Home Affairs stands firm on unabridged birth certificate rules

26 May 2015 - 15:25 By Bianca Capazorio

The Department of Home Affairs says that from June 1‚ all of the approximately 2.7 million children travelling through South Africa each year will require an unabridged birth certificate and the consent of both parents to travel. Briefing the portfolio committee on home affairs on the new regulations‚ the department’s director-general‚ Mkuseli Apleni‚ said the requirements were based on international benchmarks in countries like the UK‚ the USA‚ Australia and for applications for a Schengen visa."By 1 June no child is going to cross our borders without these documents."In the case of single parents who have not entered the other parent’s details on the birth register‚ the consent of both parents will not be required for travel.However‚ if both parents were named on the birth register‚ "you have waived your right as a single parent"‚ Apleni said.These children will still require an unabridged birth certificate.Apleni said that since March 2013‚ the department has been issuing the certificates as standard. Only children born between 1996 and February 2013 would require them - a population of about 17 million.Apleni said those wishing to apply for the certificate could do so at the same time as applying for the child's passport (between six to eight weeks before travel) and the department guaranteed it would be ready by the time the child had to travel or the department would write an official letter allowing the child to travel.– Sunday Times..

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