Birth certificate issue to be clarified

The confusion around unabridged birth certificates (UBCs) will soon be rectified, with a new advisory to be sent out soon by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA). So said South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, speaking at the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (Barsa) Summit on February 28. Talking to representatives of the collective aviation and related industries, Hanekom addressed the issue of UBCs and visas, saying that amendments to the UBC regulations late last year were badly communicated by the Department of Home Affairs, and airlines have been confused, as the advisory issued by the DHA contradicted the revised regulation. “The next step is that Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) Chairman, Blacky Komani, will meet with the DHA’s Director-General, who has undertaken to change the advisory note to bring it in line with what the regulations actually say. A new advisory note will be issued very soon – in some aspects, the situation has gotten worse [due to the confusing communication], so we have got to change it quickly.” The new advisory note to be issued by the DHA will match the revised regulations, namely:

If two parents are travelling from visa-free markets with their children, no documentation would be required.

Any documentation that is required does not have to be obtained through a “sworn affidavit process”

And that in the event of suspicion, children who are foreign nationals and who are visa exempt are strongly advised to carry supporting documents.