Rule changes for travelling minors to SA planned ahead of busy December holiday season

Source: News 24, 20/09/2018

Rule changes for travelling minors to SA planned ahead of busy
December holiday season and waivers will soon be announced - including
changes to requirements for travelling minors in SA - to be officially
gazetted in October.
Cabinet received a joint report from the Ministers of Home Affairs and
Tourism - Malusi Gigaba and Derek Hanekom - which laid out many
visa-related reforms that will make it easier for tourists, business
people and academia to visit South Africa.
The biggest issue is the hoops foreign tourists have to jump through
when travelling with minors and obtaining unabridged birth
certificates, and changes to this regulation will also be included in
the reforms, the state has confirmed.
There are also negotiations on visa waivers and relaxation of visa
requirements from certain countries which are being finalised, and
further details will be announced later this week.
This is expected to include China and India, as part of high-level
agreements between the countries and South Africa that was announced
in July during the BRICS summit.
According to the latest StatsSA figures for May 2018, compared to May
2017, Indian tourist arrivals to South Africa was down 12%, while
China was up by 5%.
While the details of the Chinese visa agreement is not confirmed,
Hanekom did mention that one of the options being considered was a
“multiple entry Visa” that would be valid for five years and offer
tourists up to 90 days in the country.
South Africa is also rolling out e-visas soon, set to be a gradual
roll-out starting with `Phase 1, Release 1, for applications for
temporary residence visas, adjudication of temporary residence visas,
applications for waivers, notifications to the applicant via email and
biometrics captured at the Mission.`
The ePermit will be piloted at one Mission or local office in the last
quarter of the next financial year by 31 March 2019. This is to ensure
system stability. Once stable, more offices locally and abroad can
then be gradually brought online, says the DHA
This is sure to make travel to South Africa much simpler and less
complicated once it is up and running.