Compare your Top 3 Bitcoin Exchanges
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Choose Provider 2:
Choose Provider 3:
Provider
Pro and Contra
Has been hacked?
Fees
Security
Trading
US Friendly!
88 88
Pro
  • Low fees
  • Excellent liquidity in both USD and EUR markets
  • Margin and futures trading supported
  • Only exchange platform selected to support investigation into Mt. Gox's stolen Bitcoins
Contra
  • Sometimes has uptime problems when market gets hot.
  • Verifications take time.
  • Unlike many other Bitcoin exchange platforms, it does not work as crypto wallet.
  • Although it is not solely a Bitcoin exchange for US, Kraken has a lot of restrictions for a wide range of countries, specially for credit card purchases.
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
10 USD for FedWire (Silvergate) 5 USD for FedWire (Synapse) 10 USD for SWIFT (Silvergate Bank) 3 USD for SWIFT (Bank Frick) 3 EUR for SWIFT (Bank Frick) 1.25 CAD + 0.25% of the transaction for In-person cash or debit (Canada Post) 1.5% of the transaction for Interac e-Transfer 3 CAD for SWIFT (Bank Frick) 21 GBP for CHAPS (ClearJunction) 3 GBP for SWIFT (Bank Frick) 0.75 CHF for SIC (Bank Frick) 0.75 CHF for SWIFT (Bank Frick)
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.00%-0.26%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 5x
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Anonymous, No KYC
80 80
Pro
  • 2FA ensures security
  • High leverage (up to 100x Cryptocurrencies, up to 1000x Forex)
  • No KYC required
Contra
  • Not widely known yet
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0.001%-0.05%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 1000x
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All in One
80 80
Pro
  • Very low fees
  • A myriad of coins to exchange with
  • No lags experienced with website
Contra
  • Customer support lacks phone
  • Has been hacked one time (but compensated their users)
  • Different domains for US and the rest of the world
Has been hacked? Yes (on 7. May 19) Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.012% - 0.10%
Security Ok Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 20x
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80 80
Pro
  • “Real” Decentralized Exchange
  • Anonymous
  • Account creation is fast and very easy (not required to complete KYC/AML)
  • Accepts Fiat payments
Contra
  • In Business only since 2016
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
Yes
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? None
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? None
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90 90
Pro
  • Fast account creation
  • Real-time auditing
  • High leverage
Contra
  • Only Bitcoin and Ethereum trading
  • Not user-friendly
  • Website design is confusing
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
Depends
Trading Fees:
-0.01%-0.05%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 100x
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High Volume
76 76
Pro
  • High liquidity
  • Low fees
  • Full package of order types, margin trading and lending market
  • Hack has been solved professionally and innovative, paid back all the losses from the hack (!)
Contra
  • Not a transparent company
  • Has been hacked multiple times
  • Controversial connection to Tether
Has been hacked? Yes Fees
Deposit Fees:
No (only for FIAT)
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.10%-0.20%
Security Ok Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 10x
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Buy w. Credit Card
80 80
Pro
  • Reliable order execution
  • Wire Transfer & Credit Cards
  • Instant buy option of coins
Contra
  • Premium on prices
  • Support’s canned responses
  • Verification process is a bit demanding
Has been hacked? Yes, hacked in 2013 Fees
Deposit Fees:
Yes
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.00%-0.25%
Security Good Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 100x
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80 80
Pro
  • Easy account creation
  • No minimum deposit
  • Awesome interactive website
Contra
  • Unregulated
  • Some negative reviews
Has been hacked? Yes (2016, but only email system) Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
No
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? up to 500x
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84 84
Pro
  • Safe and decentralized trading
  • Arbitrators
  • 2-out-of-3 multisig security in trades
  • Wide selection of FIAT and Crypto Currencies
Contra
  • They need more aggressive advertising
  • More active development
  • They need to team up with other companies
  • High fees
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.001% - 0.009%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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80 80
Pro
  • using Meta Trader 5
  • lot of different coins are supported
  • leverage up to 20x
Contra
  • very new exchange with no real track record
  • only crypto deposits are available
  • can be confusing for newbies
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
Free
Withdrawal Fees:
Miner fee
Trading Fees:
0,2%
Security High Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 20x
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Great for Credit Card
82 82
Pro
  • A lot of different payment method
  • Strict security standards
  • Trustpilot reviews
Contra
  • Verification needeed for full access
  • Some US states are not supported
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
Yes (for Credit Card Payments)
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
N/A
Security Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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Anonymous P2P
90 90
Pro
  • Many coins and payment methods supported
  • Multi-blockchain P2P exchange
  • Transparency about company background
Contra
  • Reliability of service is depending on the sellers on the platform
  • Too many options to choose from can paralyze users
  • High crypto prices
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
1.00%
Security Medium Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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86 86
Pro
  • No fees
  • No KYC or registration
  • Quick execution
  • Advance Cash is supported to cash out crypto
Contra
  • Higher cryptocurrency prices
  • Too less information in the FAQ section
  • No fiat payment option
  • Limited number of supported coins
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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88 88
Pro
  • Low fees
  • Futures trading options
  • Leverage up to 100x
Contra
  • Lack of real user experience online
  • No social media activity (Twitter suspended)
  • Users from the US are excluded
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0.005%-0.060%
Security Good Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 100x
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Great for EUR/USD
82 82
Pro
  • Has not been hacked
  • Great to buy Bitcoin / Ethereum with FIAT
  • Easy to use exchange interface
Contra
  • No trading platform
  • KYC needed
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No (for min. deposits)
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.05%-0.15%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? No
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Easy to use
76 76
Pro
  • High liquidity
  • Integrated debit and credit cards
  • Newbie friendly
Contra
  • Major violations of users privacy
  • High Trading Fees for < $50k Trading / Month
  • Segwit still not supported ( = high TX fees )
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
Yes
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.50%-0.05%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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Popular Newcomer
78 78
Pro
  • low trading fees (rebates for market makers!)
  • no KYC process
  • sign-up and deposit bonuses
Contra
  • No information about the company
  • No fiat trading option
  • New trading platform with no real social media activity
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
-0,025%-0,075%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? Yes, up to 100x
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Lots of Altcoins
80 80
Pro
  • User-friendly Interface
  • Security -Yobi codes (deposit codes)
  • Free Coins
Contra
  • Many Negative reviews
  • Very high withdrawal fees ( > 0.001 BTC)
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
Yes
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.2%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures?
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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86 86
Pro
  • no trading commissions
  • rewards system after open trades
  • offers to trade forex and gold too beyond crypto
Contra
  • no real online presence of the company
  • US users are not accepted
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0.00%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 50x
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80 80
Pro
  • Good reputation
  • High volume and liquidity
  • Connections in the industry grant it additional legitimacy
  • Easy to use and quick
Contra
  • High Trading Fees if you are trading lower volumes
  • More negative comments in the recent past
Has been hacked? Yes, in January 2015 Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0.5%-0.10%
Security Very Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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Pro
  • N/A
Contra
  • N/A
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
TBD
Withdrawal Fees:
TBD
Trading Fees:
N/A
Security N/A Trading
Futures? None
Derivatives? N/A
Margin Trading? None
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80 80
Pro
  • Verified merchants offer platform users services
  • Fast turnaround of deposits and withdrawals
  • High flexibility
  • Fully escrowed delivery
Contra
  • No mobile app
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
0.1% USD, 5 USDT, 0.0005 BTC
Trading Fees:
0.008%-0.150%
Security Good Trading
Futures? N/A
Derivatives? N/A
Margin Trading? up to 100x
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68 68
Pro
  • Easy account creation
  • Online and Offline payment options
  • Easy to operate platform
Contra
  • Fees are high (3-11.9%)
  • No leveraged trading
  • No App
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
N/A
Withdrawal Fees:
N/A
Trading Fees:
0.25%-8.75%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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72 72
Pro
  • 140+ currencies available
  • Accepts Credit Cards
  • 2FA Security
  • No verification for crypto to crypto
Contra
  • High transaction fee of 0.5%
  • Negative comments from the community
  • Still a lot to prove (a fairly new company)
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
None
Withdrawal Fees:
None
Trading Fees:
0.50%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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80 80
Pro
  • Easy to use website
  • Great features
Contra
  • Verification process is long
  • Focused on Argentinean market
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
Yes
Withdrawal Fees:
$20
Trading Fees:
0.50%-1.00%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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82 82
Pro
  • low commissions
  • No KYC needed for crypto only deposits / withdrawals
  • good resources on trading and cryptocurrency
  • UK phone hotline
Contra
  • no information on the company background
  • US users are restricted
  • only cryptocurrency deposits are accepted
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0.00%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? up-to 50x
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Best Support
60 60
Pro
  • Superb liquidity, often the best in the world
  • Many advanced trading options
  • Low fees
Contra
  • Sometimes foreign traders have problems with verification
  • Chinese Exchange (PBoC)
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
In most cases no
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.00%-0.10%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? up to 3x
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82 82
Pro
  • margin trading available in less-known altcoins too
  • option to reduce trading fees
  • native token
Contra
  • not available for US users
  • site is not completely localized for English
  • KYC is needed for withdrawal
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0,04%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? Yes
Margin Trading? up to 10x
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90 90
Pro
  • Almost all countries are accepted (including some parts of the US)
  • Highest buying limit
  • Good Support
Contra
  • 3% fee
  • Some scam claims
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
5% credit card fee
Withdrawal Fees:
5% credit card fee
Trading Fees:
5.90%
Security Good Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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80 80
Pro
  • 2FA
  • Low Fees
  • A wide range of coins
Contra
  • No Fiat Payments
  • Leverage not available yet
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
No
Trading Fees:
0.025%-0.075%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? up-to 50x
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Fast Support!
78 78
Pro
  • Competitive fees
  • Good security
  • Accepts many different FIAT currencies
Contra
  • Website could use some improvements
  • Doesn't keep the pace with competition
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes, 1% + 5 USD
Trading Fees:
0.00%-0.20%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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82 82
Pro
  • Trade gift cards for BTC instantly
  • A wide variety of payment methods and currencies accepted, at least in theory
  • Easy to join and get going
Contra
  • Mixed reviews
  • Slow customer support
  • High commissions charged (by the seller) for buying Bitcoin with uncommon methods or in non-mainstream currencies
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
No
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.00%-1.00% (with gift cards up to 5%)
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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66 66
Pro
  • Federally regulated
  • Available in all 50 states of USA
  • Good liquidity and competitive fees
  • Keeps BTC in cold storage, backed by audited reserve minimum
Contra
  • No mobile apps
  • No margin trading and short selling
  • No ACH transfers
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
Yes
Withdrawal Fees:
Yes
Trading Fees:
0.20%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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60 60
Pro
  • Easy account creation
  • Futures and Options available
  • Phone support
Contra
  • Beta phase
  • Platform design needs to be “optimized”
  • Does not support any Fiat deposit/withdrawals
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
None
Withdrawal Fees:
None
Trading Fees:
-0.02%-0.03%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? Yes
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? up-to 10x
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80 80
Pro
  • Mobile App
  • Easy account creation
Contra
  • Does not have customer service support
  • Limited Features (for countries outside their exchange list)
  • Expensive trade fees
Has been hacked? No Fees
Deposit Fees:
1.58% up to ZAR + 5.00%
Withdrawal Fees:
N/A
Trading Fees:
0.20% up to 1.00%
Security Excellent Trading
Futures? No
Derivatives? No
Margin Trading? No
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Show more Bitcoin Exchanges

Best Bitcoin Exchange for South Africa

The crypto currencies are a transnational financial phenomenon. South Korea has so far been considered the hub of Bitcoin. But the potential of the digital currency is also being discovered in Africa.

Bitcoin is enjoying increasing popularity in South Africa and other developing and emerging countries. The digital currency is regarded as a safe haven from political and economic turbulence. Bitcoin is also increasingly becoming a means of overcoming financial obstacles: (1) the lack of conventional banking services and (2) partially limited access to foreign currencies, according to a report.

Bitcoin stock exchanges record growth

Mati Greenspan said there was a noticeable increase in South African Bitcoin traders on the platform amid last year’s increased political pressure. In South Africa, the number of new users trading Bitcoin on their platform from January to late November 2017 rose 671 percent over the same period last year, Greenspan said. According to Greenspan, interest began in March 2017 when South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, was dismissed and intensified again in November when S&P Global Ratings downgraded South Africa’s local currency debt to junk status.

A similar increase was seen in Brazil and the Czech Republic in 2017, although no country seemed to share the same enthusiasm for Bitcoin as South Africans.

Werner van Rooyen, marketing manager for the Luno crypto-currency exchange, said in November in an interview with BusinessTech that thousands of transactions are made every week by South Africans. Despite the exponential growth, it is still almost impossible to say exactly how many South Africans invested in Bitcoin last year or are currently invested in the currency. In fact, it’s pretty easy to get a Bitcoin wallet (with a BTC receiving address) and create multiple receiving addresses.

Bitcoin mining almost impossible

In Africa, the supply of electricity is a major problem. Power outages are a daily occurrence in many parts of the continent. For this reason, Bitcoin mining is virtually impossible. Africans have another way to earn money with crypto currencies. There is a slow accumulation strategy, but one where they are less at a disadvantage. From Steemit to Yours.org there are many sites that reward users in crypto currencies.

Bitcoin solves banking and money transfer problems for the first time

In Africa the smartphone is always at hand and with it the digital wallet. In parts of the continent – especially at trade hubs such as Lagos, Nairobi and Johannesburg – a small but growing number of people are finding that crypto currencies are a cheaper solution to an expensive problem – transferring money across borders. The Bitpesa technology platform uses Bitcoin as a medium for cross-border cash transfers. It’s cheaper, especially if there’s a lack of dollars in the country or restrictions on access to dollars, says the BBC. It is also faster because there is no need to go through lengthy and complicated bank approvals.

In Nigeria, when the government controlled access to the US dollar during a financial crisis, Bitcoin made it easier for companies to transfer cash abroad, which increased interest in crypto currencies in the country, says BBC. In Simbabawe, where there is political and economic instability, Bitcoin has become an institution where you can store assets and easily buy goods and services from abroad.

Central banks rather critical

But the central banks are also vigilant in Africa. The Nigerian, Kenyan and Ugandan central banks are warning against entering the new and unregulated market. The Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya even went so far as to say that digital currencies are a kind of ponzi game because of their high volatility.

Bitcoin classes overcrowded

In Africa there are courses for Bitcoin beginners. These courses are very popular with university graduates who can’t find a job, according to the BBC. Blockchain technology also has a big appeal for young Africans.

Bitcoin hinders the creation of single fiat currencies

Besides the increasing interest of the population in the crypto currencies, there is a problem, because the central bank of Tanzania is planning its own currency. It is to become a legal tender in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Southern Sudan. However, the development of a new traditional currency is questionable against the background of the potential of crypto currencies. Against this background, the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) is now working with crypto currency experts from the UK to find out whether a fiat currency still makes sense. EAC members believe that the increasing popularity of digital currencies is making things more difficult for unified currency plans.

About South Africa

EU citizens do not need a visa for a holiday stay of up to 90 days. The passport must be valid for at least thirty days after return and be machine-readable. In addition, the travel documents must still have at least 2 free pages for visas on departure. The same applies to child ID cards or child passports, which are only valid with a photo. When travelling on from South Africa to other countries with a subsequent return to South Africa, travellers should therefore make sure that they still have free pages in their passports for all entry and exit stamps. Children’s entries in a parent’s passport are no longer valid since 26.06.2012. Each child needs its own identity document. Non-EU citizens must apply for a visa at the responsible embassy or consulate. Passports must not have been extended.

Hints for the entry of minors

On 26.05.2014 new regulations for travel by minors came into force. Persons under the age of 18 must present an international birth certificate when entering and leaving the country as of 01.06.2015. If the country of birth does not issue international birth certificates, a national birth certificate and a certified translation into English must be presented. If a minor does not travel accompanied by both parents with custody, it must also be proven that the parent who is not present either agrees with the trip (affidavit, copy of passport and contact details of the parent who is not present) or that the declaration of consent is not required (court order on sole custody or death certificate).

Persons travelling with minors who are not their own children must provide a copy of the child’s full birth certificate, affidavit, passport copies and contact details of both parents or legal guardian of the child. Minors travelling alone must also provide a letter of confirmation, contact details and a copy of the passport of the person to whom the minor is to travel in South Africa when entering the country.

It is strongly recommended that English declarations, documents or translations be submitted. Only the Department of Home Affairs (www.dha.gov.za) or the South African missions abroad can provide binding answers to questions in this connection. Please note that, in practice, many airlines (e.g. SAA) already check the documents for entry with minors at check-in and refuse to check in if the documents are missing or incomplete.