Taking a minor to South Africa

[Savage Hunter]

Can a couple take a 17 yr old to South Africa that isn't related to them

 

[sierraone]

Yes, but you need to talk to someone who specializes in this. Legal documents from both parents are required.. I would wait until he or she is 18. Even when taking your own child without both parents there requires additional paperwork. It will definitely complicate your trip. Someone who has taken a minor (not there own) with them before, please jump in and help this man!!!

 

[Mekaniks]

Yes, just need to do the SA accompanied minor paperwork. It's all pretty srtraight forward. They will check when you go through customs and will ask lots of questions, but if paperwork is in order it will work.
In addition to the SA paperwork you may also consider getting official notarized "authorization to travel" from the parents. You can get the form of the internet no problem.

 

[sierraone]

There you go. I am sure there many on the forum that have taken minors not their own, that can help you from experience! Good Luck!

 

[Alex165]

I travelled with my father last March 5 days before my birthday and we needed an original birth certificate, affidavit, passport, etc. We had to wait a day to get an original birth certificate because of South Africa's recent law change. So make sure you have all nessacary paperwork!

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Yes it is possible. Go to: SOUTH AFRICA Hunting Information: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/south-africa-hunting-information.14223/ and scroll down to the section: South Africa Regulation for Traveling with Children.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Make sure you have documentation that is acceptable to EVERY country you will transit, not just the destination.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Make sure you have documentation that is acceptable to EVERY country you will transit, not just the destination.

Very true.

 

[wesheltonj]

My wife and I took our minor daughter, we just needed a certified copy of her birth certificate and her passport. It becomes more problematic when only one parent is traveling. The airline will not let you board to RSA unless everything is correct.

 

[Savage Hunter]

Thanks. I will pass the info along.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I would recommend that every piece of paperwork outside of the original birth certificate be notarized. Copies of the birth parents passports or at least driver's licences would be appropriate.

The changes regarding traveling with minors went into affect a few days after I arrived in 2015 with my then 12 year old son. I wasn't supposed to be subject to the changes since we had started our travel to RSA prior to the regulations being imposed. When we left the country, the lady at immigration asked me if I was aware of the new regs. I told her I was and offered her the paperwork that I had put together for a "just in case" scenario. I pretty much overwhelmed her with what I had ready, she smiled, stamped our passports and told us to have a nice trip. I don't think it hurt anything that my younger boy could be named "Mini Me" as he looks just like me.

With traveling with someone else's child, I'd make sure I had more than just the minimum paperwork to establish as much credibility as possible that this is all on the up and up.

 

[spike.t]

@Savage Hunter

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 in English for each child, which shows details of the parents of the child.

Where one parent is travelling with a child, they must produce:
• an original unabridged birth certificate or certified copy of the birth certificate, in English (no other variations will be accepted by the South African authorities).
• consent in the form of an affidavit in English from the other parent registered as a parent on the birth certificate, authorising them to enter or depart from South Africa with the child
• a certified copy of the bio-data page of the passport for the parent who is not travelling.

OR
• a court order in English 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:
• an original unabridged birth certificate or certified copy of the birth certificate, in English (no other variations will be accepted by the South African authorities).
• an affidavit in English from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that they have permission to travel with the child
• certified copies in English of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child

Children travelling alone must produce:
• an original unabridged birth certificate or certified copy of the birth certificate in English (no other variations will be accepted by the South African authorities).
• consent from one or both of the parents/legal guardian in the form of an affidavit in English, 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 in English 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 certified copy of the identity document or certified copy of valid passport and visa or certified copy of permanent residence permit, in English, of the person who is to receive the child in South Africa
• contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child



Customers transferring through South Africa to another International destination.
Customers in direct airside transit with a confirmed onward flight to an international destination will not be required to comply with the South African birth certificate regulations.

For more information please contact your local South African Embassy, the South African High Commission or the South African Department of Home Affairs.

 

[sierraone]

Good post. Spike, I only liked it because you made my initial point. Not so straight forward, at least for an old guy like me! I can see all kinds of complications with other folks minors if the adults in the room are not really best friends.

 

[spike.t]

Good post. Spike, I only liked it because you made my initial point. Not so straight forward, at least for an old guy like me! I can see all kinds of complications with other folks minors if the adults in the room are not really best friends.

yup the only simple one is when in transit internationally and you stay air-side....good reason to come to zambia