Riyaz Patel
International minors travelling to South Africa will no longer require Unabridged Birth Certificates or consent letters when travelling with their parents.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi signed the waiver which allows foreign children to enter the country without carrying additional supporting documents such as birth certificates and consent letters.
Tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane called it a “positive development ahead of the festive season when the country sees an increase in inbound travellers.”
“This improvement in our admissions policy builds on the work the department has been doing to contribute to economic growth and investment,” Motsoaledi said.
“Foreign children can now enter and depart the country without being required to provide birth certificates, consent letters and other supporting documents relating to proof of parentage.”
The directive has been communicated to immigration officials at all ports of entry and to the airline and maritime industries.
South African children, though, are still required to provide supporting documents in line with the requirements of the Children’s Act.
The same applies to unaccompanied foreign children.
“To completely rescind this requirement is a win for tourism, as the work continues to bring over 21 million targeted international visitors by 2030 to boost tourism and turn around our economy,” Kubayi-Ngubane said.
Foreign children who require a visa for South Africa do not need to carry the supporting documents for inspection at a port of entry since these would be processed together with their visa applications.
“It is significant that we have completed the policy changes in the week in which President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted the second Investment Conference,” said the Home Affairs minister.
“We anticipate that this change will have a positive impact on tourism as we approach the holiday season,” Motsoaledi said.
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) estimates the country’s travel, tourism and hospitality industries lost hundreds of millions of rands over the past five years as a direct result of the restrictions and how they were implemented.
“This is welcome relief and will help South Africa regain its competitive position as an attractive tourism destination,” said AASA CEO, Chris Zweigenthal.
