Parents to register children before travelling abroad
Parents and guardians are encouraged to apply for unabridged birth certificates for their children as a requirement to travel abroad, the Department of Home Affairs said.
The department of home affairs is urging parents and guardians to apply for unabridged birth certificates for their children even if they do not have plans to travel abroad in the near future.
This comes after an announcement by the department stating that parents travelling with a child must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child detailing the particulars of the parents of the child.
“As of 1 October 2014, when parents are travelling with a child, such parents must produce an unabridged birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of the parents of the child. Provision is also made for one parent travelling with a child and where one parent or both parents are deceased or the child is travelling with a relative or another person,” the statement read.
The new regulation applies to minors under the age of 18 and is seen as a more secure and reliable solution for safe travelling.
“The unabridged birth certificate is more secure and reliable with added information as it contains particulars of both parents, where possible, and their ID numbers and therefore supports the drive to secure the National Population Register so that all people in the country are and feel safe.”
The department announced a grace period until the end of September for parents and guardians to travel with children without producing an unabridged birth certificate. In the meantime, parents and guardians are encouraged to apply for unabridged birth certificates at their nearest home affairs department.
“The application can be made at any home affairs office, by the parents or guardian, who should take along their identity documents and the child’s abridged certificate,” said the department.
