Schengen visa:

A Schengen visa allows you to enter and travel freely within 25 Schengen countries – if you leave any of these countries and travel to a country that is not part of the agreement and then want to travel back into the Schengen area – you will need a multiple entry visa. lets take this further – UK is not part of the Schengen agreement – your Schengen visa will NOT get you into the UK – you need a UK visa to do so. In the same vain – your UK visa will not get you into the Schengen area – lets say France – you will need a Schengen visa to do so.

Wiki is a great resource for elaboration on this agreement – who qualifies etc – Click here

Ok lets elaborate some more – if you have a USA visa this doe snot garautee you entry into Europe and no your USA visa will not get you into Europe – you need a Schengen visa to do this. Again – if you are going to Canada – your Canadian visa will not get you into America – you need an American visa. Now transit visas are trickey so here are a few examples.

If you are travelling to Frankfurt / Germany via the UK – you need a UK transit visa as a SA passport holder – however if you are travelling from SA to America via the UK and not changing airports in the UK you will not need a UK transit Visa providing you are not a flight risk and have the correct visa for the USA.

Oh and ultimately the end decision for your entry even if you have a Visa is the border control – customs officials when you arrive @ your destination – they can deny you entry even if you have the correct visa. Do your home work – never taken it as a given you know the visa right – ask – this should be first nature when booking a ticket to any destination – I have booked seasoned travellers who have muddled up the above – note though always ask – never take it for granted that the travel agent would have advised you if you need a visa – ASK.

If you transit in Barcelona you need a visa!

Here is a sample routing:

Effective immediately all South African passport holders transiting in BARCELONA will require a Schengen visa. EG:  JNB BCN LON MAD JNB

http://ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en/visas-for-the-uk/

New Visa requirements for South African nationals visiting the UK

With effect from Tuesday 03 March, South African passport holders will require a visa in order to visit or transit the United Kingdom. However, until mid-2009, South African nationals who have previously travelled to the UK on their current passport will be exempt from the visa requirement. This decision follows a global review of the UK’s pre-entry immigration controls and reflects the UK government’s commitment to strengthen its borders.

For full details visit www.vfs-uk-za.com or call 082 234 4450