REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA Please note that all supporting documents must be in ENGLISH and/or in SPANISH. 1. A Schengen Visa Application Form (fully completed): Provincial jurisdiction: only residents in Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West, Free State and Lesotho may apply in Pretoria. 2. One recent colour passport photo : Please provide one recent photograph (not more than 3 months old) of the applicant. Must be glued on the Application Form. No damaged or bent photos will be accepted. Taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background. Clear share quality and with the face in focus. Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print). Full face, non-smiling (without sunglasses, a hat/cap or other head covering). Please stick the photograph on the Visa Application Form. Size: 35x45mm 3. Passport: Valid original passport. Copy of the passport. Valid for a period of at least 3 months after expiry date of the requested Schengen Visa. At least two blank pages to affix visa. Issued with maximum of 10 years of validity. Temporary RSA passports are accepted for travelling to Spain under the following conditions: Only recognized for South African Nationals and may be endorsed within the eight weeks following the issue date. Applicant needs to provide a receipt that he/she has applied for a SA permanent passport. Remember that some Schengen countries do not accept SA temporary passports: the ticket to Spain should be through a transit country that accepts them (applicant needs to check which countries accept SA Temporary passports). Passports for minors: please be advised that Denmark does not recognize the new SA passport which is issued to minors below the age of 16 and bears the phrase too young to sign. If the passport bears the phrase too young to sign, instead of the holder s signature the validity of the visa will be limited to ALL SCHENGEN COUNTRIES EXCEPT DENMARK. 1 / 5
4. Itinerary: Trip to Spain drawn up by applicant entailing details on: Dates of trip. Entries and exit from each Schengen state. Amount of days in each country and total amount in Schengen states. 5. Means of transport: Valid flight tickets/train ticket/ferry ticket booked according to passport showing Spain as the main destination. Reservations are accepted. Movement between the Schengen states must be shown (flights, car hire, train bookings). 6. Medical travel insurance: Travel insurance certificate. Insurance must cover assistance in the Schengen area not reimbursement and a coverage minimum of 30 000. Name of beneficiary (according to passport), validity and schedule of benefit and amount covered. Medical repatriation expenses must be included. 7. Financial Means: Original last 3 months bank statements, not older than a month, in which salary is paid into. All bank statements must be stamped by the bank. Credit card, savings, investment account statements can be submitted as additional supporting documents. Expenses covered by the company do not exempt from personal bank statements. For stays up to 9 days minimum amount required is 580.77 (8 500 ZAR per person). For stays for more than 9 days add an additional amount of 64.53 per day (790 ZAR per person). Booking of foreign exchange could be taken into consideration. If sponsored, a letter signed by sponsor before Commissioner of Oath and the sponsor s bank statements. Being sponsored does not exempt applicant from personal bank statements. Note that sponsors are spouses, parents or other direct relatives. When using companies bank statements, the proof of the company registration confirming the business and name of owner must be submitted. If no bank account, provide affidavit explaining the same. In case of an overdraft, an overdraft summary report must be submitted. 2 / 5
8. Accommodation: for entire period of the stay in Schengen territory must be presented in: Hotel booking/reservation, time sharing booking (with name of applicant on it or explanation on who the person has booked is) and a signed letter from the person that booked the accommodation. Tours and cruises need to come with the paid invoice reflecting a zero balance. In case of private invitation, host invitation from Spanish nationals or foreign residents in Spain must be submitted. The mentioned invitation must be issued by the Spanish National Police (please take note that the process can take several weeks). Exceptionally and with the due guaranties, a personal letter of invitation signed from the host and with details of host and guest, copy of the host s passport/id in all Schengen countries visiting with utility bills (water, electricity, etc.) and civic registration could be taken into consideration. When payment has been made for private accommodation (villa, house, apartment), the owner must provide a copy of his passport and proof of ownership (property ownership or leasing). 9. Letter of employment Provide a signed original letter of employment stating salary/ annual cost to company and date of employment inception. Self-employment: proof of company registration. 10. Minors Certified copy of the full or unabridged (not abridged) birth certificate. The unabridged birth certificate is needed even if both parents are travelling with the minor(s). If travelling alone or with one parent, a certified written consent letter from parent/legal guardian signed before Commissioner of Oath with the full or unabridged certificate. Certified copy of parents ID or passport. 11. Spouse or children of EU citizen (only when travelling together with EU national or joining): Submit 1, 2, 3 and 5 and flight tickets of EU National. Original marriage certificate or full marriage certificate with certified copies. Original EU passport with certified copy. Child travelling alone, submit 10. 12. Studies in Spain up to 90 days: Admission to a teaching institution, public or private, officially recognized by the Spanish authorities. 3 / 5
13. Business/professional trips/conference: Letter of invitation from the host company or authority in Spain, stating purpose, date and relation with the invited company/person. The invitation must be signed by the person inviting and give contact details of the company/person inviting. Letter of employment confirming purpose of trip, dates, relation with the Spanish company and applicant s employment status. Must be signed. If self-employed, submit proof of company registration confirming business. Proof of registration with organizer of conference or fair. 14. Students of other nationalities: Letter from the school/university confirming attendance (enrolment letter not accepted). 6 months bank statements up to date of submission; if supported by parents, a letter from them with their original bank statements. If the SA permit is about to expire, visa will not be granted unless it has been renewed prior the date of appointment. 15. Non South African nationals: Certified copy of Home Affairs document proving permanent residency or original passport with residency permit. For temporary residents, the residency must be at least for 6 months after the date of return. Letter of employment that includes details of date started, occupation, salary and leave approval. If self-employed, submit proof of company registration confirming business. 6 months bank statement up to date of submission. If acquired residence through marriage to a SA citizen, spouse might be required by consulate for personal interview. 16. Groups: for groups of 15-29 people, applications must be submitted 15 working days before the collection date. Groups of 30 people and bigger, applications must be submitted one month before the collection date. NO applications can be missing out of the group on the day of submission. A list in alphabetical order on the surname. Classify the applications in sub-groups, according to the dates of travelling. Only 1 application form per person. 1 photo per person. Passports: check point 3. All the passports must be organized in alphabetical order, with all the related documents inside each passport, in the same order for all the passengers. Flight tickets can be taken individually or collectively (in this case including all the names). 4 / 5
Travel insurance can be also taken individually or collectively for the group (in this case all the names must be stated in the policy). Financial means: check point 7. Letter of employment: check point 9. Minors: check point 10. A signed letter from the group host/sponsor confirming all the applicants and responsibility for the group. School pupils, students and post graduate students accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training: original letter of the school or organizing institution with all the names of students and teachers. 5 / 5