Unabridged Birth Certificates Required by Immigration
The Department of Home Affairs has made it mandatory to have minor children under the age of 18 travelling into or out of the country to present their Unabridged Birth Certificate to immigration officers.
This applies to both South African citizens as well as foreigners travelling to South Africa for whatever reason.
The new law came into effect on the 1st of June 2015 and it’s primary objective is to prevent child trafficking and child kidnapping. In previous years up to 30 000 children per year, mostly under the age of 14 crossed our borders illegally.
It is best to apply for your child’s Unabridged Birth Certificate when renewing their passports. It is important to note however that even though the parents full details will also appear in the new children’s passports, the child’s Unabridged Birth Certificate will still be required to be presented in order to guarantee hassle free passage through South African borders.
WE advise that all foreign nationals take heed of the requirement and ensure that they apply for an Unabridged Birth Certificate prior to making their travel arrangements. If there are any doubts, please contact your airline or travel agent who will advise you accordingly.
In summary, children travelling with their parents are required to present the following documents:
- An Unabridged Birth Certificate
- A valid passport with at least one blank page and valid for at least 6 months after date of entry / exit
- The necessary visas if travelling to a country requiring these
Ideally travellers being parents or guardians of minor children should have their children’s certificates in hand prior to making travel arrangements.
If you require an Unabridged Birth Certificate and have no interest in standing in those long queues at Home Affairs, feel free to contact us by filling in the form below and a Q-Pro consultant will call you to discuss your requirements.
