Zululanders face visa vexation

ZULULANDERS are finding that two terms are quickly becoming dirty phrases, and even more so when they are combined, ‘Schengen Visa’ and ‘South African Passport’.

South African citizens and certain foreigners residents in SA require a visa to enter the Schengen territory.

For those of us planning a trip abroad, we know all too well the mission it has become to get overseas for any reason. Now, more so since you now have to appear in person at specific consulates to give biometric data or be interrogated by a government official.

This extra travel expense, added to the amount of wasted travel time, makes this process a long, expensive one.

According to WW Travels, Nicola Stone, the process may be long winded and a bit time consuming the first time you apply; the process does become easier.

‘The problem is the whole system has become centralized in order to control and regulate all applications.

‘However, once you are in the system any further applications to travel overseas in the next five years can be done through a travel agency or through correspondence with the specific consulate.’

Stone added that the whole biometric process normally only takes 15 minutes to 20 minutes and most consulates or their agents are open on a Saturday, making it more accessible for those who need to travel to Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town or Pretoria from Zululand.

‘Ninety percent of the required consulates are available in Durban although there are still a few which require a trip to either Johannesburg, Pretoria or Cape Town.’

For those planning a trip abroad, anytime soon, there are a a few rules of thumb to follow making the process less stressful and much faster.

You can’t apply more than three months in advance for the visa and you will need a detailed daily itinerary as well as decent travel insurance.

You will also need to have enough money, as stipulated by the specific consulate, for the duration of your trip.

The application for a Schengen visa must be made through the country you are spending the longest time in on that trip, if you are spending equal time in more than one, the country you enter first, issues the visa.

Planning well in advance is vital and having all the required information and paperwork will make your application run far smoother and quicker.

Countries in the Schengen territory

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.