Grindrod Travel has a dedicated visa consultant, who will assist with all your visa requirements. For any visa information please contact Carol on 031 3011225 or email carolh@grindrodtravel.co.za
Italian Consulate Closes in Durban
We wish to inform you that 13 of September 2010, will be the last day for accepting applications for any type of Visa.
The Durban office will not be operating after that date and only those who wish to travel in October/November will be accepted until the 13th September, and will be processed. For those who want to travel later than this period, will have to apply to the Consulate General in Johannesburg.
Belgiam Consulate
The Belgiam Consulate will refuse to grant a visa if it lands on their desk and does not have 10 days to process. i.e. will not issue in 7 days or 8 days etc.
Austrian Embassy - NO MORE COURIERS
Please note that with immediate effect, the Austrian Embassy will no longer accept visa applications submitted via courier companies or visa companies. All travellers will have to appear in person and collect in person as well.
Unabridged Birth Certificates
Unabridged Birth Certificates are required by ALL Children U/18 travelling with parents to most European Countries. This is a new requirement.
Nigeria
Changes have been made to Nigerian visa applications at the Pretoria-based Nigerian Embassy.
* Submission of visa application will only be once in two weeks on Mondays only
* Processing of visas take two weeks (14 Days)
* Visa fee is non-refundable
* First-time visitors to Nigeria will pay a repatriation fee of R6 000 (refundable)
* No exceptions will be made
* No urgent visas will be issued.
Angola
Please be informed the consulate are taking approximately +-20 working days or longer, depending approval from Luanda to process visa applications.
Australian Visas
Please bear in mind that the current processing time on Australian Tourist and Business Visas is 20 working days and although they are trying to assist all travellers there is no guarantee that they will be able to process applications within 20 working days
French Visas
With immediate effect and until further notice the French Consulate in Johannesburg will not accept any visa applications from Visa Companies/Couriers or Travel Agents.
All travellers have to present themselves personally to the French Consulate in Johannesburg for submission of visa applications.
NOTE: Temporary Passports are NOT valid for travel to France
UK Visa
As at 01 July 2009 all travellers will need to go online to apply for their UK visas and to schedule an appointment to go into their nearest UK visa facilitation services (VFS) office to submit their application and have fingerprints taken.
The visa can also be paid for on this site by credit card. The website is: www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk
Transit visa's (DATV - Direct Airside Transit Visa) are NOT required for the UK provided a passenger has a qualifying visa for the USA or Canada, and is in transit for less than 24 hours.
Please find below the direct link to the UK Border Agency website.
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf20transit
Switzerland
Switzerland is now a member of the Schengen Agreement. Effective 12 Dec 2008 all South African Passport holders will require a Schengen visa to visit Switzerland. If you are a first time Schengen visa applicant you will be required to go in personally to Pretoria. You need to make an appointment and this can be done by calling 012 452 0662 from 13h30 to 16h00 Monday to Thursday only.