Children travelling with both parents need a passport and unabridged birth certificate. Children travelling with one Parent will need a valid passport and a court order / death certificate / affidavit confirming the absent parent has given permission for the child to travel.
If children are travelling with a designated guardian, the guardian will be required to produce an unabridged birth certificate, a valid passport and a court order / death certificate / affidavit confirming that the parents have given permission for the child to travel.
A child travelling unaccompanied must produce an unabridged birth certificate, a valid passport and a court order/death certificate / affidavit confirming permission to travel from both parents or legal guardian. As relevant - a letter from the person who will receive the child in South Africa including their full contact details and a certified copy of their ID / passport must be produced.
Cruise passengers embarking on cruises outside of local waters, where a passport is required, are urged to apply timeously for the 2015/16 season. Currently it can take up to eight weeks for relevant documentation to be issued.
The new legislation has been introduced to improve the safety of children travelling in and out of South Africa.
