2nd South African Passport for crew?

[falcon10]

Is it possible to obtain a 2nd SA passport so that one always has a passport on hand when the other one is submitted for various visas for crew?

[cavortingcheetah]

You might think of following the requirements in this link and submitting a letter from your employer stating that a second passport was necessary for the reason you outlined.
You don't have to surrender your original passport while the normal renewal process is under way so it could well work. You'd just perhaps need to make sure that they understood that you wanted a second passport and were not looking for a replacement for a lost or stolen one.

Passport or travel document (http://www.services.gov.za/services/content/Home/ServicesForPeople/TraveloutsideSA/Applicationforpassportortraveldocuments/en_ZA)

And there are services such as this one, which sometimes charge a lot for a job you could do yourself. But of course it does save waiting in the hot and fetid queues.

FAQ’s (http://www.safasttrack.com/faqs/)

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Yup, got second one myself. Saves loads of trouble when submitting for visas while working or in case of loss. Letter from employer or sworn affidavit stating you work abroad and require second passport as backup while submitted for visas and in case of loss is all that's required. Passport office seem a bit uncertain to begin with as it's not a common thing, but as long as you guarantee security of passport either in your possession or in for visa (ie, not getting your cousin Rajneesh into the country on the sly), they're OK with it.

[unstable load]

Like SRT says, it is possible. I have held 2 SA passports for about 10 years now
with no issues from the authorities in SA. I was given a letter by my employer that I handed in with my application for the second one and it was accepted without query.
At renewal time, I get another letter for each passport and continue from there. It does make life easier, especially with some visas taking longer to acquire than the tour of duty they are intended for.

[Solid Rust Twotter]

As Mr Load has stated, they're pretty good about it given sufficient reason. A letter from your employer detailing why it's required and requesting a second passport is issued usually does the trick. Their main concern, understandably, appears to be security of the passports, but stating in the letter that one will be in use and the other in for visas, in the company safe or also in your possession, there doesn't appear to be an issue.

[Solid Rust Twotter]

That would be why they're kept in your possession or locked up/in for visas. You undertake to keep possession of them, or ensure they're kept in a safe place in your application letter. Failing to do so would probably lead to the extra one being confiscated from you if caught, and why would you want to complicate your life in that manner?

[ARENDIII]

No problem at all.

[B Drive]

A second or even a thrid SA passport is not an issue.
You go to Home Affairs Passport office.They may or may not ask for your pilot certificate.You fill in the forms pay them and TWO WEEKS later you will get a sms "Passport ready for collection"
By SA law you may posess 3 passports as a crew member under Maritime law.
Just make very sure you do not go back and tell them you lost one-Priviledge withdrawn at the desk where you are making the statement

[EladElap]

Interesting about the 3 passport law. I had a situation where I needed to renew one of my two passports as it was almost out of pages, but it still had a valid visa that I needed. The lady (superviser, and really helpful), said it was out of the question to have 3 valid passports, and that she could let me retain the passport but she would cancel it electronically. This still allowed me to show the visa at the country in question, and they stamped me in on another of my passports.

[osasko]

Can any of you guys perhaps give a quick idea of what details need to be included in such a letter from an employer. Or an example if possible.

Thanks.

[cavortingcheetah]

Just tell them that you are required to fly to countries where an entry stamp in your passport from an immigration officer of one country might jeopardise your safety and security. Such jeopardisation might involve the local South African consular office which would involve unnecessary expense for the South African government.
Countries to use, as an example, for this claim would be Israel and Syria, Pakistan and India, North Korea and the United States, Britain and the rest of the world.
Best of Turkish luck to you by the way.