On 1 June 2015, new legislation governing the documentation required for children travelling internationally came in to force.
On 1 June 2015, new legislation governing the documentation required for children travelling internationally came in to force.
Any child – even if travelling with one or both parents – must not only have a passport but also carry an unabridged birth certificate (UBC) – that is a birth certificate containing the names of both parents.
If travelling with one parent, they also need to have an affidavit signed by the other parent giving permission to travel or a court order granting full parental responsibilities or legal guardianship of the child or the death certificate of the absent parent.
In the case of a child travelling with a person other than a parent, the UBC 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 and the contact details of the parents or legal guardian.
In cases where the UBC is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation issued by a competent authority in the country concerned.
The regulations are designed to curb child trafficking and abduction.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, 30 000 minors are trafficked through South African borders every year.
50% of these minors are under the age of 14.
You can apply for a UBC at Home Affairs.
Take your ID book along, as well as your child's ID number and current birth certificate.
All documents submitted must be originals or certified copies.
The UBC costs R75 and can take up to 8 weeks – so plan ahead.
Last week, Home Affairs said they were battling to clear a backlog of 4 000 applications.
They have now whittled this down to 400 but it's important to allow plenty of time.
Authorities are adamant that any child without the correct documentation will not be allowed to travel.
So don't get left at the gate.
Follow these links to find out about the full regulations.
Home Affairs resources:
http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/index.php/birth-certificates
and
http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/notices/474-new-immigration-regulations-other-notices.
