Unabridged Birth Certificates No Longer Required for Overseas Tourists

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is expected to make an announcement soon that unabridged birth certificates (UBC) will no longer be required for overseas tourists travelling to South Africa with children.

This will come as a huge relief to not only the many potential visitors who have been turned back from travelling to South Africa… but to the SA tourism industry too which has lost out on revenue thanks to the law which saw many foreigners with children decide to visit other destinations where the UBC was not required instead.

The regulation, which came into effect five years ago (when Malusi Gigaba was Home Affairs Minister), requires anyone travelling with minors (under the age of 18) to produce an unabridged birth certificate, and a letter of parental consent if the child is not travelling with both parents when departing from and arriving in South Africa.

Home Affairs spokesperson Siya Qozo told SAnews that they still have to communicate the decision with all the stakeholders.

“The Minister has indeed taken the decision the unabridged birth certificates will no longer be required for overseas tourists travelling to South Africa with children,” Qozo said.

According to Qozo, this is expected to happen this week.

SA’s tourism industry is happy with the announcement as it believes that this is going to increase tourism in the country, said SANews. SA Tourism has been trying to fight this rule since its inception. – SANews.gov.za