MOSCOW, September 22 (RIA Novosti) – The South African government has postponed a controversial requirement that children under 18-years old traveling to or from the country provide an unabridged birth certificate, TravelWeekly Asia reported Monday.
“For foreigners’ purposes, an unabridged birth certificate is merely a birth certificate from the responsible authority in their country, which lists the particulars of the child’s parents,” the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba was quoted as saying by the travel trade publication.
“In the instance where this information is contained on the child’s passport, this too shall be accepted,” the minister added.
Though originally scheduled to come into force October 1 of this year, the introduction of the requirement has been moved forward to June 1, 2015. Additional documents related to the travel of unaccompanied minors including proof of consent from one or both parents as well as contact details of the parents of legal guardians have also been postponed.
The new grace period has been issued to allow prospective travelers sufficient time to gather the necessary travel documents. Gigaba added that the delay of the regulations would aid traveling families and business during the upcoming peak travel period.
Other parts of the South African Immigration Act 2010 enacted on May 26 2014, must still be adhered to including those applying for visas doing so in person, according to the minister.
