Birth Certificates for Children Needed?

[Yoda]

I have heard via the proverbial grapevine that people travelling into or out of South Africa will need to carry their child's birth certificate. A certified copy is also ok.

Does this apply to SA citizens? Or anyone travelling into SA?

I had a look at the SA home office website and it is not really clear on the matter.

[Yoda]

Does this help, yoda?

Yup, thanks.
So I guess that is everyone.

Also, I am coming to SA a few days ahead of the SO, and my kids will be with me.
So I need a letter from her confirming that it is ok for me to travel with them?

[Yoda]

Just reading it again, the website says something about an affidavit.
What exactly is that?

[Yoda]

Better to be safe and carry such a letter Yoda. Especially if the surnames are different.

The Mrs and I are married and the biologial parents of our 2 kids.
So both our names are on the birth cirtificates.

Due to work constraints, I am coming to SA with the kids a few days before my Mrs.

[saraf]

Authorities are getting very twitchy about child abductions and trafficking these days. And to be honest, I'd find it comforting that someone in authority is looking out for the well being of my child, even if it does mean I have to organise a little bit in advance.

An affidavit is a legally drawn up statement. It might be worth finding a Notary and seeing if a document signed by them would be sufficient.

[Stark]

This is a topic of conversation on a few adoptive parents forums my wife is on.

We're still trying to figure out how we can travel with our adopted child (from Liberia, naturalized US Citizen) when it is completely obvious that we are not blood relations. The rules and regulations are very, very vague.

[Hippotragus]

yoda - I have heard that a full, unabridged, birth certificate is needed for all children under the age of 18 years. In addition a letter from the parent not travelling with them, giving permission for them to travel.

I don't know about the UK, but in South Africa it can take 9-12 months to get the full unabridged birth certificate, so a lot of families' holidays are at risk.

[Yoda]

That is going to be difficult for adopted children in the UK. They don't have unabridged birth certificates.

Saraf,
Am I correct in saying we have only 1 type of standard birth certificate in the UK?

[saraf]

No, there is an abbreviated certificate that adopted children get, showing only the town and date of birth, with no parental details. That is usually sufficient for officialdom - I have gained a passport, driving licence, bank accounts and security clearance for my job using this certificate.

I don't know if my parents were given an adoption certificate at the time or if I could apply for a full one if it had been required. But things in the adoption world have changed significantly since my adoption so it may be different now.

[forestgump]

This is going to be a head ache.
It took more than a year to get an unabridged birth certificate, for one of my kids
It took less than 2 weeks for me to get my Zim birth certificate at the same time
It took 40 minutes at a European consulate this week to renew one of my kid's passport, left with new passport in hand.

South Africa is another story....
Will watch the press, as I see it hitting the fan when Home Affairs still has not given prospective travelers their unabridged certificates, by 1st Oct.
I have applied now for 2 unabridged certificates, will see how long it takes.

[yoogah]

My wife and I just returned from a 2 week trip to SA with 2 grandchildren, both 13 yrs old, one of whom had a different family name from ours.

I was informed by email and tetephone by SA immigration that although the birth certificate requirement has been put off until Oct 1, the other requirements of parental consent and copies of parents' passports will still be in effect.

Thus we obtained affidavids from both sets of parents and copies of their passports.

The immigration officers upon entry and exit never asked to see anything of the above.

[cheetahlady]

MODS: please move if necessary. These changes have not been widely advertised internationally.

For those fellow forumites who are regular visitors to SA, and may not be aware of these changes (I only know because. I had to renew a passport) :

New immigration policies (effective 1st October 2014) require further documentation when travelling with children under 18years of age. These include an unabridged birth certificate showing parents details, and an affidavit from the non-traveling parent(where applicable). Please check requirements with you local embassy. The new policy applies to all children, even if you don't need a visa.

Following copied from news24.com.

Johannesburg - Children travelling to and from South Africa will soon have to produce a number of extra documents, SA Airways (SAA) said on Sunday.

"As from 1 October, we will not be able to check in all travellers who cannot produce the necessary documentation," SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said in a statement.

The new regulations follow implementation of the SA Immigration Amendment Act of 2010, according to which children are defined as any one under the age of 18.

Children travelling with both parents have to produce an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents.

A child travelling with only one parent has to supply either an affidavit from the other parent giving them consent to travel, a court order indicating guardianship, or the death certificate of the other parent.

If a child is travelling with people not their parents, they need to provide affidavits from their parents or guardians, copies of the parents' or guardians' identity documents or passports and their contact details.

Children travelling as unaccompanied minors need even more paperwork, including documents providing information about the person receiving the child.

Any documents not in English have to be certified and accompanied by a sworn translation.

"These regulations are designed to ensure the safety of children and should thus be welcomed," Tlali said.

[cheetahlady]

Yoogah, the requirement was delayed due to the number of people needing unabridged birth certificates. The new date is supposed to be October 1st.

Yoda, when I asked about an affidavit at the SA consulate in Los Angeles, I was told it would need to be notarised. It would have show that the non-travelling parent consents and knows that the children are traveling with the one parent. Include all names and passport/ID numbers of the children and parents.

Stark, not sure about adopted kids. I would think that as long as you can show that you are the legal parents, it should be okay. Check with the consulate.

[Yoda]

I have a friend here in the UK.
Here is a lawyer, qualified in SA, and was a Commissioner of Oaths in SA.
He still has the stamps etc.

Would that be ok?
Or do I have to go to a notary?

[cheetahlady]

Not sure. Perhaps your friend would know. What do people in SA do as they would need this when leaving SA.

I guess the issue would be - will the airline accept it as they will have to check that you have the valid documentation before allowing you on the flight.

This is going to be a nuisance but I know they are trying to deal with child trafficking and kidnapping, so I guess I will put up with it, and make sure I have the docs required.