The following FAQs are general in nature. The information given does not take personal or specific circumstances into account and should therefore not be considered as constituting personal, professional or legal advice.
1. Which countries are part of the Schengen Area?
The Schengen area covers the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. These countries apply the common visa policy for short stay visas. Bulgaria and Romania apply Schengen rules at their air and sea borders.
2. What is a Schengen visa?
A visa allowing for an intended stay in the territory of the Schengen States of a duration of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period (“short stay visa”); a visa allowing for transit through the international transit areas of airports of the Schengen States (“airport transit visa”). Generally, the visa issued allows you to visit any of the Schengen states during the same trip, within the validity of the visa. A Schengen visa is not appropriate if you wish to remain in a Schengen country for longer than 90 days, take up employment, establish a business or trade.
3. Do I need a visa to enter a Schengen country?
To find out if you need a visa to enter Croatia (Schengen), you can consult the visa requirements overview on Croatia’s MFA’s website.
4. Can I enter the Schengen area in country X, while the visa was issued by Schengen country Y?
As a general rule you may cross any Schengen border with a visa issued by any Schengen country. However, the short-stay visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area. See FAQ no 13 on checks at the external borders.
5. How long can I stay in the Schengen area on the basis of my visa?
The Schengen visa is a short stay visa and takes the form of a sticker affixed to the travel document. The definition of “short stay” means a stay of “90 days in any 180-days period”. This means that the total duration of your stay cannot exceed 90 days in any period of 180 days. The exact length of validity of your visa is indicated on the visa sticker under the heading “Duration of visit”. With a single-entry visa you can enter the Schengen area only once. This is indicated on the visa sticker under the heading “Number of entries” by “1”. A two-entry or a multiple-entry visa allows for two or several entries during the validity of the visa. This is indicated on the visa sticker by “02” or “MULT” under the heading “Number of entries”.
6. How long does the visa procedure take?
As a general rule, once a Schengen visa application is submitted to the Embassy or Consulate, a decision is made by within 15 days. This period may be extended up to 45 days.
7. How long before the start of the intended visit should I apply for a visa?
Applications can be lodged no more than six months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up nine months before the start of the intended trip. As a general rule, applications must be submitted no later than 15 calendar days before the intended departure. It is recommended that you lodge your visa application early, considering national holidays of the Schengen State of destination and of the country where you apply for the visa. Last minute submission slots might be limited or completely unavailable. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.
8. How much does it cost to apply for a visa?
The general visa fee of 90,00 EUR must be paid when you submit the visa application. Applicants submitting their applications within South Africa shall pay visa fees in ZAR, while applicants at other locations shall be charged in USD or in respective local currencies. Additional processing fees and international transacting (banking) fees may apply; as well as exemptions from visa fees.
9. My passport expires in two months’ time. Can I apply for a visa?
You cannot. It is a requirement that the expiration date of your passport is 3 months AFTER the intended day of departure from the Schengen State. However, in justified cases of emergency, the Embassy or Consulate may deviate from this rule.
10. My visa has been issued by the German Embassy. Can I use it to make a trip to other Schengen States?
Yes. According to the Schengen rules, the Schengen visa is generally valid for all countries in the Schengen area. However, please note that you always have to apply at the representation of the country which is your primary destination. The territorial validity of your visa is indicated on the visa sticker under the heading “Valid For”. See FAQ no 13 on checks at the external borders.
11. Can I leave the Schengen area and return again with my Schengen visa?
Schengen visas may allow a single or multiple entry. With a single-entry visa you can enter the Schengen area only once. This is indicated on the visa sticker by “01”. With a visa allowing for two or multiple entries you may enter twice or several times during the validity of the visa.
12. I have a valid long stay visa/residence permit for a country that is part of the Schengen area. Do I need a visa to travel to other Schengen states?
No. A residence permit issued by a Schengen State allows you to travel or stay in other Schengen States, while respecting the maximum duration of a “short stay” (a stay of 90 days within any 180-day period).
13. Do I have to present any other document at the Schengen external borders apart from my travel document with the Schengen visa?
The short-stay visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area. At a border (or during other controls) you may have to show the visa but also provide additional documentation, for example information that you have sufficient means to cover the stay and the return trip. It is therefore recommended that you carry with you copies of the documents which you presented when applying for the visa (e.g. letters of invitation, travel confirmations, other documents stating the purpose of your stay).
14. I have connecting flights, with a stop at a Schengen state airport. Do I have to apply for an airport transit visa or a short stay visa?
It is important to distinguish between two situations: 1) transit through the international transit area of an airport (onward journey where you do not leave the international transit area of the airport); and 2) transit via the territory of a Member State albeit limited to an airport (onward journey where you leave the international transit area of the airport). An airport transit visa (ATV) authorizes you to pass through the international transit zone at an airport located on the territory of the Schengen State and to wait for a connecting flight to a non-Schengen country. The ATV does not allow you to enter the Schengen territory (to stay at a hotel or to take an onwards flight to another Schengen State, for example). Traveling to a Schengen State via another Schengen State airport is not considered an airport transit neither is travelling to a non-Schengen country via two Schengen state airports. All flights between two or more Schengen States are considered to be domestic flights. Depending on your nationality, you might need a short stay visa as you enter the Schengen area - even if the stay only lasts a few hours and you remain in the airport (outside the international transit zone).
15. Can my visa be extended?
When applying for a visa extension, you must show that due to force majeure, humanitarian reasons or serious personal reasons it is not possible for you to leave the territory of Member States before the expiry of your visa or the authorized period of your stay. As a rule, the visa can only be extended if you have stayed less than 90 days the Schengen area, in the course of the past 180 days and if your current visa is not yet expired.
16. My visa has been refused. Will the visa fee be refunded?
The visa fee is non-refundable if the visa is refused. You may re-apply if your application has been refused earlier. However, it is recommended that you take note of the reasons for the earlier refusal before submitting a new application and make amendments, where necessary.
17. My spouse is a Croatian national. I am South African national. We both live in South Africa and are planning to spend our vacation in Croatia. Am I am required to hold a visa to enter Croatia?
All South African nationals are obliged to hold a valid visa when traveling to Croatia and/or other Schengen area countries. Please submit your application and all necessary documents listed for the required type of visa. When applying, you must attach a copy or certified copy of your marriage certificate (with apostille) and your spouse’s Croatian passport. Although your visa will be free of charge, you will be obliged to pay VFS’ processing fees. This also applies to the children of Croatian nationals up to the age of 21 (birth certificate to be attached).
18. How long will I have to wait for my visa?
Processing time varies between 15 to 45 days from date of application. No questions about the processing status shall be answered during the processing time. General inquiries shall not be answered at any point.
19. Where can I submit my visa application to visit Croatia?
You can make an appointment at VFS Global visa application centers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Dar es Salaam, Accra, Nairobi, Gaborone, Windhoek and Abuja.
Regrettably, at this time applications cannot be submitted in any other sub-Saharan country and all applicants must present themselves in person in South Africa at the time of submission. It is applicants’ own responsibility to obtain a South African visa if one is needed. Embassy of the Republic of Croatia shall not issue guarantee or invitation letters. During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn.
20. Where can I get more information on Schengen visa regulations?
Comprehensive information on Schengen-Visa legislation and documents (including those mandatory under Art. 47 of the Visa Code for information of the general public) is available on the website of the European Commission, Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs.