Pretoria, South Africa (ADV) – South African Home Affairs said children who are foreign nationals from countries where visas are required will no longer have to carry supporting documents through the country’s ports of entry.
This is because they would have been required to provide these during the visa application process.
These amendments were made in terms of section 7 of the Immigration Act, 2002 after consultation with the Immigration Advisory Board.
The amendments took effect on 01 December 2018, ahead of the festive season when many parents and families will be going on holiday with children.
These amendments reflect some of the Cabinet approved reforms to the visa regime and are in line with economic recovery plan and stimulus announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2018.
The revised conditions by the Department of Home Affairs are contained in the Government Gazette titled “Draft First Amendment of the Immigration Regulations, 2014 made under the Immigration Act”.
“From the beginning of December 2018, certain categories of child travellers will be exempt from presenting supporting documents at ports of entry,” reads a statement issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
“However, travellers are urged to carry these documents because they may be requested in certain instances. Children who are foreign nationals from countries where visas are not required may be asked to produce supporting documents upon entry. Even though producing supporting documents is no longer compulsory, travelers are strongly advised to carry the supporting documents.
The Department of Home Affairs said that in the case of countries that endorse the particulars of parents in children’s passports, or other official identification documents, these documents shall be sufficient to establish the identity of the parents of the travelling minor.
The Department has also trained immigration officials to implement these changes.
© Bur-csa – A.H – N.A / From our regional correspondent Mkhululi Chimoio – African Daily Voice (ADV) – Follow us on Twitter : @ADVinfo_eng
