South Africa’s Immigration department is changing the requirements for all children under 18 years of age who are travelling to or from or transferring through the Republic of South Africa. The new regulations for U18 South Africa Travel come into effect for all travel from 1 June 2015.
Travellers who arrive at the airport without the correct documentation cannot be accepted for travel.
More Information:
Where both parents are travelling with a child who is under 18
- All parents travelling with children under the age of 18 to or from South Africa must produce an unabridged birth certificate of each child which shows details of the parents of the child.
Where one parent is travelling with a child, they must produce:
- an unabridged birth certificate
- consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate, authorising them to enter or depart from South Africa with the child
OR - a court order granting them full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship or where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate
Where an adult is travelling with a child, who is not their biological child, they must produce:
- a copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child
- an affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that they have permission to travel with the child
- copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child
Children travelling alone must produce:
- consent from one or both of the parents/legal guardian in the form of a letter or affidavit, for the child to travel into or depart from South Africa. If only one parent is able to provide proof of consent they must also have a copy of a court order granting the full parental responsibilities
- a letter from the person who is to receive the child in South Africa, containing their residential address and the contact details where the child will be residing
- a copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in South Africa
- contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child
For more information about U18 South Africa Travel please contact your local South African Embassy, the South African High Commission or the South African Department of Home Affairs.
