TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN

Travelling with children internationally.

In the coming few days, many people will be passing through Beitbridge in either direction after the holidays with children going back to their respective bases.

Its not always that these children will be travelling with both parents and in some cases even some children may be travelling without even a single parent.

The upsurge in cases of human trafficking and child abductions has made border officials to be vigilant and ask more questions in situations involving minors.

We have over the years given this guideline on the requirements where children are travelling internationally with or without their parents.

There may be exceptions but these are the general rules.

1. WHERE BOTH PARENTS ARE TRAVELLING.
a. Unabridged Birth certificate/baby clinic card/medical aid card.
b. Valid Passport.

2. Where One Parent is travelling
a. Valid passport.
b. Unabridged Birth certificate/baby clinic card/medical aid card.
c. Original Affidavit from the absent parent.
d. Certified Copy of identity document and or passport of the absent parent.

3. Where child is travelling with relative/guardian
a. Valid passport.
b. Unabridge Birth certificate/baby clinic card/medical aid card.
c. Original Affidavit signed by both absent parents
d. Certified Copies of identity documents and or passport of both absent parents.

4. Single mother (Child uses mother’s surname)(Illegitimate child)
a. Valid passport.
b. Unabridged Birth certificate/baby clinic card/medical aid card.

5. Deceased Parent/parents
a. Cerified Copies of death certificate of one or both of the deceased parents.
b. Valid passport.
c. Original Affidavit signed by guardian
d. Unabridged Birth certificate/baby clinic card/medical aid card.

Situations and requirements may slightly differ from border to border.

Some borders may accept soft copies of the above mentioned but to be safe its always advisable to have certified copies.

We have received reports of bus crews telling travellers that they can facilitate the crossing of children, we advise travellers its both expensive and illegal and many children end up being trafficked and huge sums being demanded by those who would have crossed with the children.

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