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Embassies · Schengen Area

🇪🇺 Schengen Area Embassy & Application Centre

Submission process, processing times, document requirements, and flight reservation guidance for Schengen Area visa applications.

Where to apply

Issuing authority: EU consulate

Embassy/consulate location: Pretoria

Application route: VFS Global / BLS International (per country)

Processing time: 7-45 business days

Government fee: US$90 (approximate, varies by visa type)

Apply to the embassy of the country you spend most time in. If equal time, apply to first entry country.

Submission checklist

Whether you submit at the Pretoria embassy directly, via VFS Global / BLS International (per country), or online, the file you assemble follows a similar pattern:

  1. Passport with 6+ months validity — bio page copy and any prior visas.
  2. Completed application form — typed, signed, with recent passport-size photo attached.
  3. Flight reservation — verifiable PNR showing entry to Schengen Area on a real airline route, with return/onward dates aligned to your stated visit length.
  4. Accommodation proof — hotel bookings, host invitation, or rental agreement for the full stay.
  5. Financial documents — bank statements for the last 3-6 months showing sufficient funds.
  6. Travel insurance — most embassies require coverage for the full duration.
  7. Day-by-day itinerary — what you plan to do, especially for tourist applications.
  8. Letter of employment or proof of ties — to demonstrate you'll return.

Flight reservation requirements specific to Schengen Area

The EU consulate requires every visa applicant to submit proof of onward and return travel. A flight reservation generated through an airline GDS (with a real PNR) is accepted. PDF "tickets" produced by free generators are routinely rejected because they cannot be verified.

For your Schengen Area application, our recommendation:

  • Use a 14-day validity reservation if your appointment is within 2 weeks.
  • Choose carriers operating CDG arrivals: CDG, FRA, AMS.
  • If the embassy explicitly accepts dummy tickets (most do not, but a reservation is different), have a real PNR ready.