South Africa
Spain
Spain visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Spain.
- Where to apply
- 2 missions
- Visa guide
- Spain visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at exteriores.gob.es
Which Spain visa?
Schengen visa (visado de estancia) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- 15 calendar days from submission, extendable up to 45 days if documents or an interview are requested.
For the tourist visa, Spain’s official sources give a standard fee of €90. Processing time, as Spain states it: 15 calendar days from submission, extendable up to 45 days if documents or an interview are requested. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Spanish missions in South Africa
- Embassy of Spain in Pretoria
Brooklyn Road 337, 0102 Brooklyn
-
All missions of Spain in South Africa
Spain has 2 missions in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria. Consulates: Cape Town.
Spain: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20,662 | 19,327 | 1,054 | 5.2% | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 20,800 | 19,641 | 842 | 4.1% | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 21,450 | 20,571 | 490 | 2.3% | 13.5% |
In 2025, Spain’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Cape Town and Pretoria) received 21,450 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 20,571. The refusal rate was 2.3%. The refusal rate fell by 1.8 points from 4.1% in 2024. Applications rose by 3% compared with 2024 (20,800).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Spain’s consulates worldwide refused 14.6%. Spain was the 5th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Spanish citizens travelling to South Africa
SpainSouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Spain
Travel advice for Spain
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
South African citizens planning a trip to Spain can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Spain at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 31 July 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Spain (updated 28 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Spain (updated 2 November 2026).
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Spain
How long South African citizens may stay in Spain is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Spanish embassy in Pretoria and the consulate in Cape Town, or to a visa centre acting for Spain; fees, documents and processing times are published by Spain.
Spain and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Spain lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Spain when it is the main destination of the trip.
Spain’s neighbours for South African citizens
Andorra, Portugal, France and Morocco require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Spanish citizens travelling to South Africa
South Africa admits Spanish citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Spain?
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Spain.
Where is the Spanish embassy in South Africa?
The Spanish embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria; there is also a consulate in Cape Town.
How much does the Spain tourist visa cost?
Spain’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: 15 calendar days from submission, extendable up to 45 days if documents or an interview are requested.
Do Spanish citizens need a visa for South Africa?
South Africa admits Spanish citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Can South African citizens enter Spain visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Spain obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.