No extra documents needed for child travel
There are no legal requirements for parents to carry birth certificates or consent letters for domestic travel in Namibia.
This is was confirmed by home affairs acting permanent secretary, Annette Bayer Forsingdal on Friday , following media reports that persons travelling within Namibia with minor children must carry the children's full birth certificates and a consent letter from an absent parent(s).
Forsingdal said while there are no legal requirements to carry birth certificates of minor children or parental consent letters, travellers, including minors, should at all times be able to positively identify themselves to prove that they are entitled to be in and travel through Namibia.
Forsingdal said according to regulations made in terms of the Immigration Control Act 7 of 1993, an immigration official may require the production of a duly authenticated marriage certificate or birth certificate.
“For the convenience of travellers the ministry advises that parents or guardians carry the birth certificate of minor children and consent letters from absent parents or court orders, when crossing any Namibian border posts. This is also a legal requirement in some neighbouring countries.”
Meanwhile, South Africa also recently relaxed some of the requirements it introduced for children travelling into and out of the country.
The neighbouring country had previously enforced strict provisions aimed at curbing child trafficking, which lost the country billions in tourism revenue.
The rules introduced in 2015 required parents travelling with a child under the age of 18 to produce at check-in desks a full birth certificate showing the names of both parents, or when just one parent is present, an affidavit to prove consent of the non-travelling parent.
From the beginning of December, certain categories of child travellers are now exempt in South Africa from presenting supporting documents at ports of entry.
However, South African authorities still urge travellers to carry these documents, because they may be requested in certain instances.
According to the relaxed regulations, children from other countries where visas are required, will no longer have to carry supporting documents, because they would have been required to provide these during the visa application process.
However, children who are foreign nationals from countries where visas are not required, may be asked to produce supporting documents upon entry, even though it is no longer compulsory.
In cases where countries endorsed the particulars of parents in their children's passports, or other official identification documents, this would be sufficient to establish the identity of the minor's parents.
South African children travelling abroad may be requested to produce supporting documents at ports of entry.
Children with passports that detail their parents' names will not be required to carry birth certificates when travelling. However, a parental affidavit may be required.
ELLANIE SMIT
This is was confirmed by home affairs acting permanent secretary, Annette Bayer Forsingdal on Friday , following media reports that persons travelling within Namibia with minor children must carry the children's full birth certificates and a consent letter from an absent parent(s).
Forsingdal said while there are no legal requirements to carry birth certificates of minor children or parental consent letters, travellers, including minors, should at all times be able to positively identify themselves to prove that they are entitled to be in and travel through Namibia.
Forsingdal said according to regulations made in terms of the Immigration Control Act 7 of 1993, an immigration official may require the production of a duly authenticated marriage certificate or birth certificate.
“For the convenience of travellers the ministry advises that parents or guardians carry the birth certificate of minor children and consent letters from absent parents or court orders, when crossing any Namibian border posts. This is also a legal requirement in some neighbouring countries.”
Meanwhile, South Africa also recently relaxed some of the requirements it introduced for children travelling into and out of the country.
The neighbouring country had previously enforced strict provisions aimed at curbing child trafficking, which lost the country billions in tourism revenue.
The rules introduced in 2015 required parents travelling with a child under the age of 18 to produce at check-in desks a full birth certificate showing the names of both parents, or when just one parent is present, an affidavit to prove consent of the non-travelling parent.
From the beginning of December, certain categories of child travellers are now exempt in South Africa from presenting supporting documents at ports of entry.
However, South African authorities still urge travellers to carry these documents, because they may be requested in certain instances.
According to the relaxed regulations, children from other countries where visas are required, will no longer have to carry supporting documents, because they would have been required to provide these during the visa application process.
However, children who are foreign nationals from countries where visas are not required, may be asked to produce supporting documents upon entry, even though it is no longer compulsory.
In cases where countries endorsed the particulars of parents in their children's passports, or other official identification documents, this would be sufficient to establish the identity of the minor's parents.
South African children travelling abroad may be requested to produce supporting documents at ports of entry.
Children with passports that detail their parents' names will not be required to carry birth certificates when travelling. However, a parental affidavit may be required.
ELLANIE SMIT
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