Business Visa (Schengen)
Please submit your application for a Schengen Visa to the representative of the country which - considering the main purpose of your intended stay - is your main destination. If no such main destination can be ascertained, please contact the representative of the country of your first entry into the Schengen Area.
Residents of the following provinces must submit their visa application to the German Embassy in Pretoria:
- Free State, Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West
Residents of the following provinces must submit their visa application to the German Consulate General in Cape Town:
- Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape
If you are not a South African national, your residence permit for South Africa must be valid at least another four months from the date the Schengen visa expires.
Applications must be submitted in person and may not be submitted by courier, regular post, fax or e-mail. Only applicants who can prove to have travelled at least twice to the Schengen States within the past two years, may be exempt from applying in person. A third party may apply on behalf of such applicants.
We advise you to apply at least three weeks prior to your intended date of departure. Normally, the visa process is finalised within three to four working days upon submission of a complete visa application. In some cases, however, we may need more time due to the necessary involvement of German and/or Schengen authorities.
Please note that only complete applications will be accepted. In order to ensure that your application is processed without delay, please submit the following documents (in original and one copy as indicated below). Unfortunately, copies cannot be provided by the German Missions.
Required Documents |
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Original document required for: |
- A duly completed Schengen Visa Application form (please ensure that you sign the form)
A valid passport with at least two blank pages and valid for at least three months longer than intended stay (please ensure that your passport is signed)
One recent passport photograph according to biometric specifications check here for further details regarding biometric specifications of photos [pdf, 550,79k]
Declaration of True and Complete Information in accordance with §55 Residence Act, signed and dated. (included in the latest visa application form you find on this page) Declaration §55 [pdf, 117,52k]
Original + one copy required for: |
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- Signed letter of invitation from your German Business Contacts (if applicable confirming the costs are covered by the German Company as well as a detailed description of the reason for travel)
- Detailed information and supporting documentation confirming trip (e.g. proof of flight reservation/return, proof of accommodation, details of the first border of entry into the Schengen Sates and, if applicable, documents indicating further travel within the Schengen Area)
- Proof of previous trips to the Schengen Area (i.e. visas in present or previous passports)
- Travel Medical Insurance valid in all the Schengen States for the entire duration of the intended stay (minimum cover of €30.000)
Employee:
- Letter from your employer confirming your employment as well as detailed information about the business trip to Germany (duration, places visited etc.), including a statement that either the South African or the German company are covering the costs of the trip or
Self-employed:
- Official documents confirming your self-employment (e.g. Copy of the CK1 registration/VAT registration including name and proof of business activities)
- Bank account statements covering the latest three months, term deposit statement or tax papers
Please note that each visa application is reviewed individually. Therefore, the requested documents may vary. The German Missions reserve the right to ask for additional documents. The submission of the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. Applicants can, at any time, be asked for a personal interview. Submission of incomplete documentation or refusal to attend the mandatory visa interview will lead to a refusal of your visa application. Once a visa has been issued, the purpose of the trip may not be altered.
One-Year or Multiple-Year Visas (Schengen-Visa)
If you intend to apply for a Schengen-Visa valid for a longer period of time, please provide the following items in addition to the documentation required for a Business Visa:
Original + one copy required for:
- Copy of your last Schengen-Visa(s)
- Written confirmation from the South African and/or German company that
1.) the necessity and frequency of future trips justify a One-Year/Multiple-Year Visa (supporting reasons must be stated),
2.) the applicant will at all times be provided with sufficient financial means, as well as be covered by international travel insurance for each trip.
- A signed Medical Declaration Form guaranteeing travel medical insurance
Please note: A One-Year/Multiple-Year Visa does not allow the applicant to take up employment in Germany! Neither does it allow you to stay for longer than 90 days, per half-a-year, in the Schengen States. A One-Year/Multiple-Year Visa is rather an extended Schengen Visa for those who travel frequently for business purposes within a given year or over the course of several years.
