URGENT: Travelling to Australia with less than 6 months left on your SA passport

[Timmin]

Hi there,

I urgently need advice!

I am currently in Australia on a 189 Skilled Independent visa with a re-entry date of 2019. I am flying to South Africa in 3 weeks' time for a short (2 week) holiday before returning to Australia. I've just realized that my South African passport will expire in less than 6 months.

Do you think I will run into any trouble? In particular:

1.) Will Qantas let me board for the SYD-JNB flight?

2.) Will RSA passport control let me through without any issues?

3.) Will Singapore Airlines let me board for the JNB-SIN-SYD flight? I do not intend to stop over in Singapore, and will only be in transit for 40 mins.

4.) Will Aus passport control let me through without any issues?

If the answer is 'NO' to any of the above, what do you think should I do? More questions...

5.) How long does a renewal take via the South African High Commission? Do they have an express service?

6.) Should I throw copious amount of money at this problem when I arrive in South Africa and get a new passport from one of those express document handlers (Bunnyhop, etc.)?

Apologies for all the questions! Thanks in advance!

Edited September 2, 2014 by Timmin

[Cole]

Hi Timmin, unfortunately I can't answer your questions with any authority, but I can tell you that I recently applied for my children's passports to be renewed, at the Malmesbury branch in the Western Cape. Within a week I'd been notified that they were ready for collection. I was super impressed, and hope that you have good luck with yours.

[Timmin]

Hi Weddingtog,

Thanks for the reply.

Was it necessary for your children to accompany you when you applied? Maybe this won't be possible for an adult passport, but perhaps I can get an RSA family member to apply for me as soon as possible. I can e-mail or courier passport photos from here, but I guess an original signature and fingerprints(?) will also be required.

[Cole]

Yes, it was necessary. I believe it has to do with child trafficking that they're trying to crack down on. You may find that adult rules are different. I think they allowed me to collect my husband's passport with a letter of authorisation.

The website for home affairs is http://www.dha.gov.za/ - I have to warn you, although the call centre is quick to answer, I got answers to some of my questions that varied from what the staff at the branches told me.

For example:

1.(call centre): You have to collect you unabridged birth certificates within 30 days.

(staff in Paarl branch): rubbish, you can pick it up whenever, it just sits in the print queue.

2. (call centre): your children have to accompany you to collect the unabridged birth certificates

(staff at paarl ha): show us your invoice (granted, my children were with me, but the lady didn't seem concerned about their presence)

3. (staff at ha): your unabridged docs can take 3 - 18 months hahaaha

(reality): 2 weeks (although I'm still one short so I guess I can't be too smug).

So I guess, try to find something in writing, or ask someone at the branch you intend handing documents into, rather than the call centre, as ideas seem to vary on what the protocol is....

Edited September 2, 2014 by Weddingtog

[andrea_vk]

My children flew out of JHB two years ago with less than 2 or 3 months in their passport.

I do not think they were concerned since they had the PR visa in their passports, so that means you are staying in Australia

They did not have problem boarding in SA or coming thorough passport control in Australia. .

They had no problem.

Flying from Australia to South Africa should not be a problem either, since you are going to the country of your passport.

I think that rule is more for tourists, or non permanent visas

You can always phone immigration in Australia and ask them. They are quite helpful

Good luck

[Magenta]

I used to work at a travel agency - a South Aftican could not leave SA if they had less than 6 months on their passport. To be safe, I would re-new your passport. Even if some one was flying to Mauritius, where no visa was required, the airline could refuse to allow the passenger to board. I personally would not take the chance.

My 2c

[miran]

Ours also took 10 days in Malmesbury. GREAT place! Maybe apply when you are here and have a letter for someone else to pick it up and have it couriered to Oz if it's not ready in time....

edit: Just remember to give your new passport details through to DIAC, because your passport numbers change and it must be updated for your visa

Edited September 2, 2014 by miran

[HFamily]

We've also just had to reapply for my son's passport. Both my husband and I had to be present at HA, as there was a form that had to be signed. We did make use of an agent, so no time wasted in queue's, but the applicant has to be present in person, as they take fingerprints as well for adults.

Also received my son's passport within a week - very impressed!

[Timmin]

Thanks for all the replies.

I phoned the South African High Commission and they told me that you only need a month validity on your South African passport to enter or leave South Africa.

I've also spoken with someone from Australia's Department of Immigration, and was told that your passport validity after arrival is not of any concern when you're a permanent resident. You obviously need a valid passport when entering or leaving the country.

[Kiepie]

G'day Mates,

Had to try the new greeting

I almost have the same problem.We only have a year left on our passports and needed it to be extended before the visa application.What a struggle, for the last month , at Home Affairs South Africa.

My ex-husband lives in Jakarta,Indonesia. 4 years ago he sent his ID, passport and visa info through e-mails, with a consent letter for the childrens' passport to be issued. No problems. This year they refuse to co-operate.We gathered all the documents required as the Home Affairs website stated. No go.He needed to supply a stamped document from the Jacarta Police,which they don't use.They only supply a statement with all his info. Home affairs refused it.

Now he went to the South African Embassy in Jakarta, with all their stamps and signatures ect. Still no go. Home Affairs want to see him in person to sign!! I received my new passport within 2 weeks,still waiting for answers after 4 weeks about the children. Any advice? I went into the offices twice to speak directly to the Supervisor.