Passport for children/South Africa

[Tango]

I have a hunt planned for July with my 15 yr old son. His current passport is good through December. I've seen various articles saying the passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return/exit trip date. The Dept of State website lists it as 30 days beyond your exit date. Is the 6 month suggestion just best practice or is there some actual legal requirement to it?

Wondering if anyone here has been to South Africa recently with their minor child and what was actually required for docs? I'd certainly like to get a new passport for my son, but it seems the passport offices are incredibly backed up. My local post office, where we need to appear in person for the minor passport application, is saying it could take up to 11 weeks to get a new passport and that's beyond the first available 2 May appointment date. Appreciate any input. Thank you

 

[Throwback]

My 14 year old son and I are going to S. Africa in late May this year and I just renewed his passport for the same reasons. From appt. to receiving in the mail (this week) it was about 7 weeks. I have not been to S. Africa lately but I travel regularly to many countries and I will say the 6 month thing never seems to come up but yes, it is a "regulation" in many places. So out of caution I went ahead and renewed his. I think the 6 month thing is more focused on when you apply for an actual visa that must go in your passport which some countries require (particularly for business), which is not the case for a quick trip to S. Africa for hunting.

Also, I am told by TWG that I must have his original birth certificate with us as well while traveling in and out of S. Africa. Not sure if you are using a travel agent or not but I am and think it worth every penny even though I travel a lot for work. I would run your situation by them as they do this stuff every day. Cheers!

 

[Fryeguy]

We took ours kids to SA last year, and we did not need their original birth certificates at Jberg leaving, We had them just in case. At the time the covid vaccine papers and negative tests were required so they checked those. Covid requirements changed week after we got back, so the rapid tests at airport aren’t necessary anymore. We just renewed our youngest sons passport and it took about 6weeks or so. You can also go the expidited passport route. It’s not that much more expensive and it only takes a week or two and you’ll have it back. We did this last year for wife and myself and they were back in hand 10days. I would take birth certificate with you anyway. It is an actual requirement plus there is a form you can print of the SA govt website just in case. Better safe than sorry

 

[Manny R]

There are Companies that will expedite a passport for you quickly if you wish to pay for their services and if you also want it rushed you can pay additional fee to the US Passport Office. If you have a Passport Office in your City you can make an appointment and pay to have them rush it for you for additional fees.

 

[Tango]

Thanks very much guys. I need to have the in person appointment for the minor's passport and 2 May was the first I could get in so I have time to talk with some expediters. Appreciate the help.

 

[Still alive]

I spent two hours at the bank having every document notarized? Triple docs. Medical release, mothers release, vaccines and every other document recommended by the South African government.
They just wanted to see the COVID test when we landed and checked in?

you do need 6 months from the expiration date.


I used travel express, Jenn gave me a list of documents to bring along with the consulate website. Minors have a lot of documentation to be presented If traveling with one parent

I flew from lax to Germany to jberg to port Elizabeth to Cape Town and back. No one ever asked for anything but COVID test, ticket and the passport.

I have to admit I was pretty proud of my folder with everything in it, then a little sad no one asked for any of it.

spent Father’s Day and my birthday with my son, best time ever is spending time together!

 

[Tango]

Thanks very much. I'll have all the supporting docs of course, but I still wonder about the 30 day vs 6 month passport deal. Travel agents seem to suggest the 6 months (out of caution?), but US and ZA govt sites all say 30 days from what I can find.....hence my confusion.

 

[Still alive]

I had some documentation from the embassy stating their position with my documents. I would write to them via email and get it in writing. Then you should be fine. I had an embassy here in Los Angeles but the one in New York wrote me back

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a hunt planned for July with my 15 yr old son. His current passport is good through December. I've seen various articles saying the passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return/exit trip date. The Dept of State website lists it as 30 days beyond your exit date. Is the 6 month suggestion just best practice or is there some actual legal requirement to it?

Wondering if anyone here has been to South Africa recently with their minor child and what was actually required for docs? I'd certainly like to get a new passport for my son, but it seems the passport offices are incredibly backed up. My local post office, where we need to appear in person for the minor passport application, is saying it could take up to 11 weeks to get a new passport and that's beyond the first available 2 May appointment date. Appreciate any input. Thank you

@Tango
As well as his pass port you will need a copy of his birth certificate to show you are his father and if he is not travelling with his mother as well you will need a letter from her stating you have permission to travel alone with your son.
This is because child trafficking is rife in some African countries.
We didn't know about the birth certificate rule and had troubles getting into and out of Namibia.
South Africa was fine because BOTH parents accompanied our son but they advised of the birth certificate for future travelling.
Bob

 

[Tango]

Thank you Bob. I do have those docs prepared already. Mom is sitting out this trip....just the guys

 

[Philip Glass]

I have a hunt planned for July with my 15 yr old son. His current passport is good through December. I've seen various articles saying the passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return/exit trip date. The Dept of State website lists it as 30 days beyond your exit date. Is the 6 month suggestion just best practice or is there some actual legal requirement to it?

Wondering if anyone here has been to South Africa recently with their minor child and what was actually required for docs? I'd certainly like to get a new passport for my son, but it seems the passport offices are incredibly backed up. My local post office, where we need to appear in person for the minor passport application, is saying it could take up to 11 weeks to get a new passport and that's beyond the first available 2 May appointment date. Appreciate any input. Thank you

I would make sure it is the full 6 months. Pay for a new expedited passport asap.
You will also need an affidavit signed by his mother (assuming she is not going) to take him to RSA along with documentation. I've don't this before and it is not too difficult.

 

[Mekaniks]

I would make sure it is the full 6 months. Pay for a new expedited passport asap.
You will also need an affidavit signed by his mother (assuming she is not going) to take him to RSA along with documentation. I've don't this before and it is not too difficult.

Phillip is correct.
If your son's mother is not going, you will need to have notarized travel authorization from her. Its not a big deal to accomplish, but it is is required. And they will want to see it. It's for child trafficking prevention....

 

[Tango]

Thank you. Yes, as mentioned, I have all the docs related to mom and one parent travel. The passport situation is complicated by the fact that you need to first get the in-person meeting for a chid's passport. May 2 is the first available and they say it can still be 7-10 weeks with expedited service. I'm talking with a couple private expediters and will go that route once I have the in-person meeting with the passport folks.

 

[Fryeguy]

I would also check different post office locations. We ran into the long dates a few months ago in Charlottesville VA. They were a very long time out, I checked with a post office 15-30 minutes away in a small town and had an appt. a week or two out. Worth doing a small drive and some checking. Not sure it’s possible where you are located

 

[Tango]

Thank you, yes I've been looking for appts statewide. Florida is just plain busy when it comes to this stuff. I have May 2nd booked

 

[wesheltonj]

You might check and see if your County or District Clerk accepts passport applications. And by the way both parents have to be present for the minors renewal or new application.

I would not travel without 6 months left on the passport, even throught the USA and RSA both days 30 days. Don't give some immigration agent a reason to detain you. (Hint . . . you might be buying them a Coke).

I am not sure if RSA still requires the documentation from the non-traveling parent or not. I thought I read where they changed that. However, I would still have it.

 

[spike.t]

Most countries require your passport to be still valid for min 6 months when travelling.....and also some including SA from memory, unless its been changed at least 2 blank pages in your passport. and as for not checking documents when travelling with a child...well I have seen them being checked for people leaving from Lusaka Airport with kids and also by SA immigration at other end when waiting in the queue ....regularly...when Louise daughter flies up to stay with us from SA where she lives with her father, Louise has to fill in a document giving ID number..address etc etc etc which we send back to the father who has to do same...then powers that be there OK it....2 more years and she will be 18 and no more of it ...

 

[Tango]

Update; I was able to get in for my son's appt at a semi-nearby courthouse waiting in the morning as standby. Expediting everything through the system as much as possible got the application in on 24 April. Without any status updates on the website, the new passport arrived yesterday. Good to go now. We'll be on the 7 July Delta 200 flight! Can't wait. Thanks again for the input/advice guys.

The only other hiccup I ran into was at CBP getting my 4457 signed. The agent did not want to sign-off on the 4457 without first seeing my "gun registration license" to prove I own the rifles. We had a polite conversation about that not being a real document or requirement (at least in FL). A supervisor finally stepped in and all was sorted.

 

[Throwback]

We just returned from a S. African plains game hunt. Flew in and out of Joburg. We had an original and a notarized copy of my son's birth certificate (he is 14) but no one ever asked for it. Just normal processing through immigration with just a passport. Thanks

 

[Tango]

Thanks for the update.