Demystifying birth certificate reg changes for travellers to SA

Source: Tourism Update, 12/12/2018

The SA Department of Tourism is liaising with the airline
industry, and will communicate further when the airlines have
updated their systems and are ready to board passengers according
to the amended regulations.
However, Iata has accepted these new regulations and has confirmed
this in writing with the Department of Home Affairs. Iata has
further confirmed that the amended regulations, which follow the
practice of countries such as the UK and Canada, do remove the
requirement for airlines to verify documentation of minor
travellers [other than when they are travelling alone].
The Department of Tourism has offered this deconstruction of the
UBC amendments,
Foreign minors â€` visa-exempt countries
Parents travelling with minors from visa-exempt countries will
need the following documentation:
• Copies of original documents are sufficient and need not
be certified
• Consent and authorisation in the form of a letter which
needs not be notarised or be an affidavit
• Children travelling with both parents need no extra
documentation, however if there is a situation where the surname
is different, carrying proof of parental relationship is advised
• In the event of a minor not travelling with both parents,
but travelling with an adult, other documentation may be requested
and it is strongly advised â€` this could be in the form of a birth
certificate and other supporting documents such as a letter of
consent, court orders or death certificate(s) as appropriate. A
period of 24 hours is provided for to acquire such documents on
arrival if they are requested and are not in the traveller’s
possession
• In the event of a minor travelling alone, additional
documentation must be carried
• A birth certificate (copy) to satisfy the immigration
processes should contain details of the parent(s)
Foreign minors â€` countries where visas are required
• The requirements for children travelling with only one
parent or another adult from countries that require visas have not
changed. This means that they have to produce the documentation on
application for a visa, and a copy of a birth certificate will be
required when applying for any child visa
• Should the adult(s) travelling with a child on a visa
change from what was stated on the visa application due to
unavoidable short-term circumstances, the travelling adult(s) are
also advised to carry the same documentation as above (for visa-
exempt travellers)
Child travellers and accompanying adults will only be stopped and
asked questions, and possibly be required to provide additional
documentation in exceptional cases where there may be grounds for
suspicion or in ‘high-risk situations’.
The statement published by the Department of Tourism reads: “The
above is outlined in the September 25, 2018, press statement of
the then Minister of Home Affairs, when he stated that ‘our
immigration officials will only insist on documentation by
exception â€` in high-risk situations â€` rather than for all
travellers, in line with practice by several other countries’.”
Travel advice for trade and customers
• Minor traveller documentation requirements are in line
with international countries, including Canada and the UK.
• If travelling with a child (under 18) and not the child’s
parent, or may appear not to be the parent…it is recommended that
one carries evidence of one’s relationship with the child and/or
the reason why travelling with the child. This evidence could
include copies of:
o A birth or adoption certificate indicating relationship
with the child
o Divorce/marriage certificates if one is the parent but has
a different surname to the child
o A letter from the child’s parent/s giving authority for
the child to travel with the adult and providing contact details
if the guardian is not the parent
The new regulations are in line with the recommendations of the
Inter-Ministerial Committee led by then Deputy President Cyril
Ramaphosa which were finalised in October 2015.
Their recommendations were followed by the statement: “This would
remove the obligation from airlines to verify documentation.
Immigration officers will retain the discretion to, at random,
request additional evidence and that suspicious individuals may be
questioned and additional information sought on their
circumstances and corroborated.”