Visa application tips

We are not immigration agents, and your first point of contact should always be the German embassy or consulate in South Africa.
Most of the information you need to apply for your visa at the Germany Embassy in South Africa can be found on their website
Here is some additional information that could help when something is not clear.
For individual queries, you can send an email to visacapetown@kaps.diplo.de or use their online form

Friends or Family Visits

We have a page dedicated to Friends and Family visit visas.

Friends or Family visits

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 stay (less than 90 days) Schengen visas. There are two types of tourist visas. One is for general tourist and the other for family and friends who wants to visit someone in Germany. More

Family reunification visas

We have several pages dedicated to Family reunification visas.

Family Reunification Visa – Your stories

Family Reunification Visa – Your stories These are shared experiences by people who recently went through a Family Reunification Visa application process. You can share yours with us via an easy-to-fill-in form on this page. An FB member shared a more detailed experience. You can read it here. Another member, Tom, also shared his experience with us, you can read about it

Family Reunification Visa

“German citizens or citizens from non-EU countries who have an Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit) or a Niederlassungserlaubnis (settlement permit) are allowed to bring their relatives to Germany. This is known as the ‘reunification of families. For short term family visits please refer to the relevant page.To enter Germany, the relatives require a visa; to continue to stay, they require a residence permit. A visa allows you to

Birth and Marriage Certificates

When submitting a birth or marriage certificate for a German visa application, you must provide an unabridged copy.

Translations

Unless specifically asked for, documents that are in English do not need to be translated.

Apostil of documents

When something needs to be apostilled, it will say so explicitly on the Embassy website as in the example below. If you click on the arrow it will take you to this page, which states that documents must be apostilled by DIRCO

Medical insurance

Short-term visas

You need medical insurance for your whole trip.

TIC in South Africa is accepted by the Embassy.
You can also use the insurance offered by your Credit card but make sure it satisfies the minimum requirements from the Embassy.
Travelsure from Old Mutual is also accepted by the German Embassy in South Africa

July 2022 – Valid travel health insurance covering your requested stay with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros, valid for all Schengen countries.

Try the following companies for insurance for older people:

TIC – leisure Senior
Klemmer – They also offer student cover
Allianz – Für Besucher aus dem Ausland und bis zu 93 Tagen Reisedauer – ohne Höchstalter
Axa – Schengen Travel Insurance
Dr Walter / Provisit
ADAC Die Reisekranken- und Haftpflichtversicherung für Ihre Gäste aus dem Ausland

Long-term visas

Time-limited visas like study, Au-Pair etc
You will need medical insurance to cover the whole period that you are in Germany. Good options are Klemmer or Dr Walter
Employee – Health insurance is mandatory, please bear in mind that this insurance can only begin when you take up residence in Germany and enter into employment. If you enter Germany beforehand, private health insurance must be taken out for the period before employment begins and before being eligible for health insurance. In its terms and conditions, travel health insurance can exclude protection if a long-term or permanent stay is planned.
So-called incoming travel insurance can also contain such exclusions, so make sure you know what your insurance covers.
TIC offers emigration cover but only for up to 32 days. Other options are Dr Walter / Provisit
Family reunification – you also need cover when you come to Germany on a family reunification visa. The same options as above apply.

Medical

Health Insurance in Germany: A Guide for South Africans In Germany, everyone must have health insurance. This means when you move to Germany, this is one the first things you need to sort our When you earn less than the Versicherungspflichtgrenze, you will

Rejected Visas

When your visa is denied, you can re-apply immediately afterwards. Fees are the same.

Essential Tips for South African Visitors in Germany

A Guide for South African Visitors: What to Know Before Visiting Germany Visiting family or friends in Germany is an exciting experience, but it’s essential to be aware of some cultural differences and legal considerations to avoid surprises. Here’s a guide to help South African visitors make the most of their stay while respecting German norms. Greetings and Language Basics When visiting Germany, a warm greeting and a few German phrases can go a long way in making a good first impression. Germans appreciate politeness and directness in communication, and

Travel to Germany – Tips

“Traveling to Germany is like stepping into a storybook, where history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes weave a tale you’ll never forget.” If you’re planning a trip to Germany, we’ve got some travel tips that we think you’ll find incredibly helpful. If you’ve got your own tips to share, we’d love to hear them! Simply submit them to us and we’ll be happy to include them on the page. Direct Fligts The major airports in Germany are Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.Direct flights from South Africa are available only to Frankfurt and

List of Long Stay Visas

Long Term visas are seen as visits longer than 90 days and will typically be for work or study visits. If your application is approved, you will receive a visa to enter Germany. Once you are in Germany you will need to apply for your residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde as soon as possible. You will always apply for your first long-stay German Visa at the German Embassy in South Africa.This might also apply when you change your type of visa e.g from study to work. The German Embassy

List of Short stay Visas

According to the German Embassy in South Africa, “South African passport holders require a visa to enter Germany. It is important to note that if you wish to visit more than one Schengen country, you should apply at the embassy of your main destination, taking the length and purpose of your stay into consideration. Short-term Schengen visas are seen as visits shorter than 90 days and will typically be for tourism or business visits. A Schengen visa is valid in the countries that are part of the Schengen Area The German Embassy