New passports rules for SA minors: How to apply for your child's passport

It has ruled that passports for minor citizens will now have both the details of the mother and father included in it. A move that has been welcomed as SA's ongoing changes to its immigration policy, including requirements for unaccompanied minors has seen years of criticism from both travellers and industry heavyweights alike.

So what's the process for applying for you child's passport?

The Department of Home Affairs lists the following criteria 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 and the child and both parents should be in attendance when the application is submitted.

  Similarly, if you need to apply for you own passport - you can follow these steps and tips:

  Do it online

  With the country moving forward through digitisation and the introduction of the eHomeAffairs system, you can now renew your passport or apply for an ID online - a virtual and far more efficient experience! See the full story here.

  Things sure have improved too for the passport renewal process, which can take up to a 1 week or 10 days, depending on where you apply. Home affairs will also update you with SMS notifications when your passport is ready for collection.

  Please note, you will need internet banking to proceed with your online passport application and will have to go to a Home Affairs branch to capture their biometrics and collect their passport.

  Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria residents have the option of recording their biometrics and collecting their renewed passport at specific Absa, FNB, Standard Bank or Nedbank branches - so the idea of standing in long lines are now a thing of the past.

  However, if you don’t live in either of these places, you can use the eHome Affairs services, but you will need to go into Home Affairs to record your biometric data and to collect your passport or ID.

  What you need

  • A copy of your ID
  • R400 for the passport
  • Access to internet banking