The Extra Mile
Where do I apply in SA for a Schengen visa to Spain?
The rules depend on where you live in South Africa, writes Elizabeth Sleith
Q. I’d like to go to Barcelona but have been told I have to travel to Cape Town to get my Spanish visa. Is this correct or is there an embassy in Joburg or Durban? — Sadhna Baskali
A. You need a Schengen visa to visit Spain, which you must apply for through BLS International, the outsourced partner to the Embassy of Spain in South Africa and the Consulate General of Spain in Cape Town/Pretoria.
According to their website, you have to apply in person so that your biometric data can be collected, either at their Cape Town or Pretoria office.
You can easily book an appointment on the website but where you may go depends on where you live.Residents in Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and the Free State must apply in Pretoria. Residents of the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal must apply in Cape Town.
Debbie Nicholson of Visas and Passports Unlimited says this ruling is “due to volumes”.
The only exception would be if you have applied for a Schengen visa in the past 59 months, meaning they would already have your biometric data. Then you can send someone else to apply for you, by providing a power of attorney and a copy of your last visa sticker.
• We can help with your destination dilemmas, visa puzzles and provide itinerary ideas. E-mail your questions to travelmag@sundaytimes.co.za..
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