A new immigration law came into effect on 1 June 2015 regarding children departing and arriving in South Africa. Under the new law, all minors under the age of 18 years are required to produce, in addition to their passport, an Unabridged Birth Certificate (showing the particulars of both parents) when exiting and entering South African ports of entry. They will not be allowed to travel without it.
In cases where the Unabridged Birth Certificate is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation issued by a competent authority in the country concerned.
Children travelling with only one parent
When a child travels with only one parent, additional documents should include:
- An affidavit in which the absent parent gives consent for the child to travel. The affidavit should be no more than 3 months old from date of travel.
- A court order granting full parental responsibilities or legal guardianship of the child, or the death certificate of the absent parent.
Children travelling without either parent
In the case of a child travelling with a person other than a parent, the Unabridged Birth Certificate must be supplemented by:
- Affidavits from the parents or legal guardians confirming that the child may travel with that person.
- Copies of the ID documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian.
- The contact details of the parents or legal guardian.
Similarly, a child travelling as an unaccompanied minor would have to produce not only the Unabridged Birth Certificate, but also:
- Proof of consent from both parents or legal guardians and contact details.
- Documentation relating to the person receiving the child in South Africa. The latter documentation should include a letter stating the person’s contact details and residential address, contact details where the child will be residing, plus a copy of his or her ID document, passport or residence permit.
Children of adoptive parents
The requirements are the same as those for biological parents:
- Unabridged birth certificate
- Valid passports of both parents
When the new immigration regulation comes into effect on 1 June, it will be the responsibility of passengers to ensure their children have the correct documentation or risk being denied boarding. The new law will be enforced by airlines and immigration officials across the board (land, sea and air). Rhino Africa will ensure that our clients are informed and fully prepared for all their travel requirements and will relay any important future changes in immigration law as they occur.