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Schengen Visa Guide for South Africans: With the longest country of stay or first country of entry being Spain
Planning a Spanish adventure as a South African? Knowing the ins and outs of the Schengen Visa process is your ticket to a smooth journey. In this guide, we simplify the Schengen Visa application process with Spain as your first point of entry or longest stay.
Recently, we made an application for a Schengen Visa for our upcoming trip. When we applied in 2023, the Netherlands was our longest stay and first point of entry, so we applied through the Netherlands Consular, facilitated by VFS Global.
This year, for our European summer 2024 trip, we plan to spend an equal number of days in Spain, France, and Italy. Spain is our first point of entry into the Schengen Area this time, thus, we applied through the Spain Embassy, facilitated through BLS International Visa application Centre.
If Spain is not your main destination or first point of entry, this post will not be useful for you. However, if you are traveling to the Schengen Area from South Africa with Spain as your main destination or first point of entry, you will find this post very helpful.
If your main destination requires you to submit your Schengen Visa application to the VFS Global Application Centre, head straight to this post for detailed guide on our experience.
You may wonder why it matters to identify your longest stay country or, in the case of multiple countries, your point of first entry. The answer is simple: your main destination, or your first point of entry, determines the consulate or embassy where you will submit your Schengen Visa application.
If your stay is equally divided among several countries, you need to make your application through the embassy of your first country of entry. Understanding this will make your application process smoother.
The Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is a remarkable alliance of 27 European nations, encompassing Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the newest member, Croatia.
These countries have simplified travel for adventurers, allowing them to delve into a wealth of diverse cultures with just a single visa.
What is a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen Visa is a short-stay visa that allows its holder to travel to any member countries of the Schengen Area, for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. This visa has made traveling between its 27 member countries (23 European Union states and 4 non-EU members) much easier and less bureaucratic.
Eligibility Criteria for South Africans
As a South African passport holder, you need a Schengen Visa to enter any of the member countries. However, there are some basic criteria you need to meet:
Purpose of Visit:
You should have a clear purpose for your visit, whether it’s tourism, business, visiting family or friends, etc.
Valid Passport:
Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended stay.
Financial Stability:
Proof of sufficient financial means to cover your stay is necessary. It’s essential for travellers to recognise that the duration of the visa granted can differ based on various factors. A critical element often observed to influence the length of stay permitted is the applicant’s financial stability.
This underscores the potential impact of one’s economic profile on the decision-making process of Schengen visa authorities.
Travel Insurance:
When applying for a Schengen Visa, it’s a requirement to have travel insurance. We strongly believe travel insurance is essential, even if it’s not a requirement for the visa application.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a Schengen Visa Via Spain Embassy/Consular
Step One: Determine Your Main Destination and Complete The Application Form Provided by the Embassy/Consular
The first step in the process is to determine your main destination. As we’ve discussed above, your application should be submitted to the consulate of the country that is your main destination. Ie the country you’ll spend the most number of days.
If you are visiting multiple countries in the Schengen Area and spending an equal number of days in each country, you will need to apply for your Schengen Visa through the embassy of the country of first entry.
For the purpose of this guide, the main destination is Spain.
Each consulate works differently and may have a different visa application centre in South Africa.
The Application Form for Spain can be downloaded here. You will be required to complete and print the application form. Thereafter, you will be required to make a booking at a BLS International office. This is where you’ll submit your application form, supporting documents and have your biometrics taken.
Step Two: Collect the Required Documents to Support Your Schengen Visa Application
Gather all the necessary documents, including:
- A completed and signed visa application form.
- A valid passport. It’s important to note that temporary passports are not accepted for Schengen Visa applications.
- Two recent passport-sized photographs.
- Travel itinerary. After our experience applying for a Schengen Visa for the Netherlands in 2023, we assumed a detailed travel itinerary wouldn’t be necessary this time. Last time, just providing our flights and accommodation details was enough. But at our biometrics appointment for Spain, we discovered that Spain requires a detailed itinerary outlining your travel plans for the entire trip in the Schengen Area.
- Flight itinerary indicating departure dates and return dates to South Africa.
- Accommodation Confirmation.
- Proof of sufficient financial means.
- Travel insurance
- Confirm your return to South Africa: While your return flight ticket indicates your intention, you typically need to prove strong ties to South Africa, such as having permanent employment. During our 2023 application, we noticed that Anton, who has permanent employment, received a 6-month visa, while Nadia, a self-employed entrepreneur, received a 30-day stay. We’ll see what this application returns with.
REMEMBER: For a family application, you need to print copies of the supporting documents for each applicant.
For example, during this application, we selected the family option. Our flight confirmation reflected both of our details. Despite being a family application, each person needed to have their own complete set of printed documents.
Step Three: Book an Appointment for Biometrics through BLS International
For the biometric data collection, South Africans need to book an appointment through BLS International. This involves capturing a digital photo and fingerprints. It’s a crucial step in the process, where you will leave your passport at the application centre. This also means that you won’t be able to embark on other international travels during the processing time.
Step Four: Attend the Visa Biometrics Appointment at your selected BLS International Office
Attend the visa interview on your scheduled date, bringing all the required documents (refer to step 2). Don’t make the same mistake we did, print all your documents in duplicate.
Step Five: Pay the Visa Fee
A non-refundable visa fee that must be paid upon submitting your application. This fee is subject to change, so check the latest fee schedule at the time of making your application.
You can also add premium services to your experience, at an additional fee. It is important to note that premium service does not mean that your Schengen Visa will arrive sooner than the ordinary processing times. It simply means faster, more personalised services at your biometrics appointment. Honestly, it’s nothing fancy and a bit of an unnecessary expense if you ask us.
Step Six: Wait for the Decision and collect your Passport upon notification to do so
The processing time can vary, but typically it takes between 10 – 15 calendar days for your passport to return. Whether or not your Schengen Visa is granted, remains a mystery until collection. Processing times could be longer during peak seasons.
But, we were also advised that processing times can sometimes be as short as 7 days. And we’re happy to confirm that this time our Schengen Visa arrived in 8 business days.
How Far In Advance Should You Apply For A Schengen Visa?
To ensure a smooth travel experience, it’s crucial to plan ahead when applying for your Schengen Visa. For Spain, you can start the application process as early as six months before your trip, but be sure to submit your application no later than 45 days prior to your departure.
Tips for a Successful Schengen Visa Application
Apply Early:
Aim to apply at least 2 months before your intended travel date. This is especially important if you plan to travel during peak European summer season – June to August. It can sometimes be difficult to get a biometrics appointment at BLS, so be mindful of all factors to avoid delays.
Complete Documents:
Ensure all your documents are complete and accurately filled out. Triple-check everything before your BLS appointment. It’s crucial to print a copy of the supporting documents for each applicant when applying for more than one person. At our recent appointment, we mistakenly printed only one set of documents. Fortunately, BLS offers additional services like printing and photocopying. The consultant who assisted us showed kindness and helpfulness, creating a calm atmosphere in a potentially stressful situation.
Organize your documents in a folder:
Print all the necessary documents and organize them in a flip file, labeling each section clearly. While this might feel like a tedious task, you’ll appreciate the effort later. Neatly arranging your documents before your biometrics appointment prevents frantic paper searches. Instead, you’ll be able to find what you need quickly, making the process smooth and stress-free. And just so that you don’t make the same mistake we did, print everything in duplicate – just in case!
Show Ties to South Africa:
Prove your intention to return to South Africa, like employment letters or property ownership. From our experience, fixed employment seems to play a significant role in the length of stay granted on your Schengen Visa.
Be Honest:
Always provide truthful information and genuine documents.
Comparing Schengen Visa Application Centers: VFS Global vs. BLS International
Applying for a Schengen Visa can vary depending on the application center you choose. Here are some key differences we observed between VFS Global and BLS International.
Processing Times:
VFS Global (Netherlands entry): Took roughly 15 business days for our passports to return.
BLS International (Spain entry): Took only 8 business days for our passports to return.
Visa Duration:
VFS Global: Anton received a 6-month visa, while Nadia received a 30-day visa.
BLS International: Both received a 30-day Schengen Visa.
Security Measures at application centre:
VFS Global: Very strict security checkpoints which requires you to have a printed confirmation of appointment letter before they even let you pass security. Larger seating area for applicants.
BLS International: More relaxed security. No physical security checks for appointment confirmation before entering the appointment office. Once you enter the office, you go to the front where one of the staff will confirm your appointment time. Smaller seating area for applicants.
Document Requirements:
VFS Global: Felt less strict. Didn’t require particular document labelled “travel itinerary”. Flight and accommodation confirmation satisfied travel itinerary requirement.
BLS International: Felt stricter and more meticulous in the document review process. Applicants must have a separate document labelled “travel itinerary”. Scroll to the end of this post to download our free travel itinerary template.
While there are differences between the application centers, we want to emphasize that the one to which you submit your application is pre-determined by the Schengen country where you’ll be staying the longest. If you spend an equal amount of time in multiple Schengen countries, you should apply through the country of first entry.
Remember, visa regulations and requirements can change, so it’s always wise to check the latest information from the official consulate or embassy website before applying.
Obtaining a Schengen Visa as a South African can seem daunting, but with the right preparation and understanding of the process, it can be a smooth experience.
The Schengen Visa is a key that unlocks more than just the conventional European countries. It offers travellers access to a mosaic of cultures, landscapes, and experiences, encompassing EU and non-EU countries, unique independent states, and exotic island territories.
Safe travels and enjoy your European adventure!
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With love and appreciation,
The Kolbes
These tips are based on our personal experiences during our travels. You may have different experiences and alternative opinions based on your own travels. These are not meant to act as directives, instead they are suggestions which may be helpful to someone making this application for the first time.
While some of our posts may contain affiliate links, this post does not. Roamingwiththekolbes has no affiliation to the entities linked in this post and receives no commission from writing this article. This guide is based on our personal experience and the links to the official recommendations have been included for your convenience.
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