Temporary Visas Available to South Africans in 2018: Categories and Prices

Over the years, countries around the world have changed their visa policies and rates, in accordance with many factors, such as global and local economies, political preferences, migrant crises, and tourism sector performance.

Below you can find the costs for applying for a visa in 2018 in a number of countries that are popular among temporary workers, travelers, students, and business visitors.

The below prices do not include delivery fees and other fees as part of each country’s application process.

United Kingdom (info)

The United Kingdom offers visas in a number of different categories, including Standard Visitor visas (granting entry for between 6 months and 10 years), a number of Business Visas, and a variety of Special Visitor Visas.

United States (info)

A popular class for US visas is Class B, which may grant an applicant entry into the country for up to 10 years. A variety of other temporary visas are available, each with their own periods of validity. Other classes for the US include Transit, Study, and Work.

New Zealand (info)

Outside of its temporary visa class, which may grant an individual entry for up to 9 months, New Zealand has a Limited Visa class. With a Limited Visa, you can visit New Zealand temporarily, to achieve an express purpose. Once you’ve achieved your purpose, you must leave New Zealand. You can’t usually apply for other visas while in New Zealand on a Limited Visa, although you may be granted another Limited Visa in keeping with a need to spend more time in the country for the express purpose that the initial visa was granted for.

Australia (info)

Australia offers temporary visas across a number of categories. These include Tourist and Business Visitors, Working Holidays, Medical Treatment, Transit, Student, Training, and Temporary Work Sponsorship. Online applications are available through the government’s ImmiAccount system.

Approved Destination Status (ADS) is an arrangement between the Chinese Government and another country, that lets Chinese holiday travellers visit a country in a tour group.

The eVisitor program allows those with a passport in certain countries to obtain a Visit Visa for free. The list of eligible countries can be found here.

An Australian Study Visa is for those who wish to study full-time in a recognised education institution. A Training Visa is for those who wish to take part in workplace-based training to enhance their skills in their current occupation, area of tertiary study, field of expertise; or participate in a professional development training program.

A Temporary Activities Visa allows entry for specific activities, each with their own assigned duration. A list of such activities can be found here.

A Bridging Visa can be granted for someone who has applied for an associated substantive visa through ImmiAccount, for which a decision has not yet been made.

United Arab Emirates (info)

The visit visa or entry permit into the UAE requires sponsorship from a citizen, resident or investor. Nationals and residents in the UAE can apply online and acquire 90-day /30-day UAE entry permits or visit visas for their families, friends and relatives through the Ministry’s website- eServices section and the UAE-MOI app on smartphones.

If you have relatives or friends residing in the UAE, they can sponsor your non-electronic UAE visa. They can apply for your entry permit at the office of and the relevant General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) under Ministry of Interior. Its office is located in each emirate. Links to the local GDRFA offices can be found here.

Tourist visa is a special category of visa under visit visa, which could be obtained for eligible individual tourists around the world. The visa permits the holder to stay for duration of 30 days. The visa requires sponsorship of UAE airlines, hotels and tour operators who bring in visitors. The renewal and visa processing fee of tourist visas depends on travel agency that covers for you. Information about Emirates visa services can be found here, and information about Etihad visa services can be found here.

The Service Visa applies to the following categories and their families accompanying them: company manager’s representatives, sales managers, account auditors, company or establishment delegations required to carry out a commercial activity in the UAE, consultants requested by companies operating in the UAE that are required to carry out an urgent task.

Finally, the UAE’s airlines handle 4-day transit visas, valid for 14 days from the date of issue.

Shengen (info)

A Shengen visa covers members of the European Union (except the United Kingdom) and a number of other countries. Member states are: 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, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Countries including Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Ireland are soon to be part of the agreement.

Some tips when applying for visas include:

• Checking whether there are multiple ways to apply, with different fees, such as is the case in the UAE.
• Making sure you have all the required documents ready (check the number of copies needed).
• Taking along multiple forms of ID, just in case.
• Ensuring that the website you are using to apply through is legitimate. Scam sites are an unfortunate reality.
• Scheduling any appointments on a day when you have some extra time, in case things take longer than expected.
• Noting the duration that the visa you are applying for allows you to stay in the country you are visiting, and how long it is valid for.

Happy travelling!

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Image sources: Igor Ovsyannykov (via Unsplash) [1].