Lekker Adventures would like to advise you of the new immigration regulations for South Africa and the documents required for children entering or leaving South Africa.
New immigration regulations as of 1 June 2015
Parents travelling with a minor need to produce an Unabridged Birth Certificate for the child on entering and departing the country.
Guardians travelling with a minor need to produce an Unabridged Birth Certificate and Parent Consent Affidavits for the child on entering and departing the country.
All children must possess a valid passport of their own.
The documents stipulated below are required for each child when more than one child is entering or departing South Africa with a parent(s) or guardian.
Definition of terms
Child or minor: any person under the age of 18 years.
Parent: includes biological parents, adoptive parents and legal guardians, unless the context indicates otherwise.
For a South-African born child, an Unabridged Birth Certificate is a certificate that contains full names and the identity numbers of both parents. The information is extracted from the Birth Register and issued by the Department of Home Affairs in terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992.
For a foreign national child, the Unabridged Birth Certificate refers to a birth certificate from the responsible authority in his or her country which lists the particulars of both parents.
An Equivalent Document is a document that may be produced or accepted in lieu of the Unabridged Birth Certificate issued by the responsible authority from the country in which he or she resides.
Parental Consent Affidavit is an affidavit of a person registered as a parent on the Unabridged Birth Certificate or Equivalent Document authorising another person – including the other parent – to enter or depart South Africa with their child or granting permission to his or her child to travel alone.
Travelling arrangements
Parents travelling together with more than one child must produce a valid passport and Unabridged Birth Certificate or equivalent for each child.
A parent travelling alone without the other parent must produce an Unabridged Birth Certificate or Equivalent document and a Parental Consent Affidavit for each child.
A person travelling with a child in alternative care (orphan or foster child) need a valid passport for the child and a letter from the Provincial Head of the Social Development Department where the child resides, authorising the child to depart from South Africa as contemplated in section 169 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 (Children’s Act).
A single parent who is the only parent appearing on a child’s birth certificate must produce an Unabridged Birth Certificate or Equivalent document for the child that reflects the details of the only registered parent.
In the case of a deceased parent, an Unabridged Birth Certificate is needed aswell as an applicable court order or death certificate for the deceased parent.
When the child travels with a single registered parent on her or his Unabridged Birth Certificate or ‘Equivalent Document’, documentation relating to the absent parent such as the Parental Consent Affidavit or death certificate (as the case may be) shall not be required. The absence of documents relating to an unregistered absent parent may not be used as a reason for precluding the registered parent from travel with a child (e.g. unregistered father who is alive or deceased).
Where a child travels accompanied by an adult other than her or his registered parent(s), the following shall be required:
(a) a valid passport
(b) an Unabridged Birth Certificate or ‘Equivalent Document’
(c) copies of the identity documents or passports of the child’s parents or legal guardian
(d) contact details of the minor’s parents or legal guardian
(e) a Parental Consent Affidavit (An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that the accompanying travelling adult has permission to travel with the child)
When a child with a single registered parent travels with another person without his or her registered parent, the Unabridged Birth Certificate or ‘Equivalent Document’ and the Parental Consent Affidavit is required to be given by that registered parent for the purpose of the child exiting or entering South Africa. The unregistered parent may not be considered despite the fact that he or she may be alive and wishes to exercise the parental right to give or refuse consent for the child to travel.
An unaccompanied minor departing South Africa has to produce:
(a) a valid passport
(b) an Unabridged Birth Certificate or ‘Equivalent Document’
(c) a Parental Consent Affidavit (An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that she or he has permission to travel alone)
(d) the contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child
An unaccompanied minor (from a foreign country) entering South Africa must produce a:
1. Letter from the person who is to receive the minor in the Republic that reflects the following:
(i) receiving person’s residential address (and work address where applicable) and full contact details in the Republic; and
(ii) contact details in the Republic where the child will be residing.
2. Copy of the receiving person’s identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent resident permit.
When a child travels alone without her or his registered parents, the Parental Consent Affidavit is required to be given by both registered parents in order for their unaccompanied child to enter or exit the Republic.
When a child travels alone without her or his registered parents and in case the Parental Consent Affidavit is provided by only one of the registered parents, then that parent must also provide a relevant court order issued to her or him in respect of the traveling child.
An unaccompanied child with only one registered parent on his or her Unabridged Birth Certificate or ‘Equivalent Document’ must produce a Parental Consent Affidavit from that registered parent in order for the unaccompanied child to enter or exit South Africa. The unregistered parent may not be considered despite the fact that he or she may be alive and wishes to exercise their parental right to give or refuse consent for the child to travel.
Contact us
Lekker Adventures will assist you with any queries regarding the new immigration regulations for South Africa and the documentation required.
Experience the sights and sounds of South Africa. Lekker Adventures specialises in providing you with the complete travelling experience to South Africa. Click here to find out more about travelling to South Africa with the assistance of Lekker Adventures.