South Africa to remove unabridged birth certificate requirement

Breaking: South Africa to remove unabridged birth certificate requirement

South Africa will abolish the law calling for unabridged birth certificates of children travelling to the country.

Tourism Update understands that the removal of the unabridged birth certificate requirement is not yet in effect, however an official announcement is expected next week.

Speaking in a radio interview with Moneyweb regarding new visa changes to ease entry into South Africa, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs, said that “it’s no longer a requirement”.

When asked if foreign travellers to South Africa would need to carry a copy of the unabridged birth certificates, Dr Motsoaledi said: “Not at all. We have given the instruction that it is no longer wanted. You don’t have to carry it. You don’t have to produce it.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa also spoke about the issue at the first sitting of his presidential economic advisory council. “Our work towards an effective visa regime for tourism and high-skill immigration is under way,” he said, citing abolishing the law calling for unabridged birth certificates of children travelling to South Africa, visa waivers, the simplification of visa requirements for countries such as China and India, as well as the piloting of the e-visa system.