New SA regulations for travelling with kids 2014-06-09 09:21:19 AM
Cape Town - South Africa's immigration laws have recently undergone an intense
revision with newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba saying the amendments are "in the
best interest of South Africa's security and allows for efficient management of migration".
The department also expressed concern about the growing issue of child trafficking and has announced
new requirements for adults travelling with children.
What you need to know
Parents travelling with children would now be requested to provide an unabridged birth certificate of
all travelling children. This applies even when both parents are travelling with their children and it also
applies to foreigners and South Africans alike. When children are travelling with guardians, these adults
are required to produce affidavits from parents proving permission for the children to travel.
Also see: Home Affairs just made it a lot easier to apply for a visa in
SA
Following are the new South African immigration regulations concerning travelling with
children coming into effect 1 July 2014:
Regulation 6: (12)
(a) Where parents are travelling with a child, such parents must produce an
unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the
parents of the child.
(b) In the case of one parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an
unabridged birth certificate and-
(i) consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent
on the birth certificate of the child authorising him or her to enter into or depart from
the Republic with the child he or she is travelling with;
(ii) a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship
in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or
(iii) where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent
of the child on the birth certificate;
Provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both
deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related
to him or her or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or
depart from the Republic with such a child.
(c) Where a person is travelling with a child who is not his or her biological
child, he or she must produce-
(i) a copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child;
ii) an affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he
or she has permission to travel with the child;
(iii) copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian
of the child; and
(iv) the contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child, Provided that
the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and
the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her
or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or depart from the
Republic with such a child.
(d) Any unaccompanied minor shall produce to the immigration officer-
(i) proof of consent from one of or both his or her parents or legal guardian,
as the case may be, in the form of a letter or affidavit for the child to travel
into or depart from the Republic: Provided that in the case where one parent
provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of a court
order issued to him or her in terms of which he or she has been granted full
parental responsibilities and rights in respect of the child;
(ii) a letter from the person who is to receive the child in the Republic, containing
his or her residential address and contact details in the Republic
where the child will be residing;
(iii) a copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent
residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in the Republic; and (iv) the
contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.
Cape Town - South Africa's immigration laws have recently undergone an intense
revision with newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba saying the amendments are "in the
best interest of South Africa's security and allows for efficient management of migration".
The department also expressed concern about the growing issue of child trafficking and has announced
new requirements for adults travelling with children.
What you need to know
Parents travelling with children would now be requested to provide an unabridged birth certificate of
all travelling children. This applies even when both parents are travelling with their children and it also
applies to foreigners and South Africans alike. When children are travelling with guardians, these adults
are required to produce affidavits from parents proving permission for the children to travel.
Also see: Home Affairs just made it a lot easier to apply for a visa in
SA
Following are the new South African immigration regulations concerning travelling with
children coming into effect 1 July 2014:
Regulation 6: (12)
(a) Where parents are travelling with a child, such parents must produce an
unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the
parents of the child.
(b) In the case of one parent travelling with a child, he or she must produce an
unabridged birth certificate and-
(i) consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parent
on the birth certificate of the child authorising him or her to enter into or depart from
the Republic with the child he or she is travelling with;
(ii) a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship
in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or
(iii) where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent
of the child on the birth certificate;
Provided that the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both
deceased and the child is travelling with a relative or another person related
to him or her or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or
depart from the Republic with such a child.
(c) Where a person is travelling with a child who is not his or her biological
child, he or she must produce-
(i) a copy of the unabridged birth certificate of the child;
ii) an affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he
or she has permission to travel with the child;
(iii) copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian
of the child; and
(iv) the contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child, Provided that
the Director-General may, where the parents of the child are both deceased and
the child is travelling with a relative or another person related to him or her
or his or her parents, approve such a person to enter into or depart from the
Republic with such a child.
(d) Any unaccompanied minor shall produce to the immigration officer-
(i) proof of consent from one of or both his or her parents or legal guardian,
as the case may be, in the form of a letter or affidavit for the child to travel
into or depart from the Republic: Provided that in the case where one parent
provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of a court
order issued to him or her in terms of which he or she has been granted full
parental responsibilities and rights in respect of the child;
(ii) a letter from the person who is to receive the child in the Republic, containing
his or her residential address and contact details in the Republic
where the child will be residing;
(iii) a copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent
residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in the Republic; and (iv) the
contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.