Good news for holiday-makers as Gigaba reveals new visa rules

The requirements for foreign minors travelling to South Africa are to be simplified‚ home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba said at a media briefing on Tuesday.

An international travel advisory to this end will be issued by the end of October after consultation with the Immigration Advisory Board.

Cumbersome visa application processes have had a negative effect on tourism and cabinet has decided that they be amended as part of the economic stimulus package announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The key changes will be that‚ rather than requiring all foreign national travelling minors to carry documentation proving parental consent for the travelling minor to travel‚ we will rather strongly recommend that travellers carry this documentation‚” Gigaba said.

“Our immigration officials will only insist on documentation by exception – in high-risk situations – rather than for all travellers in line with practice by several other countries. Rather than denying entry where documentation is absent‚ travellers will be given an opportunity to prove parental consent. South African minors will still be required to prove parental consent when leaving our borders.”

Gigaba said these changes would be implemented in time for the festive season‚ when many people would be travelling with children.

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