A child passport in South Africa is issued to a South African citizen who is 15 years old or younger. The child and the relevant parent or parents must attend the application process, the child’s South African birth certificate must be provided, and parental or guardian consent must be dealt with according to the Department of Home Affairs rules. Minor tourist passports are valid for five years and cannot be renewed; when they expire, a new passport application is required.
This guide covers applying for a South African passport for a child. For broader document processes, see Civic Documents South Africa, or use the main Passport Requirements South Africa guide for requirements that are not specific to children.
Quick Answer: Child Passport Requirements South Africa
For a child aged 15 or younger, the Department of Home Affairs currently requires a passport application, the child’s South African birth certificate and a copy, the required parental or guardian consent, and two compliant colour passport photographs where photographs are not captured digitally. The child and both parents should normally attend when the application is submitted.
If one parent cannot attend the same Home Affairs office, DHA states that the absent parent must visit their nearest Home Affairs office with their original identity document to give consent in person. The application remains pending until that consent is provided. DHA specifically states that a consent letter with an ID copy is no longer accepted for this situation.
The standard minor tourist passport fee currently starts at R600, and DHA lists an 18-working-day turnaround for issuance within South Africa. Fees and processing arrangements can change, so confirm them with Home Affairs before applying or paying.
Who This Requirement Applies To
Applicant type
The minor tourist passport category applies to South African citizens aged 15 or younger. These passports are valid for five years.
A South African who is already 16 or 17 falls under the ordinary tourist passport category rather than the minor tourist passport category. Parental consent is still required for applicants under 18, and DHA states that a person aged 16 or older must first apply for an identity document so that fingerprint registration can take place before a passport application.
If you need to compare the different passport categories first, use the Passports Requirements South Africa hub.
Eligibility Requirements
The central eligibility requirement is that the child must be a South African citizen. For the minor tourist passport category covered here, the child must also be 15 years old or younger.
Parental responsibilities and guardianship are important because consent to a child’s passport application is a legal guardianship matter. Under the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, consenting to a child’s application for a passport is one of the responsibilities and rights associated with guardianship. Where more than one person has guardianship, the Act generally requires the consent of all guardians for specified matters unless a competent court orders otherwise.
Home Affairs provides specific procedures for situations in which parents are separated, divorced, deceased, unavailable or not the child’s guardians. Do not assume that one parent can apply alone simply because the child normally lives with that parent.
Documents You May Need
Required proof
For a straightforward child passport application, prepare:
- The completed passport application. DHA identifies the standard passport application as Form DHA-73.
- The child’s South African birth certificate and a copy.
- The parents’ identity documents.
- The child’s existing passport, where relevant.
- Two colour passport photographs that meet the prescribed specifications, unless the Home Affairs office uses automated digital image capture.
- The prescribed application fee.
- Any additional proof required because of the child’s guardianship or family circumstances.
For a broader passport-document checklist, see Documents Needed for Passport South Africa.
Additional documents may be required in particular circumstances:
- One parent has died: the deceased parent’s death certificate and a copy must accompany the application.
- A guardian other than a parent is applying: proof of the High Court’s appointment of that guardian is required.
- Parents are divorced or separated: if one parent has not been granted the necessary sole parental rights and responsibilities concerning guardianship, both parents should attend and sign as required.
- A parent cannot be located, refuses consent or there is a consent dispute: DHA says the matter should be referred to the Children’s Court and the court’s decision submitted with the passport application.
- Unmarried parents: the biological father’s consent may be required where he has parental responsibilities and rights under section 21 of the Children’s Act.
Steps to Apply or Prepare
- Confirm the correct passport category. Check that the child is 15 or younger and is applying for a minor tourist passport.
- Check who must provide consent. Resolve any guardianship, separation, deceased-parent or consent issues before the application where possible.
- Prepare the supporting documents. Take the child’s birth certificate, parents’ IDs and any court orders, death certificates or guardianship documents that apply.
- Submit the application through an approved channel. DHA states that passport applications in South Africa can be handled through suitable Home Affairs live-capture offices and other approved passport channels. Passport applications must still involve an in-person process.
- Make sure the required people attend. For children aged 15 or younger, DHA says the child and both parents should normally attend. If one parent must provide consent separately, follow the current DHA procedure rather than relying on a consent letter.
- Pay the prescribed fee and keep your application records. Confirm the current amount before paying.
For applications made outside South Africa, DHA directs applicants to the nearest South African embassy or consulate. Overseas applications have materially longer processing periods than domestic applications.
Costs, Processing Times and Validity
DHA currently lists the following for minor tourist passports:
| Item | Current DHA information |
|---|---|
| First issue, expired passport or previous passport valid for less than six months | R600 |
| Previous passport still valid for six months or longer | R1,200 |
| Listed domestic turnaround time | 18 working days |
| Passport validity | 5 years |
| Renewable? | No — a new application is required |
An 18-working-day turnaround is the Department’s listed issuance timeframe, not a guarantee that every individual application will be completed on that exact day. Missing consent, documentation problems or unresolved information can affect an application.
Applications lodged outside South Africa are different: DHA currently advises that applications submitted abroad are estimated to take at least six to eight months because of the additional processing logistics.
If you are dealing with an expiring passport for an older applicant rather than a minor tourist passport, see Passport Renewal Requirements South Africa.
Common Mistakes and Delays
Common mistake
Common problems to avoid include:
- Bringing only one parent when both parents’ consent and attendance are required.
- Assuming a signed consent letter and copy of the absent parent’s ID will be accepted instead of following DHA’s current in-person consent process.
- Forgetting the child’s birth certificate or applicable court, guardianship or death-certificate evidence.
- Bringing passport photographs to an office that captures photographs digitally without first checking what the office requires.
- Treating an expired child passport as something that can simply be renewed. A minor tourist passport is not renewable; a new application is required.
- Assuming the child-passport rules for a child aged 15 or younger also apply unchanged to a 16- or 17-year-old.
Because consent disputes can involve parental responsibilities and guardianship rights, confirm the correct legal process rather than submitting incomplete or contradictory documents.
Where to Confirm Official Requirements
The Department of Home Affairs is the official authority for South African passport applications. Its current passport and travel-document guidance sets out the passport categories, fees, application documents, parental-consent arrangements and procedures for exceptional family circumstances.
Requirements.co.za is an independent informational guide and does not issue passports or decide applications. Confirm the latest requirements directly with Home Affairs before submitting documents, paying a fee or relying on a processing timeframe.
Related guide
Use the Passport Requirements South Africa guide if you need the main passport requirements rather than child-specific rules. The Passports Requirements South Africa hub can also help you choose the correct passport guide for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for Child Passport Requirements South Africa?
For a South African child aged 15 or younger, the main requirements include a passport application, the child’s South African birth certificate, the required parental or guardian consent, relevant parent identification, photographs where digital capture is not used, and payment of the prescribed fee. Both the child and parents should normally attend.
What documents are needed?
You should generally prepare the child’s South African birth certificate and a copy, the parents’ identity documents, the passport application and any additional evidence required for guardianship or consent. Two colour passport photographs may also be needed if the application office does not capture images digitally.
How long does it take?
The Department of Home Affairs currently lists an 18-working-day turnaround for minor tourist passports issued within South Africa. Applications lodged outside South Africa are estimated to take at least six to eight months. Always check the current timing before making travel plans.
Where can I confirm the latest official rules?
Confirm the latest child passport requirements with the South African Department of Home Affairs. For parental-rights or guardianship issues, the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and the relevant court or Family Advocate process may also be important.
Start with the required documents, make sure the correct parents or guardians can provide consent, and confirm the current Home Affairs process before submitting the child’s passport application.
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