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON APPLYING FOR SOUTH AFRICA VISA FOR FILIPINOS
IMPORTANT: South Africa has launched an eVisa for those who need a visa to visit. This means that you can now apply for it online. However, this is very new, so the whole system is not yet in place.
It’s best to contact the appropriate offices to confirm if you can apply online or need to go through VFS. Either contact the Home Affairs or the South African Embassy in Manila.
If online:
- Go on this offical evisa application site.
- Create an account.
- Apply for the correct visa.
- Upload your documents (files must be in JPG or PDF form).
If via VFS:
- Step: Gather all your documents.
- Step: Go to VFS. You don’t need to book an appointment. You can simply show up at VFS in Manila and submit your documents. This is where you will pay for the visa fee and the VFS fee.
- Step: Wait for the update from VFS about when your visa is ready to be picked up.
FAQ
- Do I need to book a flight?
- I know that some people would book a dummy ticket or through a travel agency (those are only valid for 3 days maximum). Instead, book from the actual airlines. You will have to pay for the full flight, but most of the time you can cancel it for a fee of $100-$200 (which will be deducted from the refund).
- How soon can I apply?
- You can send your application as early as 3 months in advance, but no later than 15 days before your target travel date.
- Is the visa fee refundable if denied?
- No.
- Is there a visa interview?
- No
- Is there a direct flight from Manila to South Africa
- No, but you can book with Singapore Airlines. The flight will be Manila>Singapore>South Africa.
- Can I extend my South Africa visa?
- Yes, you can do this while in south Africa and contact the nearest immigration office or the home affairs – you might required to submit documents explaining why you need your tourist visa extension.