South Africa begins new visa restrictions

New restrictions on South African visa applications targeted at travelling minors and those under the age of 18 took effect on Monday, June 1.

The government explained that the new restrictions are targeted at curbing child trafficking activities and ensuring the well-being of children travelling into and out of the country.

Under the new rules of passport and travel documents act, unaccompanied minors affected require presentation of an unabridged birth certificate, which includes full details of both parents, proof of consent from both parents or legal guardians, as well as documentation relating to the person receiving the child in South Africa.

If a child is travelling with only one parent, immigration authorities require the written consent of the other parent, even when the parents are divorced. An alternative is a court order granting full parental responsibilities or legal guardianship of the child, or the death certificate of the absent parent.

Also those travelling with a minor who is not their biological child now need a legal letter from both the parents or guardians authorising the journey, copies of the ID or passports of the parents or legal guardian, while the contact details of the parents or legal guardian must also be provided.

Where both parents were travelling with valid passports and visas, the unabridged birth certificate is not a requirement since these additional documents would have been provided in the applications for passports and visa.

The South African government stated that the restrictions were intended to curb child trafficking activities in the country. But there are concerns that as the new rules take effect, South African tourism industry will take a further down turn following recent xenophobic uprising that severely damaged the South African tourism brand.

The government estimates that 30,000 children are trafficked into South Africa annually for prostitution or labour, although those figures are being disputed by industry experts.

Speaking with BBC, Mmatsatsi Ramawela, head of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, said: “We’re very, very worried. We think South Africa is going back – these regulations are so stringent, so in the past. We think South Africa should be learning.”