Travel Documentation

Saturday, 09 August 2008 09:49 Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 February 2011 12:52 Written by Cornelius Anderson


	Passport / Visa: A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit, and at least 1 unused page for entry/departure endorsements (sometimes referred to as the visa page). Payment of the prescribed fee, if applicable. A vaccination certificate, if required (travel through the yellow fever belts of Africa and South America requires inoculation) Statement and/or documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit. Two identity photographs. Proof of financial means in the form of bank statements; salary advices; undertakings by your hosts in South Africa; bursaries; medical cover; or cash available, including credit cards or travellers' cheques. If travelling by air, a return or onward ticket; or proof of sufficient funds; or a cash deposit of equivalent value to an air ticket must be lodged.

	A maximum period of 30 days is permitted for business visitors A maximum period of 90 days is permitted for tourist visitors

Applying for tourist passports: Persons 16 years and older


	These passports are issued to SA citizens who are 16 years and older. The passports are valid for 10 years from the date of issue, and are not renewable. When your South African passport expires you have to complete a new application to get a new passport.

	To apply for the passport, you must submit the following documents:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 Your original identity document and a copy, or a birth certificate and copy thereof if under 16 If under 18 years, parental consent for issuing of the passport. Please see Tourist passports: persons under 16 for the requirements A completed determination of citizenship Form DHA-529 when applying from abroad Present any existing valid tourist passport or if you have lost your passport or it has been stolen and you are applying for a new passport, you must provide a loss of passport report (DHA-335 ) and confirmation that you reported the loss to the police Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Pay the prescribed fee for the passport

Applying for Maxi Tourist Passports


	Maxi tourist passports are 48-page documents meant for frequent travellers. They are the same as regular tourist passports except that they contain more pages for visas. They are issued only to SA citizens aged 16 years or older. The documents are valid for 10 years and are not renewable. Once the validity period of a passport expires you will have to submit a new application for a passport.

	To apply for a Maxi tourist passport you must submit the following documents:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 Your original identity document and a copy, or a birth certificate and copy thereof if under 16 If under 18 years, the prescribed consent by parents must be furnished. Please see Tourist passports: persons under 16 for the requirements A completed determination of citizenship Form DHA-529 when applying from abroad Present any existing valid tourist passport or if you have lost your passport or it has been stolen and you are applying for a new passport, you must provide a loss of passport report (DHA-335 ) and confirmation that you reported the loss to the police Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Pay prescribed fees

Applying for Tourist Passports: Persons under 16 years


	These passports are issued to SA citizens who are 15 years or younger. The passports are valid for 5 years and are not renewable. Once the validity period of a passport expires you will have to submit a new application for a passport.

	To apply for the passport you must submit the following documents:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 If the parents are married, the passport application form must be signed by both parents. If a parent is not available to sign the application form, a letter of consent will be considered. A copy of the absent parent’s ID document should accompany the letter of consent for control purposes. Please also note that the child and both parents, as far as possible, should be in attendance when the application is submitted to the nearest Home Affairs office or SA Mission/Consulate. If a parent cannot be in attendance, the letter of consent and copy of ID referred to above should be forwarded to the office of application through the nearest Home Affairs office or SA Mission/Consulate If divorced and sole parental rights and responsibilities in regard to guardianship have not been granted to one parent, both parents must consent to issuing of the passport and both must sign the application form If a parent is deceased, his or her death certificate and a copy thereof must accompany the application for the passport In the case of minors born out of wedlock, the biological father ’s consent will also be required if any of the circumstances as outlined in section 21 of the Children’s Act, 1995, are applicable If the applicant is in the care of a guardian other than the parents, proof of the High Court’s appointment must accompany the application If a parent cannot be located or refuses to consent, or a dispute concerning consent arises, the matter should be referred to the Children’s Court. The Court’s decision must be submitted with the application for the passport The child’s South African birth certificate and a copy thereof Two colour passport photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Payment of the prescribed passport fee

Applying for Official passports


	Official passports are issued to officials attached to government institutions who have to travel on official business. These passports are only valid for a period of 5 years.

	To apply for an official passport you must submit the following documents:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 Your original identity document and a copy A letter on the official letterhead and signed by the head of institution or his or her delegate confirming that the passport is needed for an official trip and that you are employed by the institution Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Submit your existing valid official passport or if lost or stolen a lost passport report (DHA-335) as well as confirmation that the loss was reported to the police To use the official passport only for duly authorised trips To keep the passport in safe custody Hand in the passport to the Department of Home Affairs if you leave government service or you will no longer require an official passport To return your passport to a designated person in your department or organisation for safe-keeping on return from your official trip To report the loss of an official passport to the SA Police Services and the designated person in your department or organisation as soon as possible after the loss.

Applying for Diplomatic passports

Diplomatic passports are administered by the Department of International Relations. Enquiries should be directed to the Protocol Section in the aforesaid Department.

Applying for Temporary passports


	Temporary passports are issued to South African citizens who have applied for a regular passport and who need to travel urgently but have not yet received their regular or ordinary passport (i.e. the passport is still being processed). Temporary passports are valid only for one year. Remember that some countries do not accept temporary passports. Before you apply for a temporary passport, and before you confirm your travel arrangements first check with the authorities of the countries you intend visiting whether they will accept a temporary passport.

	To apply for a temporary passport you must submit the following documents:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 Your original identity document and a copy thereof If under 18 years, the prescribed consent by parents must be furnished. See requirements under Tourist passports for persons under 16 Written motivation for the issuing of a temporary passport Your birth certificate (if under 16) and a copy thereof Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Pay the prescribed fees

Applying for Documents for Travel Purposes


	Documents for travel purposes are issued to South African permanent residence permit holders who cannot obtain travel documents from their countries of origin. These documents are only valid for a period of 5 years.

	To apply for a document for travel purposes, you must submit the following:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 Written confirmation by your country of origin that the country cannot issue you with a passport, except in the case of refugees that have been granted permanent residence as a refugee. If under 18 years, the prescribed consent by parents must be furnished. See requirements under Tourist passports for persons under 16 Your permanent residence permit and a copy thereof Your original SA non-citizen identity document and a copy thereof Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Payment of the prescribed fee.

Applying for Emergency travel documents


	Emergency Travel Certificates are issued to South Africans who have to travel urgently for reasons of 1. death 2. sickness or 3. other emergency or urgent matter The emergency travel certificate is valid for a maximum period of 9 months but only for a single trip.

	To apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate you must submit the following documents:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 Your original identity document and a copy thereof If under 18 years, the prescribed consent by parents must be furnished. See requirements under Tourist passports for persons under 16 Written motivation for the issuing of the Emergency Travel Certificate, along with any proof of the urgency of the trip (e.g. confirmation of funeral arrangements, doctor’s letter confirming sickness, etc) A schedule of your travel arrangements Proof of your South African citizenship in the form your South African identity book, birth certificate or old passport and a copy thereof Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Payment of the prescribed fee

Applying for Crew Member Certificates


	Crew member certificates are issued to South Africans who are crew members of an airline registered in South Africa.

	To apply for a crew member certificate you must submit the following documents:

	A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73 Your original SA identity document and a copy thereof Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications Official letter from your employer confirming that you are employed by the airline

General information about temporary residence permits


	The objectives of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002), which was implemented on 7 April 2003, include:

	Facilitating and simplifying the issuance of permits Regulating the influx of foreigners by facilitating foreign investment and attracting skilled and qualified foreigners to South Africa Promoting tourism to South Africa. The Act and Regulations are comprehensive in so far as the requirements to obtain a residence permit are concerned.

	Contact to: South African Department of Home Affairs
	Corner Maggs & Petroleum Street, Waltloo, Pretoria Tel: +27 (0)11 461 9252 Email: csc@dha.gov.za Website: http://www.home-affairs.gov.za

Important note: Make sure that all your expensive items are covered by your travel insurance. It is advisable to have medical insurance as well. The numbers of your used Travel cheques should be kept on your receipt and kept in a safe place aside from your unused ones. Make photocopies of your passport, flight tickets and other important documents and keep separate from the original documents in case of loss.

	American Embassy 877 Pretorius St, Arcadia, Pretoria, Gauteng. Telephone: +27 (0)12 431 4000

	American Consulate 2 Reddam Ave, Westlake, Cape Town Telephone: +27 (0)21 702 7300

	Australian High Commission 14th Floor, BP Centre, Thibault Square,Cape Town. Telephone: +27 (0)21 419-5425/9

	Belgium Consulate General 4th Floor, Vogue House, Thibault Square, Cape Town. Telephone: +27 (0)21 419 4690

	Botswana Consulate Cape Town: 4th Floor, Southern Life Centre 8 Riebeeck Street Telephone: +27(0)21 421 1045 Johannesburg: 33 Hoof Street, Braampark 4th Floor Telephone: +27(0)11 403 3748

	British Consulate FWJK Court, 86 Armstrong Avenue, La Lucia Ridge, Durban Telephone: +27 (0)31 572 7259

	Canadian High Commission 19th Floor, South African Reserve Bank Building, 60 St. George’s Mall, Cape Town Telephone: +27 (0)21 423 5240

	Chilean Consulate General Standard Bank Centre, 19th Floor, Suite 1918, Heerengracht Tower, Foreshore, Cape Town Telephone: +27 (0)21 421 2344

	Chinese Consulate Cape Town: 25 Rhodes Avenue, Newlands Telephone: +27 (0)21 674 0581 Durban: 45 Stirling Crescent, Durban North Telephone: +27 (0)31 563 4534 Johannesburg: 25 Cleveland Road, Sandhurst, Sandton Telephone: +27 (0)11 784 7241

	Cyprus High Commission in South Africa Corner Church and Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, Gauteng Telephone: +27 (0)12 342 5258

	Danish Embassy iParioli Office Park, Block B2, Ground Floor, 1166 Park Street, Pretoria. Telephone: +27 (0)12 430 9340

	French Consulate Cape Town: 78 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town Telephone: +27 (0)21 423 1575 Johannesburg: 3rd Floor, Standard Bank Building, 191 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North.

	German Embassy 180 Blackwood Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, Gauteng Telephone: +27 (0)12 427 8900

	Germany Consulate General Cape Town: 19th Floor, Safmarine House, 22 Riebeek Street, Cape Town Telephone: +27 (0)21 405 3000

	Greece 1267 Church Street, Hadefields Office Park, 1st Floor, Block G, Hatfield, Pretoria. Telephone: +27 (0)12 430 7351/2/3

	Indian High Commision Cape Town: The Terraces, 9th Floor, 34 Bree Street. Telephone: +27 (0)21 419 8110 Pretoria: 852 Schoeman, Cnr Schoeman and Eastwood Street, Arcadia. Telephone: +27 (0)12 342 5392

	Ireland Embassy 1st Floor, Southern Life Plaza, 1059 Schoeman (cnr Festival) Street, Arcadia, Pretoria Telephone: +27 (0)12 342 5062

	Israel Embassy 428 Kings Highway (corner Elizabeth Grove), Lynnwood, Pretoria, Gauteng Telephone: +27 (0)12 470 3500

	Italian Embassy 796 George Avenue, Arcadia, Pretoria, Gauteng. Telephone: +27 (0)12 423 0000

	Italian Consulate 2 Grey's Pass, Gardens, Cape Town Telephone: +27 (0)21 487 3900 37 2nd St. (cnr. 1st Ave.), Houghton, Johannesburg. Telephone: +27 (0)11 728 1392/3

	General Consulate of Madagascar 77 Newlands Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town. Telephone: +27 (0)21 674 7238

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