Your little one is flying alone. You’ve booked the ticket, picked the seat, possibly even packed their snacks. However except you’ve sorted the kid journey paperwork South Africa requires, that flight isn’t going wherever. Whether or not your little one is flying alone on a fast home flight or heading abroad as an unaccompanied minor, there’s paperwork. A lot of it. Right here’s every thing you should know in case your kids are travelling alone, together with how you can get a passport for a kid, what counts as an unabridged delivery certificates, and how you can put together for the unaccompanied minor course of.
Can kids journey alone from South Africa?
Sure, however there are guidelines.
- Underneath 5? No solo flights allowed.
- Ages 5 to 17? They’ll fly, however provided that booked beneath the airline’s unaccompanied minor service.
Every airline has their very own unaccompanied minor coverage. Some gained’t enable connecting flights. Some solely settle for sure routes. At all times affirm the advantageous print while you guide.
Sadly, this must be performed immediately with the airline, your favorite journey company can’t step in right here.

What paperwork does a baby have to fly alone?
Right here’s your must-have guidelines in case your little one is travelling alone:
- A sound passport for the kid (right here’s how you can get one)
- An unabridged delivery 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 particular person receiving the kid at their vacation spot
- That particular person’s ID or passport copy
- Flight itinerary with full contact particulars
Professional tip: The parental consent affidavit is barely 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 youngsters travelling alone. It consists of workers escort, precedence boarding, and handover to a nominated grownup on arrival.
Airways take this severely, and so do you have to. In case your little one 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 dad or mum travelling with a baby?

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

Ultimate Guidelines for a Youngster Travelling Alone
On the subject of a baby travelling alone from South Africa, paperwork is every thing. Make certain their passport is sorted, their unabridged delivery certificates is prepared, and each consent affidavit is updated. Airways gained’t budge with out the appropriate paperwork, and neither will immigration.
Whether or not your little one is booked as an unaccompanied minor or flying with one dad or mum, having the proper little one journey paperwork South Africa requires is the one solution to hold issues easy at check-in.
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