Schengen visa

South Africans need a Schengen visa before travelling to any of the 29 Schengen countries. One visa covers them all.

Apply to the country where you'll spend the most time. If your stays are equal, apply to the country you'll enter first.

Rules for every Schengen country

Do you need a visa?

Visa required: uniform Schengen short-stay (type C) visa obtained in advance. South Africa is a visa-required nationality, so ETIAS does not apply (ETIAS is for visa-exempt travellers only).

Confirmed on an official government source

European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs (Official)

How long you can stay

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, within the validity and number of entries printed on the visa.

Confirmed on an official government source

European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs (Official) · EUR-Lex: Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code), consolidated 2020-02-02 (Official)

How to apply, fees and timing

Schengen short-stay (C) visa. Fee EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11, free under 6 (charged in rand at the current rate), plus the visa centre's service fee. Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 calendar days before travel. A decision normally takes 15 calendar days, up to 45 days if further checks are needed. Your fingerprints and photo are taken in person and reused for 59 months. Applicants with a good visa history can be given multiple-entry visas valid for 1, 2 and up to 5 years.

Confirmed on an official government source

European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs (Official) · EUR-Lex: Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code), consolidated 2020-02-02 (Official)

Passport validity

Passport must be valid at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area and issued within the previous 10 years; at least two blank pages are commonly required by application centres.

Confirmed on an official government source

EUR-Lex: Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code), consolidated 2020-02-02 (Official)

Travel insurance

Mandatory for the visa: travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay, covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death).

Confirmed on an official government source

European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs (Official) · EUR-Lex: Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code), consolidated 2020-02-02 (Official)

Proof of funds amounts and the visa centre you use differ by country. Check the page for your main destination. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Where to apply

Each page lists the visa centre South Africans use and that country's own requirements.

Also covered in practice

Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican aren't Schengen members, but you reach them through the Schengen area, so you need a Schengen visa to get there.

Not covered

Cyprus and Ireland are in the EU but outside Schengen. They need their own visas. The United Kingdom is also separate.

More lists: Visa-free countries, Visa on arrival, Apply online (e-visa and ETA). Or see all destinations.