SOUTH AFRICAN NEW POLICY ON CHILD TRAVELLERS

Effective 1st October 2014, South Africa will implement new Immigration rules that concern all passengers below 18 years of age, travelling into/out of/transit in South Africa. In order to minimize inconvenience to these passengers, the carrier at the first board point is requested to proceed with document checks for these passengers. The new immigration rules will require all passengers, below 18 years of age, and travelling into/out of/transit in South Africa to:

IF CHILD IS TRAVELLING WITH BOTH PARENTS

A) Present an "unabridged" birth certificate along with a passport when arriving, departing, or transiting South Africa. [Unabridged birth certificate indicates that the birth certificate must reflect the particulars of the parents of the child.]

IF CHILD IS TRAVELLING WITH ONE PARENT

A) Present an "unabridged birth certificate; and

i) Consent in form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as parent on the birth certificate of the child authorizing him/her to enter into or depart from the Republic with the child he or she is travelling with; [Affidavit may not be older than 3 months, dating from the date of travel.] or

ii) Court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or

iii) Where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate.

IF PERSON TRAVELLING WITH A CHILD WHO IS NOT HIS/HER BIOLOGICAL CHILD

A) Present an "unabridged" birth certificate of the child; and

B) An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the child; and

C) Copies of the identify documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child; and

D) Contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.

IF THE CHILD IS TRAVELLING AS AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR

A) Proof of consent from one of or both his/her parents or legal guardian in form of a letter or affidavit for the child to travel into or depart from the Republic;

B) Letter from the person who is to receive the child in the Republic, containing his/her residential addresses and contact details in the Republic where the child will be residing;

C) Copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or Permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in the Republic; and

D) Contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child.

NOTE:

Copies of the documents may be presented but they will have to be certified true copies of the original by a commissioner of oaths/notaries or equivalent commissioning authority.

More information on the rules can be obtained from the South African New Regulations document or from the South African Embassy. The document can be downloaded from the following URL and the specific regulations can be found in 6. (12) Admission and Departure, from Page 13.

http://www.dha.gov.za/images/final_Immigration_Regulations_2014_1.pdf