TRAVEL ADVISORY : SOUTH AFRICAN IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS ON PARENTS TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN
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All Malaysian citizens who plan to travel with their children to the Republic of South Africa are advised to be mindful of the country’s immigration regulations which oblige and/or require them to produce a birth certificate of the children. This requirement is stipulated under the South African Immigration Regulations, 2002 (Act No.13 of 2002), which came into operation on 26 May 2014.
2 It has to be noted that under the South African law, a child is defined as someone who is under the age of 18 years old.
3. These regulations also stipulate that where one parent is travelling with a child, she/he must produce:
(i) A birth certificate of the child reflecting the particulars of
the parents of the child:
(ii) Consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent
registered as a parent on the birth certificate of the child
authorising him or her to enter into or depart from the
Republic of South Africa with the child he or she is
travelling with;
(iii) A court order granting full parental responsibilities and
rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or
she is the parent or legal guardian of the child; or
(iv) Where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent
registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate;
and
(v) Legally separated parents should also provide a court
order when the other parent does not give consent.
4. Further, in a situation where a person is travelling with a child who is not his or her biological child, he or she must produce the following documents:
(i) A copy of the birth certificate of the child;
(ii) An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child
confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the
child;
(iii) Copies of the identity documents or passports of the
parents or legal guardian of the child; and
(iv) The contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the
child
6. All documents must be original or copies certified as a true copy of the original by a commissioner of oaths or the equivalent commissioning authority, should commissioners of oath not be a practice in the country concerned. As for the affidavit, it may not be older than 3 months, dating from the date of travel.
7. The above-mentioned regulations apply to all travellers, foreign as well as South African; on departure as well as arrival of South Africa. Detailed information on this matter could be accessed via the following link/website:
8. Notwithstanding the above, Malaysians travelling to South Africa are also advised to contact the South African High Commission in Kuala Lumpur for the latest information on the immigration regulations, if any.
High Commission of Malaysia
In Pretoria,
6 January 2016