Schengen Visa Slots in South Africa Fully Booked Until October
SchengenVisainfo – 15 August 2022
Travellers from South Africa who were planning to take a trip to Schengen Area countries in August and September will not be able to do so as there are no Schengen visa appointments available.
Most embassies in South Africa have said that they have no appointment slots available until mid-October, meaning that South Africans will not be able to travel to Schengen Area countries anytime soon, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Embassies in South Africa, as well as those located in other third countries, have been unable to meet the high demand, which has caused many people to change their travel plans.
The demand for a Schengen visa especially increased in the last months as the majority of the EU/Schengen Area countries dropped all of their COVID rules and decided to permit restriction-free entry to all travellers.
However, since the Schengen Area countries have a fixed number of visas that they can issue, they have been unable to meet the high demand, causing dissatisfaction.
Since there are no appointments until mid-October, the travel agencies have emphasised that travellers might choose to visit other destinations rather than wait for an appointment to obtain a Schengen visa.
A Schengen visa permits a person to travel to any Schengen Area country for stays of up to 90 days and is needed by all nationals of third countries that have not yet reached a visa liberalisation agreement with the Schengen states.
There are different types of Schengen visas. However, those planning to enter a Schengen country for tourism purposes need to apply for a tourist Schengen visa.
All South Africans who hold a valid passport, as well as third-country nationals who live in South Africa and who are required to obtain a visa to enter Europe, can apply for a Schengen visa in South Africa.
Those applying for a Schengen visa in South Africa need to submit a visa application form, a South African valid passport or another equivalent document, a photo taken in the last three months, evidence of legal residence in South Africa, a cover letter, round-trip flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, means of subsistence, and health insurance.
Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com answered the most recently asked question concerning Schengen visas. Travellers asked whether they could enter a Schengen country with a visa that was issued by another country. The answer is yes, as long as the traveller applies at the visa processing centre of the country in which the same will spend more days.