Unabridged Birth Certificates – Children Travelling Without Their Parents

Travellers intending to holiday in South Africa with their children are well advised to ensure that they have their children’s Unabridged Birth Certificates in hand prior to finalising their travel arrangements to South Africa.

As part of an effort to reduce the chances of child trafficking, the South African Home Affairs Ministry has introduced new immigration legislation requiring that all travellers accompanied by minor children under the age of 18 present to immigration officials at any port of entry or exit a new Unabridged Birth Certificate for each child in their care.

Where a child is in the care of a traveller who is not the biological parent of the child or legal guardian, he or she must produce the following documentation for each child:

• The required standard immigration documents including passport and visas where necessary
• Unabridged Birth Certificate for each child
• An affidavit issued not older than 3 months prior to the date of travel from both parents or legal guardians of each child confirming that the traveller has his or her express written permission to travel with the child.
• Certified copies of identity documents or passports of each child’s non travelling parents or legal guardians
• Full contact details of the child or children’s legal guardians
• Where one or both biological parents or legal guardians are deceased, the respective death certificate are to be provided.
• Where the child’s parents are deceased and the child is travelling in the company of a relative, the South African Immigration Authorities have the discretion to allow the child to enter or leave the country.