All children under the age of 18 – both local and foreigners – are now required to travel with a valid passport and an unabridged (full) birth certificate stating both parents’ names. If the child is travelling alone or with only one parent, then the child must also carry an affidavit filled out by the missing parent/s. The Affidavit may not be older than three months, dating from the start date of travel ie. when presented. (On some pages on the DHA’s website it says four months and in 2017 this was changed to six months.) The same affidavit will still be valid for the departure or return in relation to the same journey regardless of the period of the journey.

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New South African Immigration Regulations for Children Made Easy:

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What age children does this apply to?

Under 18.

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Does it apply to South African children only or foreigners too?

Both. Unless the foreign national children are travelling with a visa in which case they would have had to submit an unabridged birth certificate when applying for their SA visa.

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What does a child need if travelling with both parents:

1. A valid passport, and

2. an unabridged birth certificate (UBC) – or Equivalent document – showing the particulars of both the child’s parents.

 

What if the child is legally adopted?

Proof of adoption by means of an adoption certificate is required, as well as the UBC.

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What is an unabridged birth certificate (UBC)?

In South Africa, a UBC is an extract from the Birth Register containing the particulars of a minor and those of his or her parent or parents. UBCs are official documents issued by the Department of Home Affairs.

All birth certificates containing the details of a child as well as the parents of the child shall be accepted for the purposes of these Requirements as UBCs , regardless of the country of issue.

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What if my foreign country doesn’t issue unabridged birth certificates? (‘Equivalent documents’)

Then you will need to provide an ‘Equivalent document’ containing the particulars of the child and his or her parent or parents, issued by the ‘competent authority’ of your country.

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The document could be a letter issued by a foreign government (including a foreign embassy) – click here for the suggested format for Equivalent document.

An Equivalent document can also be any official document (such as an identity document or passport issued by the relevant authority of any country) which records the identity of the parents of a child. eg. Indian passports include the parents’ names on the passport. This will be accepted in lieu of a UBC.

 

Do documents have to be originals?

Yes, original documents are required OR copies that are certified as the copy of the original by a Commissioner of Oaths or the equivalent Commissioning authority in your country.

 

What does a child need if travelling with only one parent?

1. A valid passport, and

2. an unabridged birth certificate (or Equivalent), AND

3. a Parental Consent Affidavit granting authorisation for the travel by the non-travelling parent (ie. the other parent who is registered as a parent on the birth certificate).