The regulations came into effect at the end of May, but the Department of Home Affairs has delayed their implementation until 1 October, to make allowance for families who have already made plans for the coming school holidays.

The rules are targeted at improving the security of kids, including “their protection from child trafficking, abduction and kidnapping”, the section said on Tuesday.

The section has encouraged citizens and foreign nationals to make an application for full-length birth certificates, which represent the particulars of both parents, in good time to prevent potential delays to their travel plans. It can take up to six to eight weeks for an complete birth certificate application to be processed.

Quick guide to the new requirements

— When leaving South Africa with kids, parents or guardians must have the capacity to create unabridged birth certificates reflecting the details of both parents, in addition to a valid passport for every kid.

— This requirement applies even when both parents are traveling with their kids.

— It applies to foreigners and South Africans alike.

— If children are traveling with a defender, this adult is needed to create affidavits from both parents giving permission for the children to travel. SA will also want copies of the passports of the parents, in addition to the contact particulars of the parents.

— If kids are traveling with just one parent, they need to produce an unabridged birth certificate in addition to:

o a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or judicial guardianship in respect of the kid, if only one parent, or she is the parent or lawful guardian to the child;

o an affidavit from the other parent granting permission for the child to leave the nation;

o a court order giving full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect to the child; and

o If applicable, the death certificate of the other parent registered on the birth certificate.

— When a kid is traveling as an unaccompanied minor, they need to have the capacity to produce:

o evidence of consent (a letter or affidavit) from both his or her parents or legal guardians to travel in or out of the nation; and

o A letter from the individual who’ll receive the kid in South Africa, including that individual’s accomplished contact details along with a copy of their passport or ID book. The letter must also include details about where the child will be staying, and complete contact details of both parents and legal guardians.

What do I have to apply for a South Africa Visa?

Passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the planned visit.
Passports must comprise at least 1 (one) unused page for entry/departure endorsements (sometimes referred to as visa page).
Payment of the prescribed fee, if applicable.
A vaccination certificate, if needed by the Act.
Statement and/or documentation confirming purpose and period of the visit.
Two (2) identity photos.
Proof of financial means in type of:
bank statements
wage advice
Endeavor(s) by the host(s) in the Republic
bursaries
medical cover or cash available, including credit cards or travellers’ cheques
(to cover the living expenses during the sojourn in the Republic.)
Applicants traveling by air should be in possession of:
A return or onward ticket or
evidence of sufficient resources or lodge a cash deposit of equal value to this type of ticket.

Do I have to apply for my South African Visa in person?
The assignment or representative requires the first passport but will take applications by third parties, for example, immigration professionals, travel agents or courier services.
How much is a South African Visa Application?
A South African visa application cost is $47 US, R425 or EUR43.

How long will my application take?
Released processing times are 10 days, but it is wise to consult the individual mission or representative.

Do I require a Visa if I am just in the transportation system?
For most nationalities, a visa is not needed, make use of the transit place at a bud of entry, to see those nationalities that require a transit visa, please contact us.

Do I need a Visa for medical treatment? 
South African visas are required for individuals wanting to get medical treatment in South Africa. For further details, please Contact us.

Documents required to apply for

South Africa Visa

Requirements to apply for South Africa Visa

passport or travel document valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of your intended to visit

• Your passport must have at least one unused page for entry / departure endorsements
• A completed Form BI-84 (application for a visa)
• Payment of the prescribed fee
• A yellow-fever vaccination certificate (if required)
• Statement and/or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit
• Two Colour passport photographs
• A return or onward ticket if you are traveling by air.
• If you have children (minors) traveling with you or joining in South Africa, you will need to provide the following additional documents
  • proof of guardianship or custody or
  • consent from the guardian in the case of an unaccompanied minor
• proof of financial means to pay for your living expenses while in South Africa in the form of:
  • Bank statement
  • salary advance
  • Undertakings by the host(s) in South Africa
  • Bursary
  • Medical cover or
  • Cash available (including credit cards and travellers’ cheques)

Remembers, you do not have to submit your visa application in person. You can ask anyone else (such as travel agent or courier services or another family member) to submit the application on your behalf.

Requirements for entering South Africa

You will need the following if you wish to visit South Africa:

• A valid and acceptable passport or travel document for your intended stay

• At least one blank page in your passport for endorsements

• A valid visa, if required

• sufficient funds to pay for your day-to-day expenses during your stay

• A return or onward ticket

• Yellow fever certificates if your journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

South Africa Visas Brief Guide

wants to visit South Africa? Here’s information on the basic requirements for entering South Africa, as well as links to full information on visas – what they are, who needs them, and when, where and how to apply for them.

NOTE: Requirements for entry into South Africa differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Always make inquiries before traveling to South Africa.

Many people ask these questions.

What’s a visa?

What are requirements for entering South Africa?

Do I need a visa to visit South Africa?

Where can I make inquiries about visas? How do I go about getting a visa?

What’s the difference between a visa and a temporary residence permit?

What if I want to stay in South Africa for longer?

What if I plan to work or study in South Africa?

Get your visa before leaving for South Africa,

here are your answers!

What’s a visa?

South Africa has the right to decide who may and may not enter its territory. A visa ensures that you are properly screened before entering the country, and gives immigration officials the information, they need to ensure you are admitted to South Africa for the correct purpose and length of time.

A visa doesn’t guarantee your entry to the country – it only allows you to proceed to a South African port of entry, where an immigration officer will check that you satisfy the basic requirements for entry into the country.

What are the requirements for

entering South Africa?

A valid acceptable passport or travel documents good for a sufficient period to cover your intended stay.
A valid visa, if required.
Sufficient funds.
A return or onward ticket.
At least one blank page in your passport for endorsements.
Yellow fever certificates are required if the journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

Do I need a visa to visit South Africa?

Depending on your nationality, and the purpose and duration of your visit, you may not need a visa to visit South Africa.

Any Exemptions from South African

visas?

Countries exempt from South African Visas

PASSPORT HOLDERS WHO ARE EXEMPT FROM VISAS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

The citizens who are a holder of a state passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the foreign countries / territories / international organisations listed below are not required to hold a visa when reporting to an immigration officer for an examination at a South African port of entry, subject to the terms and conditions set out in this list, including inter alia the intended period of stay in the Republic.

The holder of a state South African passport, travel document and document for travel purposes.

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official or ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued or by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 90 days or less and when in transit:

• African Union Laissez Passer
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile (only ordinary passport holders)
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Finland
• France
• Germany (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of Germany in SA)
• Greece
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxemburg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Namibia (only ordinary passport holders)
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Panama (only ordinary passport holders)
• Paraguay
• Portugal
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Spain
• St Vincent & the Grenadines
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania (90 days per year)
• Trinidad & Tobago (only ordinary passport holders)
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man. British Oversees Territories namely: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.
• United States of America (except in diplomatic staff due to assume a duty at the Embassy and Consulates of the USA in SA)
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
• Zambia (90 days per annum)
• Zimbabwe

The citizen who is a holder of a national passport (diplomatic, official and ordinary) of the following countries / territories / international organisations is not required to hold a visa in respect of purposes for which a visitor’s permit may be issued by virtue of being a person contemplated in section 31(3)(b) [accredited in SA] for an intended stay of 30 days or less and when in transit:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas (only ordinary passport holders)
• Barbados
• Belize
• Benin
• Bolivia
• Cape Verde
• Costa Rica
• Cyprus
• Gabon
• Guyana
• Hong Kong [only with regard to holders of Hong Kong British National Overseas passports and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports]
• Hungary
• Jordan
• Lesotho
• Macau [only with regard to holders of Macau Special Administrative Region passports (MSAR)]
• Malaysia
• Malawi
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Peru
• Poland
• Seychelles
• Slovak Republic
• South Korea
• Swaziland
• Thailand
• Turkey

Agreements have also been concluded with the following countries for holders of diplomatic and official passport holders.