South Africa Travel Guide and Information

What are the regulations for travelling to South Africa with children?

To ensure the safety and security of children travelling to South Africa, you are required to carry certain travel documents with you. The Department of Home Affairs of Republic of South Africa introduces regulations in regard to travel documents. Please note the following check-list in varying circumstances to make sure you experience a hassle-free travel to South Africa.

Travelling with parents:

If a child is travelling with both biological parents, travel documents required are the:

  • Valid passports of both the biological parents and their accompanied child

  • Complete Birth Certificate

If a child in travelling with adoptive parents, travel documents required are

  • Valid passports of the both adoptive parents as well as minor child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Adoption Certificate/Court order

If a child is travelling with his legal guardians, travel documents required are:

  • Valid passports of both the legal parents

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Guardianship order

Travelling with single parent:

If a child is accompanied by one of his/her biological parents, travelling documents required are:

  • Valid Passport of both travelling parent and the child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Parent Consent Affidavit not older than 6 months/Letter of Special Circumstances issued by Director-General of Home Affairs is that the parent or parents are incapacitated or deceased and no legal guardian is assigned yet.

If a child is accompanied by one of his/her adoptive parents, travelling documents required are:

  • Valid passport of accompanied parent and the child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Court Order confirming the adoption of the minor by the one or both adoptive parents/Certificate of Adoption

  • Parental Consent Affidavit not older than 6 months/Guardianship Order/Letter of Special Circumstances issued by Director General of Home Affairs in such a case when a parent or parents are incapacitated or deceased and no legal guardian has been assigned yet.

If a child is accompanied by divorced/legally separated parents, travelling documents required are:

In case of equal/specific rights and responsibilities:

  • Valid passport of travelling parents and the child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Parental Consent Affidavit not older than 6 months

  • Court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights to the accompanied single parent/Court Order granted in terms of section 18 (5) of the Children’s Act, 2005/Letter of Special Circumstances issued by Director-General of Home Affairs in the event that a parent or parents are incapacitated or deceased and no legal guardian has been assigned yet.

In case of full parental rights and responsibilities:

  • Valid passport of travelling parent and the child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Court order which grants full parental responsibilities and rights to the accompanied parent.

  •  If a child is travelling with one his legal guardian, travelling documents required are:

In case of joint legal guardianship:

  • Valid passport of travelling guardian and the child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Guardianship Order

  • Parental Consent Affidavit not older than 6 months/Letter of Special Circumstances issued by the Director-General of Home Affairs

In case of full legal guardianship:

  • Valid passport of accompanied legal guardian and a child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Guardianship Certificate

If a child is travelling with a widow, travelling documents required are:

In case of biological parents:

  • Valid passport of travelling parent and child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Death certificate of the one of the deceased parent

In case of adoptive parents:

  • Valid passport of accompanied parent and a child

  • Death certificate of the deceased parent

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate or equivalent document/ Court order confirming the adoption of the minor by the adoptive parents/Adoption Certificate

If a child is travelling alone, and he/she belongs to a single parent (he has a single parent on the birth certificate)

  • Valid passport of a travelling child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Parental Consent Affidavit which is not older than 6 months

  • Letter from the person with his residential address and contact details who will receive the minor in South Africa.

  • Proof of identity of the person who will receive the minor in South Africa

If the child is travelling alone, and he is a child of an unmarried couple on his birth certificate:

  • Valid passport of the travelling child

  • Unabridged Birth Certificate

  • Letter from a person who is at the receiving end in South Africa with his complete residential as well as contact details.

  • Identity card details of the person who is to receive the minor in South Africa,

  • Complete details of parents or legal guardian of the minor.

  • Parental Consent Affidavit/Court Order confirmation of parental rights and obligations/Letter of Special Circumstances issued by Director General of Home Affairs.

Travelling of an unaccompanied child:
It is important to note that valid passports as well as complete birth certificate are the necessary documents to travel with. If due to certain circumstances, a minor child is required to travel alone, and he possess one or both parents, then the essential travelling documents will include the Parental Consent Affidavit. On the Contrary, if a minor child is not under the legal guardianship of anyone, then he must present Letter of Special Circumstances issued by the director general of Home Affairs that grants him a permission to travel.

If the above stated situations do not match the background of a travelling child then visit  Home Affairs of Republic of South Africa to find out the requisite travelling documents in reference the child’s particular case.

Flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. However some are not and at time of booking you confirm what protection is applicable. This website is a part of Moresand Ltd (registration no. 02114691) T/A Travelhouseuk registered in England and wales . Office , 10-11 Percy St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1DN. All bookings protected under the ATOL scheme will receive an ATOL certificate. In cases where a part payment is made that flight booking is ATOL protected. In some cases a certificate does not indicate all the trip segments - this means the omitted parts are not ATOL protected). Please refer to our booking conditions for further information please visit www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

X