Do you want to invite friends or family to come and visit you in Germany?
For their trip, they will need a tourist visa, which is one of the short stays (less than 90 days) Schengen visas. There are two types of tourist visas. One is for general tourists and the other for family and friends who want to visit someone in Germany.
More information, application forms and requirements can be found on the German Embassy website.
The requirements are very clearly stated.
What is not always clear is how to supply the required documentation in special cases for example an older person who wants to visit and is not working and finds it difficult to get Medical/Travel insurance.
How soon can you apply
Duly completed application forms may be submitted six months prior to your intended travel date. Do not wait too long to apply, our suggestion is at the latest two weeks before the planned travel.
Proof of Willingness to return to South Africa
This section is extremely important. You can also elaborate on the invitation letter.
The following are listed as proof of Employment by the embassy
- If employed: current letter of employment with an original signature
- If self-employed: company registration document
- If student: current proof of school/university registration confirming that the student is exempt from attending lectures during the requested travel period, with an original signature. This is also relevant for school-going children. They will need a letter stating that they are exempt from attending class, or that it will be during school holidays.
- If medical doctor: valid license to practice from HPSCA and copy of the HPCSA card
- if other employment situation: current proof of occupation
Unemployed/Retired:
If unemployed or retired:
Copy of ID of Spouse and Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate of minor children
If unemployed or retired and single without minor children:
- proof of financial assets
- proof of Property Ownership and/or
- proof of residency and/or
- Pension certificate
Note: Proof of Residence can be a utility bill/rental agreement/signed letter from the property owner with a copy of their ID
Proof of financial status and sufficient funds
Depending on the travel circumstances, the requirement is at least 45 euros per person per day (2024)
This can be proved by the visitor submitting their bank statements for the last three months or the host can sign a formal letter of obligation for the person they are inviting (Verpflichtungserklärung). There is no need to send the original to South Africa, a scanned or e-mailed copy is sufficient.
Verpflichtungserklärung – Sponsoring someone’s visit
One requirement for both short-term and long-term (National) Schengen Visas is Proof of financial status and sufficient funds. When you want to sponsor someone’s visit, such as your parents or other family members, and they cannot prove their own financial means, you need to complete a legalised letter of obligation or “Verpflichtungserklärung.” This form can only
Documents proving purpose of travel
- The following must be included by the applicant as proof of the Purpose of Travel
- Invitation letter from the inviting party, with dates, names, addresses and signature
- Copy of passport of the inviting party
- Copy of the residence permit of the inviting party, if you do not have a residence permit yet, add a copy of your Meldebestätigung
- Letter confirming that the applicant was granted leave from their company (if employed)
- If the Invitation does not include accommodation: Proof of accommodation including the complete address for your entire stay in the Schengen area
- Flight reservation (round trip), rail tickets and others if applicable.
The invitation letter should include the following:
- The travel dates
- The name, address, and ID number (Aufenhaltstitel) and if applicable your South African passport information of the inviting party
- Names of your guests, and their passport numbers
- Inviting party’s signature
The following is a suggestion to add to the invitation letter:
- A short paragraph explaining the relationship (old friend, grandparents etc), a short itinerary and some proof that your guest will return to South Africa again and on time
- If they have a rental agreement, this can also be attached to support their intention of returning.
If the invitation does not include accommodation at your home:
Proof of accommodation including the complete address for their entire stay in the Schengen area must be added.
Here is an Example Invitation letter as a suggestion. You can also find examples here:
- Germany-Visa – Invitation Letter
- Schengenvisasinfo – Invitation letter
Flight tickets
A flight reservation(round trip) is required as part of the documents proving the purpose of travel.
According to TLSContact, you can submit a flight itinerary, and once the visa is granted buy the real tickets. This is a bit of a grey area, as the Embassy also want proof that the person will return to South Africa, and real flight tickets are added proof thereof. Also, see Schengenvisainfo
- Flight itinerary – a detailed schedule of flights including departure and arrival times, airlines, flight numbers etc.
- Flight reservation – This is not an actual flight ticket, but a reservation on the airline’s system. Companies like Flight Centre or AMEX might assist in making a reservation for you, for a fee of course, but the actual tickets are not yet booked and paid for.
- Flight tickets – Actual flight tickets issued in your name
Overseas medical travel insurance for Schengen States
- You need a minimum cover of 30 000 euros, valid for al Schengen countries.
Insurance by TIC, a South African company, is accepted by the Embassy and is well known in the travel industry. - Travelsure from Old Mutual is also accepted by the German Embassy in South Africa
Try the following companies for insurance for older people:
Children
Children will also need a passport and a visa to visit Germany. South African school-going children will need a letter from their school stating that they are exempt from attending classes or that the trip will take place during the school holidays.
Additional documents needed for children under the age of 18 for Visa application:
- Full unabridged birth certificate (containing father’s and mother’s name) in original and copy
- Guardian’s/parents’ declaration of consent signed by both guardians/parents in original and copy from Home Affairs
- Copy of the first page of the passport of parents/legal guardian(s)
The rules for travelling with children travelling through South African Ports of Entry, accompanied and unaccompanied can be found on the Department of home affairs website.
– Here is a link to the Suggested Parental consent letter from the Department of Home Affairs. It does not need to be notarised.
Flying with Children
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Visas
Visitors can be issued with a single, double or multiple entry visa. Tip – always select multiple entries on the application form.
The reason for their visit and any restrictions will be added to their visa. When you have family that visits you often they can apply for a long-term visa valid for one, three or five years depending on the applicant’s visa and travel history. The 90/180-day rule will still apply
More info can be found on the SchengenVisaInfo website.
Single-Entry Visa
A single-entry visa allows the holder to enter the Schengen Area once within the validity period stated on the visa sticker in their passport. After exiting the Schengen Area, the visa holder cannot re-enter, even if they have not used all the days permitted by the visa.
It’s important not to confuse a single-entry visa with restrictions on the number of countries you can visit. The “Valid for” section on your visa sticker indicates the countries you are allowed to visit, while the “Number of entries” section specifies how many times you can enter the Schengen Area during the visa’s validity.
Multiple-entry visa
A multiple-entry visa allows you to enter and exit the Schengen Area as many times as you wish, provided you comply with the 90/180 rule and the visa’s validity period. This means you cannot stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days within a 180-day period, and all entries and exits must occur within the visa’s validity dates.
Based on how frequently you travel to the Schengen zone, you may apply and obtain one of the following multiple-entry visa types:
- Multiple-entry visa for a specified period
- 1-year multiple-entry visa
- 3-year multiple-entry visa
- 5-year multiple-entry visa
How to Check Visa Restrictions
To understand the specifics of your Schengen visa, check these key details on your visa sticker:
- Valid for (Gültig für): Indicates whether the visa is valid only for Germany or for all Schengen countries.
- Reason and Restrictions: Specifies the purpose of your visit and any limitations.
- Number of Entries: Marked as MULT (multiple entries), double entry, or single entry.
- Validity Period: Shows the dates between which your visa is valid. All travel must occur within these dates.
Visa Validity example for Type C Visas
- These are the valid dates for the Visa. You may not enter the Schengen Area before the From date, and you must leave the Schengen Area not later than the Until date
- Total days you may stay between the from and to dates
- Multiple or single entry. With a single entry, re-entry into the Schengen area with this particular visa is not allowed.
Type of Visa. There are three main Schengen visa categories:
- Type A: Airport transit visa, for travellers transiting through a Schengen airport without entering the Schengen Area.
- Type C: Short-stay visa (up to 90 days within a 180-day period). This is the visa most visitors receive.
- Type D: Long-stay visa (more than 90 days), typically for work, study, or residency purposes.
90/180 day rule
The 90/180-day rule applies to visas and not residence permits and states that any foreign national who enters the Schengen zone (any country within the area) can stay for up to 90 days within any 180 days.
On the Schengen Visa Info website, there is a very good explanation of this rule as well as a calculator that you can use
Illegal downloads
Be aware of possible fines for illegal downloads by visitors
Downloading Music, Movies etc
Copyrights in Germany are governed by GEMA, a government-mandated collecting society and performance rights organization. GEMA: The Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte, or in English, the society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights. Germany has stringent copyright laws.Do not violate copyright laws by illegally downloading a film,
Insurance for Guests from abroad
Your guests will have to take out travel insurance for their visa application. Something you can do to op that is take out Insurance for foreign guests here in Germany. It can cover damage to rental property liability insurance and medical treatment. It of course depends on the policy you choose. It offers you and your guests additional peace of mind.
Some providers offering Insurance for Guests:
- HanseMerkur – Versicherungen für ausländische Gäste
- ADAC – Incoming-Versicherungen
Denied Visas
According to the Federal Foreigner Office “The notification sent to the applicant by the mission abroad states not only that the visa application has been unsuccessful, but also gives the grounds on which it was rejected and information on the applicant’s right to appeal the decision.
If a visa application is rejected, the applicant has one month to appeal in writing (“remonstrate”) to the mission abroad. The mission abroad will then reconsider the application.”
A list of the most common reasons for rejecting a visa application can be found on the SchengenVisaInfo website
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