By the Budget Travel & Tourism visa desk · DTCM Licence No. 1202281 · Updated November 2026
Dubai is one of the easiest family destinations to reach from South Africa, but travelling with children means extra paperwork on both sides of the journey: leaving South Africa and entering the UAE. This guide explains which visa your child needs, what documents to carry, how parental consent works, and how to avoid problems at the airport.
Want the full picture? Our complete Dubai visa guide for South Africans covers every UAE visa type, price and document in one place.
Quick answer
- Every child needs their own visa. Children, including babies, travel on their own passport and need their own approved UAE visa, just like adults.
- Apply for the whole family together. Use the same visa type, dates and spelling for every traveller to avoid mismatches.
- South Africa has its own rules for minors. Expect to carry an unabridged birth certificate and, if a parent is not travelling, parental consent documents. Rules can change, so confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before you fly.
- Carry printed copies of everything. Airline staff at check-in will ask for documents before UAE immigration does.
Does my child need a UAE visa?
Yes. A South African child who wants to enter Dubai needs the same type of approved UAE entry permission as an adult. The right visa depends on the trip:
- Holiday or family visit: a 14, 30 or 60-day tourist e-visa
- Layover and a short city break: a 48 or 96-hour transit visa
- Eligible families only: the visa on arrival. Since 25 June 2026 it covers South Africans who hold a qualifying residence permit, together with accompanying family members who meet the same conditions. Read our guide on the Dubai visa on arrival for South Africans to see who qualifies.
For most families, applying online before you fly is the safest choice, because you arrive at check-in with an approved visa for every traveller.
Documents you need for each child
Prepare a folder for every child with the following:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date, with blank pages. A child cannot travel on a parent's passport.
- Clear colour scan of the passport data page, with all four corners visible
- Recent passport photo on a plain white background, front-facing, no filters
- Unabridged birth certificate showing both parents' details
- Confirmed return or onward tickets for the whole family
- Hotel booking or the address where you will stay
- Travel insurance for every family member
If your child's passport is close to expiry, renew it early. Home Affairs queues can be long, and an expired or near-expiry passport is a common reason for refusal. See our guide on the 10 common reasons for Dubai visa rejection for more on avoiding errors.
Leaving South Africa with a minor: parental consent
The UAE visa is only half of the picture. South Africa applies its own rules to minors who leave the country. In general, you should be ready to show:
- The child's unabridged birth certificate
- Parental consent when the child is not travelling with both parents. This is normally a signed consent letter or affidavit from the parent or parents who are not travelling, with copies of their ID documents and contact details.
- Proof of guardianship or a court order if the child is in the care of a legal guardian, or if one parent has sole custody or is deceased.
- A letter from the receiving adult if the child is travelling with someone who is not a parent, with their contact details and the address in Dubai.
Because these rules are set by the South African authorities and can change, always check the current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs and your airline before you travel. Different airlines may also ask for extra proof at check-in.
Common family travel situations
Both parents travelling with the child
This is the simplest case. Carry the child's passport and unabridged birth certificate, and make sure the parents' names match the birth certificate. If a parent's surname has changed, carry proof such as a marriage certificate.
One parent travelling with the child
The travelling parent should carry the child's unabridged birth certificate and a signed consent letter or affidavit from the other parent, with a copy of that parent's ID. If the other parent has sole custody, is deceased or cannot be contacted, carry the relevant court order or death certificate.
A child travelling with grandparents or other relatives
The child needs consent from the parents, copies of the parents' IDs, the unabridged birth certificate and the receiving adult's contact details. Keep everything together in one folder.
A child travelling alone as an unaccompanied minor
Airlines have their own unaccompanied-minor programmes, age limits and fees. Speak to the airline well in advance, and confirm who will meet the child in Dubai.
Babies and toddlers
Babies need their own passport and their own UAE visa. Photo requirements still apply, so a clear, recent, front-facing photo matters. Carry the baby's birth certificate and check airline rules for infant tickets.
How to apply for a family visa online
- Choose the visa type that matches your trip on our South Africa application page.
- Enter every traveller's details exactly as they appear in their passports.
- Upload documents for each person: passport scan and photo.
- Check all names and dates against your flight tickets and hotel booking.
- Pay securely and keep your receipt and application number.
- Receive the approved visas by email and WhatsApp, usually within 24 to 48 hours on standard service, or 12 to 24 hours on express.
- Print every visa and carry them with the passports.
Apply at least 5 to 7 days before you fly, and earlier during school holidays and December to January, when demand is highest.
Airport and check-in tips for families
- Keep all passports, visas, birth certificates and consent letters in one folder in your hand luggage.
- Have digital copies on your phone and email them to yourself.
- Arrive early. Document checks for children can take longer at check-in.
- Make sure every family member has the same arrival and departure dates as on the visas.
- Bring snacks, entertainment and a change of clothes for younger children, because immigration queues can be long.
What does it cost for a family?
The total depends on the visa type, the stay length, single or multiple entry, and processing speed. Each traveller is charged separately, so check the full total for your whole family before you pay. Our guide on the cost of a Dubai visa from South Africa explains what you are paying for and how to avoid hidden fees.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Travelling with a parent's passport for a child. Every child needs their own.
- Name or date mismatches between the passport, visa, ticket and hotel booking
- Missing consent documents when one parent is not travelling
- A passport with under 6 months' validity
- Poor photos, especially for babies and toddlers
- Applying too late, especially in school holidays
- Assuming the visa on arrival applies to the whole family. It only covers eligible travellers with a qualifying residence permit and their accompanying family members.
- Not checking Home Affairs rules before departure
Official sources
- South African Department of Home Affairs
- ICP Smart Services
- GDRFA Dubai
- UAE Embassy in Pretoria announcements
- UAE Government Portal (u.ae)
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need their own UAE visa?
Yes. Every traveller, including babies, needs their own approved UAE visa and their own passport.
Can my child travel on my passport?
No. A child must hold their own valid passport.
What documents do I need to travel to Dubai with a child from South Africa?
Carry the child's passport, UAE visa, unabridged birth certificate, return tickets, hotel booking and, where relevant, parental consent documents. Confirm the current South African rules with Home Affairs.
Do I need parental consent if only one parent is travelling?
Usually yes. The travelling parent should carry a signed consent letter or affidavit from the other parent, with a copy of that parent's ID. Check the current rules with Home Affairs and your airline.
Can a child travel to Dubai with grandparents?
Yes, with the right documents: parental consent, copies of the parents' IDs, the unabridged birth certificate and the receiving adult's contact details.
How long should my child's passport be valid?
At least 6 months from your arrival date, with blank pages.
Can the whole family use the visa on arrival?
Only if the traveller holds a qualifying residence permit from one of the nine approved places. Accompanying family members must meet the same conditions. Most families should apply for an e-visa before flying.
How long does a family visa take to process?
Standard processing is typically 24 to 48 hours, and express is 12 to 24 hours. Apply early, especially in school holidays.
What photo do I need for a baby?
A recent, clear, front-facing photo on a plain white background, with no filters. Babies should be awake and facing the camera where possible.
What if my child's visa is rejected?
Find the cause, fix it and reapply. Common causes are a poor scan or photo, a mismatch in names or dates, or a short passport validity.
Plan your family trip with confidence
Send us your family's passports and photos and we will check them before you submit. Approved visas arrive by email and WhatsApp, with no embassy visit.
- Start a family UAE visa application
- Read the complete Dubai visa guide for South Africans
- Free document check
- Need help? Call or WhatsApp +971 56 2617646 or email visa@budget-tourism.ae
Disclaimer: This guide is general information as of November 2026. Budget Travel & Tourism LLC is a licensed visa and tourism facilitator and is not a UAE or South African government entity. Entry and exit requirements for minors are set by the relevant authorities and can change. Always confirm current rules with the South African Department of Home Affairs, your airline and official UAE sources before you travel.