As we approach the festive season, many South Africans might be hosting family and friends from other countries. The home affairs department confirmed in a statement that the home affairs minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has signed the waiver that allows foreign children to enter South Africa without unabridged birth certificates.
Foreign children can now enter the country without carrying additional supporting documents such as birth certificates and consent letters. The waiver has been in place since 8 November 2019.
According to the department, the adjustments have been communicated to immigration officials at ports of entry and to the airline and maritime industries.
However, South African children and unaccompanied foreign children, must still provide supporting documents and travel with an unabridged birth certificate.
“Foreign children who require a visa for South Africa do not need to carry the supporting documents for inspection at a port of entry since these would be processed together with their visa applications.”
Meanwhile, in a statement, the tourism department has “welcomed the scrapping of unabridged birth certificates, a positive development ahead of the festive season as this could spurn much needed growth in the Tourism sector”.
The tourism minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, declared that the removal of the requirement for unabridged birth certificates “is a win for tourism and an upside for industry and travellers alike as this has been a real concern raised throughout my engagements with various stakeholders. This announcement couldn’t have come at a better time than now as we approach the festive season”.
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