Visa

Applying for a Schengen visa in Pretoria
To allow us to help you as quickly and efficiently as possible, please note that applications for visas can only be submitted if you have made an appointment.

You are strongly advised to schedule an appointment for your visa application at least four weeks before your intended date of departure.

All first time visa applicants must appear in person. Parents of children under the age of 16 can submit the application on the child(ren)'s behalf. Applications can be submitted at the visa section of the Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria or at a Dutch consulate in your area. Applications submitted at a Dutch consulate will be forwarded to the visa section in Pretoria for processing. The minimum processing time for visa applications submitted at our front desk is two working days, but longer if the application is submitted at a Dutch consulate. For applications submitted at the Consulate General in Cape Town, the processing time is at least six working days, for the Honorary Consulates in Maseru and Durban at least five working days. For certain nationalities an approval from the appropriate authorities is required and applications will therefore take approximately two weeks longer to process.

Make an appointment for a visa application in PRETORIA

Download the visa application form in the right column of this page

Persons who have previously had a Schengen visa issued by THIS Embassy, not longer than three (3) years ago, may send in visa applications through a third person (e.g. courier service, travel agent) provided that ALL supporting documents are complete. They do not have to appear in person at the consular department, but making an appointment is still required. The Embassy still reserves the right to request the applicant to appear in person if deemed neccessary. Please note that the application should include payment in cash.  Business people who need to travel frequently to companies in the Netherlands, and who have already had three Schengen visa, of which at least one issued by the Netherlands Embassy or the Consulate General in Cape Town, within the last three years may apply for a long term business visa which allows them multiple entries into the Schengen territory for a period between 1 and 5 years.

Persons living in the three Cape provinces in principle have to submit their applications at the Consulate General in Cape Town. Persons living in Kwazulu Natal can submit their applications at the Honorary Consulate in Durban. Persons living in the Free State and Lesotho can submit their applications at the Honorary Consulate in Maseru. The Honorary Consulate in Mbabane has been closed since 31 May 2009. Persons living in Namibia can submit their applications at the German Embassy in Windhoek.

South African temporary passports

From 1 April 2007, the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) do not longer accept South African temporary passports for tavelling to the Netherlands, Belgium or Luxembourg. This means that no Schengen visa can be put in this kind of travel documents.

Visa fees

Visa fees have to be paid (in cash only) upon submitting the application and will not be refunded if the visa is not granted or the application is withdrawn.

Visa fees are fixed in Euro. As from 1 January 2007, the Schengen visa handling fee will amount to € 60, but payable in South African Rand (to the administrative rate of exchange of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands - the visa fees are therefore subject to change, without prior notice).

Current fee: ZAR 588 (from 21.07.2010)

Collection hours

Collection of passports (with receipt only):

Monday to Thursday 9.00 - 12.00

Friday 9.00 - 11.00