Is history repeating itself with unabridged birth certificates?
South Africa faces an embarrassment of spectacular proportions as
publicity about the new birth certificate regime gives the impression
that immigration officials are relaxing requirements. Irrespective of
what the officials might do in SA, it is at airline check-in desks
overseas where things will implode. The publicity could lead to
tourists in large numbers arriving at airports and being denied
boarding by airlines, who have to follow the letter of the law as
gazetted in 2014, until it is actually amended.
The tourism industry and its stakeholders have expressed
disappointment at the failure of the South African government to
effect any real change to the unabridged birth certificate (UBC)
regulation, which remains firmly in place, according to gazetted law.
In an article published by Tourism Update on February 12, 2016, the
Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) “recommended a dispensation in terms
of which travellers would be ‘strongly advised’ to bring along proof
of the relationship between the child and the parent or guardian, such
as an unabridged birth certificate, or equivalent document with both
parents’ particulars.”
Sound familiar? That’s because the statement made by then Director
General of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Mkuseli Apleni, and
was regurgitated on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, by current Home
Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba: “The key changes will be that rather
than requiring all foreign national travelling minors to carry
documentation proving parental consent for the minor to travel, we
will rather ‘strongly recommend’ that travellers carry this
documentation.”
The then spokesperson of the DHA, Mayihlome Tshwete, at the time
(February, 2016) said that in order to change this requirement,
amendments needed to be made to certain sections of the regulations.
He said this process, which included setting up an advisory board, was
under way, and would probably be concluded in the next three months.
That was 32 months ago.
Gigaba said in his announcement that his department would issue an
international travel

advisory before the end of October 2018 after
consultation with the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB). This was
echoed by Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, in a statement on
September 26 saying that the amendment to the Regulations would be
gazetted by Gigaba for information in October 2018. “From the end of
October 2018, when both parents travel with a minor, no additional
documentation will be required,” said Hanekom.
Until the regulation amendment is gazetted, however, airlines remain
bound by the regulation currently in force, and foreign nationals
travelling with children will still need to have proof of relationship
with the child and/or parental consent to travel.

(12)(a) Where parents are travelling with a child, such parents must
produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the
particulars of the parents of the child.
With history seeming to repeat itself, and mirrored statements made in
2016 and 2018, the industry may rightfully believe UBCs could remain
in place for another two years:
2016: …airline check-in staff no longer have to ensure that foreign
passengers are carrying a UBC when travelling with a minor �` statement
made by Home Affairs, 2016.
2018: Foreign nationals travelling to South Africa will no longer be
required to have unabridged certificates for their minor children upon
arrival in South Africa �` statement made by Home Affairs, 2018.
In the refreshed regime, when it happens, immigration officers will be
trained to detect `high-risk` individuals at the gates, says Gigaba.
But former DHA spokesperson Tshwete tweeted that putting the power of
discretion into immigration officers` hands would be counter-productive.
CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), Chris
Zweigenthal, commented at the time in 2016: “Until there is an
official change to the regulation, the requirement to carry a UBC is
still the status quo” adding that he would advise people to not take a
chance �` bring everything. V.2490

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
Click here for full article

One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
Click here for full article

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
Click here for full article

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
Click here for full article

A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
Click here for full article

On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
Click here for full article

The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
Click here for full article

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
Click here for full article

1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
Click here for full article

Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
Click here for full article