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angola visa... again
apologies for asking the same question(s) that are constantly renewed... perhaps i'm being too hopeful but i wondered if there were any hubbers with the latest news & contacts...
i'm travelling on an australian passport. there is no angolan embassy in australia. i'm heading from south (i.e. RSA / NAM) north into Angola. I'm really hoping to get a 30 day visa rather than have to rush through on a 5 day transit... i've tried the following 'contacts' chasing visa information and a letter of invitation thus far without much luck (i'm not planning to book tours, and don't want to book expensive hotels etc.);
Getting visas for Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola - Lonely Planet travel forum though i'm yet to find out whether the email address is still correct (anyone have updates?), and I still need an LOI before applying. Mandy @ AA Safaris suggests Pretoria will be the 'only' likely place for the visa but includes a caveat that begging will be required... also booking with Flamingo lodge provides her clients with the LOI, likewise for Lezle @ tripostravel Sure Travel Contact Details according to the author of this blog. Angola, Angola - a tale of três cavaleiros - Page 4 - ADVrider can anyone suggest another 'reliable' or 'potential' sources for providing the LOI that doesn't involve hotel bookings? or is flamingo lodge really the only way to go? anyone know what accommodation is worth / minimum booking requirements there? (google search for the lodge doesn't seem to list prices). I read some time ago about a lady working for a charitable organisation who worked on the 'trust' system for payment etc. but i can't seem to find a link now. i do recall reading that she may have left angola or no longer provide the LOI 'service' based on non-responses to some hubbers email requests... any other information would be much appreciated! thanks in advance dave |
Why don't you book a hotel and then "change your mind" and cancel it for free afterwards?
I got an Angola visa in my home country and it was the hardest one I've ever applied for. Criminal records, Portuguese translations and stamps from authorities and so on. Wish you the best of luck! |
visa only good 60 days from issue ?
Hey guys wondering if anyone can help me out with some info about he Angola visa. I've contacted the Flamingo Lodge and Mandy there let me know that tourist visas are only good for 60 days from issue. As I'll be traveling from london, I won't even be close! Anyone know if this is accurate?
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We got our Multientry Angola visa at the embassy in Sweden. They told me that it was valid for ENTRY within 60 days and then you could stay in the country for 30 days. Ask about twenty times. I really hope that's the case because we would like to exit after the expiry (60 days) date!
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no alternatives
Well this is not great. How on earth can anyone traveling south from Europe obtain a visa that is valid when they arrive! Nothing to do but take your chances along the way I suppose...
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The thread opener has luck - when Angola has no embassy in australia - this may help! But I`m pretty shure - that they have a embassy in another country who has to handle the request from australians. To get an "invation" beyond a Hotelreservation (if needed (we dont need)) try too airbnb, and couchsurfing (maybe there is something) to get contact to locals. |
no loi
When i told flamingo lodge my time frame and asked if I could still receive a letter of invitation they stopped responding. I'll have a look on couchsurfer unless anyone has other options..
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Angola visa
HELP:
We knew Angola visa were extremely difficult to get, but now it seems almost impossible. We are overlanding (from Holland to Cape Town) and would also like to drive back. From what we hear - please correct us if this is wrong - it is currently almost impossible to get a visa from the Angolan embassy in Windhoek or Pretoria. Could we try to get it at the Angolan/Namibian border? We cannot apply for the visa in our home country for inter alia the silly reason that we need a "declaration of good behaviour", which can only be applied by an employer (which we don't have, since we quit our jobs). We do have an employer's statement though ;-). We contacted various companies who previously could help travellers with the visa application. Unfortunately Lezle Combrinck told us: "Two weeks ago the Consul made a ruling that we can only assist Foreign passport holders, if they are holding "Permanent Residency in South Africa", OR Study / Business Permits." So also this help line is no longer an option, it seems. Could anyone please advise? We are willing to go very far to get this visa (and the DRC visa), but we just do not know what to do anymore. Thanks a lot for any helpful advice! |
Why don't you contact José.
ref Angola, it's not like they said. page 14, he might be able to help you-----------------geert |
Because Angolans (private or organisations) are held personaly responsible and accountable for anyone they give a LOI to, they are very reluctant to do so, especially towards people they don't know. This goes very far, with people getting fined huge amounts or even end up in jail, when the person they gave an LOI to, does something wrong (traffic accident) or overstays. So if you get the LOI from somebody, be very thankfull and don't underestimate the risks this person is taking for you.
The only simple way to get the transit visa is in your HOME COUNTRY, you will not need a LOI. Even if your visa will be expired while on the road, make sure you get it anyway, it will be a lot easier to convince any embassy to prolong the visa if they see you already had one from the HOME COUNTRY. In Matadi they told me that if I had an expired one, it would have been no problem to give me a new one. If you are already on the road, it seems your only option is to send the passport home or fly over yourself. Going South to North: note also that flying from Johannesburg (to Europe) is a lot cheaper than flying from Capetown or Windhoek. |
What works well is this:
Sent your passport to your homecountry with DHL (insured), and let a friend or Visa-Agency take the visa for you. Then he have to sent it with DHL back to you. There are severall who have done it this way. It costs a lot of money - but it works. You need to to sent in copys of the carnet (front / inside / rear Pages), and Screenshot for your banking account, Vaccination Certificate (yellow fever), 2x Fotos, and the usual stuff (Visa Application Form). There are some blogs arround from 2012 who have done it this way. "gerade Unterwegs" / "Heading straight" in my blog should point to some "fresh" experience... Surfy |
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No deal at Eco-Tour Angola
Sorry to report that Eco-tour Angola (which someone suggested) is also a no go for the letter of invitation. They require a tour booking of 6 people...
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What is in a LOI?
A basic question, forgive my Nievete. But what does a LOI say? I have a Portuguese family in Luanda to ask but what do I ask for?
I'm an American and could be there in 4months or so. I understand the benefit of a expired visa, better than no visa at all. 141 bucks is OK. What do I ask of my luandan contacts? |
LOI requirements
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Letter Of Invitation from Angola: A letter of invitation from sponsor in Angola (either host company or individual) addressed to the specific Consulate where the visa application will be submitted, explaining the relationship to the applicant and the purpose of travel. In addition, the letter must indicate the length of stay, place of stay, and contact information. The letter must include a statement of guarantee of financial responsibility from host company in Angola (or else the applicant must provide a personal bank statement). This letter must be written in Portuguese and must also have been notarized in Angola. |
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