Visa/Travel Restrictions to be Eased

[Dzombo]

I think that was before the stupid rule became effectual

Must have been

And that was travelling to 1st world countries.

This summer, my daughter went with a friend's family to Spain for a week.
When they returned to the UK they were really quizzed, as the name on her passport was different from theirs. We had given them a letter giving permission for Dzombette to travel with them. And only when it was shown, was the person at passport control satisfied!

[Richprins]

Unabridged birth certificate requirement expected to be completely scrapped for foreigners - as soon as this week
Oct 14 2019 05:00 Carin Smith



The Airline Association of Southern Africa has been advised that President Cyril Ramaphosa recently instructed the Department of Home Affairs to completely rescind the controversial unabridged birth certificate requirement for foreign minors travelling with foreigners to South Africa.

"The South African government has acknowledged the negative impact of visa regulations - including the unabridged birth certificate requirement - on tourism," said AASA CEO Chris Zweigenthal.Zweigenthal at the organisation’s annual general meeting being hosted by Air Austral in Reunion.

"We await confirmation of its revocation in hopeful anticipation," Zweigenthal said on Friday.

Blacky Komani chair of Tourism Business Council of SA told Fin24 that government is expected to completely remove the requirement for foreigners traveling with children under 18 to produce an unabridged birth certificates. This change should be announced officially on October 16th, including timelines for implementation, Komani said.

In December last year, government made only amendments to the requirement - including leaving the decision up to the discretion of the officials, and changing words from “must” to “may”. This will be a complete repeal, said Komani

Zweigenthal lauded the Tourism Business Council of SA for the role it played in bringing about "this latest positive development".

Since its introduction in 2015, the unabridged birth certificate requirement has caused many problems for travellers to South Africa and the tourism industry.

https://www.fin24.com/Companies/TravelA ... 20191014-2

[Lisbeth]

I thought that it was cancelled in December

[Flutterby]

Who knows Lis?

[Richprins]

In December last year, government made only amendments to the requirement - including leaving the decision up to the discretion of the officials, and changing words from “must” to “may”. This will be a complete repeal, said Komani

[Lisbeth]

I have read that

[Richprins]

Scrapping of unabridged birth certificate requirement to boost tourism, says minister
10 November 2019 - 21:22 Bekezela Phakathi
Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane. Picture: GCIS


The scrapping of the unabridged birth certificate requirement for inbound travellers will boost the tourism sector, tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said at the weekend.

The directive, signed by home affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Friday, means that international minors travelling to SA no longer require unabridged birth certificates or consent letters when travelling with their parents. All ports of entries as well as the airline and maritime industries have been informed following the signing of the waiver, the tourism department said.

The government recently agreed to ease some of the more onerous visa requirements in a bid to boost the tourism sector and the broader economy.

When the unabridged birth certificate requirement was introduced in 2015, tourism associations which represent inbound tourism services companies, said they had received information from the UK press and some travellers who were turned away at various airports because they did not meet the visa requirements, particularly the birth certificate requirement. Reports at the time were that between 10 and 20 families were daily denied travel to SA from London's Heathrow Airport, on the basis that they did not meet the visa requirements.

“There has been a number of concerns raised on the unabridged birth certificates and the impact to tourism was enormous. We believe that this announcement will go a long way in helping us to attract more tourists to South Africa as a destination of choice,” said Kubayi-Ngubane.

She said to completely rescind the requirement is a win for tourism and “an upside for industry and travellers alike as this has been a real concern raised throughout my engagements with various stakeholders.”

“This announcement couldn’t have come at a better time than now as we approach the festive season. It further shows collaborative efforts on priorities in the 6th administration will yield good result and in this instance it will undoubtedly ensure ease of access to South Africa, as the work continues to bring over 21-million targeted international visitors by 2030 to boost tourism and turn around our economy,” Kubayi-Ngubane said.

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/natio ... -minister/

[jamesmith1q]

great information shared by you thanks

[Peter Betts]

Rest assured there wont be any holiday International travel to RSA for at least a year

[Mel]

Is that an official fact, Peter? Or your assumption?