Your youngster is flying alone. You’ve booked the ticket, picked the seat, perhaps even packed their snacks. However except you’ve sorted the kid journey paperwork South Africa requires, that flight isn’t going anyplace. Whether or not your youngster is flying alone on a fast home flight or heading abroad as an unaccompanied minor, there’s paperwork. A number of it. Right here’s every thing you’ll want to know in case your youngsters are travelling alone, together with the best way to get a passport for a kid, what counts as an unabridged beginning certificates, and the best way to put together for the unaccompanied minor course of.

Can youngsters journey alone from South Africa?
Sure, however there are guidelines.
- Below 5? No solo flights allowed.
- Ages 5 to 17? They will fly, however provided that booked underneath the airline’s unaccompanied minor service.
Every airline has their very own unaccompanied minor coverage. Some gained’t permit connecting flights. Some solely settle for sure routes. All the time verify the high-quality print if you ebook.
Sadly, this must be completed straight with the airline, your favorite journey company can’t step in right here.

What paperwork does a baby must fly alone?
Right here’s your must-have guidelines in case your youngster is travelling alone:
- A sound passport for the kid (right here’s the best way to get one)
- An unabridged beginning certificates (should checklist each dad and mom)
- A signed consent affidavit from each dad and mom or authorized guardians
- Copies of each dad and mom’ IDs or passports
- A letter from the individual receiving the kid at their vacation spot
- That individual’s ID or passport copy
- Flight itinerary with full contact particulars
Professional tip: The parental consent affidavit is simply legitimate for six months. Don’t present up with one from final yr. Time it proper.
What’s an unaccompanied minor service?
It’s a paid service supplied by airways for kids travelling alone. It contains employees escort, precedence boarding, and handover to a nominated grownup on arrival.
Airways take this significantly, and so do you have to. In case your youngster isn’t booked as an unaccompanied minor (UMNR), they gained’t be allowed to fly alone. Don’t threat a last-minute meltdown at check-in.
One mother or father travelling with a baby?

Even if you happen to’re not flying solo, your paperwork must be tight.
If just one mother or father is travelling with the kid, you continue to want:
- The kid’s passport
- An unabridged beginning certificates
- A consent affidavit from the non-travelling mother or father
- An authorized copy of their ID or passport
South African immigration doesn’t care if you happen to’re married or divorced. No consent, no boarding.
See what the regulation says about travelling with youngsters
Recap: Paperwork for youngster travelling alone from South Africa
- Passport for youngster
- Unabridged beginning certificates
- Consent affidavit from each dad and mom
- Copies of mother or father IDs
- Receiving grownup’s letter and ID copy
- Airline-specific unaccompanied minor types

Last Guidelines for a Youngster Travelling Alone
In terms of a baby travelling alone from South Africa, paperwork is every thing. Be certain their passport is sorted, their unabridged beginning certificates is prepared, and each consent affidavit is updated. Airways gained’t budge with out the proper paperwork, and neither will immigration.
Whether or not your youngster is booked as an unaccompanied minor or flying with one mother or father, having the proper youngster journey paperwork South Africa requires is the one approach to preserve issues clean at check-in.
Want flights which are as environment friendly as your prep? We’ve received you.