South African’s Home Affairs department has announced the postponement of the planned implementation of the requirement for children under the age of 18 to present an unabridged birth certificate when applying for visas.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, who disclosed this in a mediaparley, also disclosed that the written permission required for children travelling with a parent has also been postponed till June next year.
Gigaba explained that the requirement that people apply for visas in person will stay in place and there is no postponement for this requirement, adding that this requirement was not unique to South Africa and was required of visitors by other countries.
Under the new regulations, people travelling to South Africa on a visa are required to apply for the visa in person. Parents travelling with children under the age of 18 are required to produce an unabridged birth certificate for each child.
In the case where only one parent is travelling with the child(ren), consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered is required. Alternatively, either a court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or a death certificate of the other parent must be produced.
The regulations also require that people apply in person for visas to allow for biometric intake. Minister Gigaba suggested last week that this regulation was already in place and called on missions abroad to start implementing this requirement.
He emphasised that, since the regulations were announced, the department had made it clear that it was open to engagement. He thanked industry representatives who had engaged the department on new regulations. Agency report
