Andrew Stegmann

Department of Home Affairs implements new birth certificate travel requirements for minors

In a move to streamline the process of travelling with minors in or out of South Africa, the Department of Home Affairs has implemented two versions of the birth certificate.

In a move to streamline the process of travelling with minors in or out of South Africa, the Department of Home Affairs has implemented two versions of the birth certificate.

Previously, an abridged birth certificate was issued to parents for newborns up until 2013, however since 2014, an unabridged birth certificate was issued to all newborns, which entails both parent’s details.

From Tuesday, November 1, newborns in South Africa will now receive a birth certificate, a single document which details both their maternal and paternal birth details.

In a nutshell, it simply remains an unabridged birth certificate, this just means that the word ‘unabridged’ as well as the abridged birth certificate is being removed.

Home Affairs director general Mkuseli Apleni confirmed this during a public announcement in Johannesburg on October 28, stating the “replacement of the name “unabridged birth certificate” with “birth certificate.”
Unchanged travel requirements for minors at South African ports of entry
South Africans travelling with minors will still need a birth certificate detailing both parents details when travelling in or out of the country.

Source

René Stegmann

South African passport holders require visas for New Zealand as from 21 November 2016:

Visa changes for South African nationals:

All South African visitors to New Zealand will require visitor visas from the 21 November this year.

These changes are being made as a result of an increase in the number of South African nationals who have been refused entry at the New Zealand border in comparison to other visa waiver countries.

Currently, people from South Africa do not need to apply for a visitor visa before travelling to New Zealand, with genuine visitors being granted a visitor visa on arrival. As a result of the change all visitors from South Africa will need to obtain a visa before travelling to New Zealand.

INZ recommends that applicants apply for a visitor visa about six weeks in advance of their intended travel dates.

South Africa visa changes – Questions and Answers

Why is the Government introducing visitor visa requirements for all South African nationals wishing to travel to New Zealand?

The Government is introducing these changes as a result of an increase in the number of ineligible passengers who do not meet New Zealand entry instructions.

This is evidenced by an increase in the number of passengers who have been refused permission to board a flight to New Zealand or refused entry at the border in comparison to other visa waiver countries.

Additionally, there have been incidents of passengers who have been found holding counterfeit or fraudulently obtained South African passports.

What do these changes mean?

This means that on and after the 21 November all South African nationals will need to obtain a visa before travelling to New Zealand 

Applicants wishing to travel to New Zealand can visit the Visas Zone website to obtain requirements and applications forms.

Questions and answers:

I’m from South Africa and purchased a ticket prior to today’s’ announcement, what happens now?

People who have already purchased tickets for travel to New Zealand prior to today’s (And departing on of after 21 November 2016) announcement should immediately apply for a visitor visa.

I’m planning to travel to New Zealand before 21 November, but I won’t be leaving until afterwards. Do I need to apply for a visa before I travel?

No. You will be a granted visitor visa on your arrival in New Zealand providing you meet standard requirements (such as having sufficient funds, an outward ticket and satisfying the immigration officer you are genuinely intending a visit). The visitor visa will remain valid for up to three months from your arrival.

I’m a South African national in New Zealand and wish to extend my stay; do I need to apply for a visitor visa?

Yes – whether you were granted a visa under visa waiver provisions or arrived with a visa you will need to ensure you remain lawfully in New Zealand. If you wish to stay beyond the duration of the visa you currently have please apply for another visa well before your current visa is due to expire.
René Stegmann
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Lesotho Special Permit deadline extended

image001Saturday 1 October 2016 06:36

SABC

Malusi Gigaba says the process at the 11 application centres set up throughout the country will continue until December 31.(SABC)

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says Lesotho nationals have until December to regularise their stay in the country or face deportation.

Gigaba says the department will consider extending the deadline for online applications later. The cut-off date is Saturday. The department says over 82 000 Lesotho nationals have submitted their applications.

Gigaba says the process at the 11 application centres set up throughout the country will continue until December 31.

“We are now in the process of adjudicating those applications to see if they comply with our requirements. But we’ve more numbers of people up to 82 000 plus, who have submitted online applications and some have not done their payments through EFT. We’ve since our meeting on Friday with the minister of home affairs in Lesotho received a request to consider extending the process until December.”

 

https://youtu.be/jyoXGw0RczU

René Stegmann
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Lesotho Special Permits: SA Home Affairs eases requirements to legalise more Basotho 2016-09-27 12:28 – Louzel Lombard

Cape Town – The  South African Department of Home Affairs is doing everything in their power to legalise Lesotho nationals’ stays in South Africa.

Basotho nationals wait patiently to apply for the Lesotho Special Permit which will allow them to live and work in South Africa legally. The deadline for applications is 30 September – with no extension. To date only 12% of an estimated 400 000 Lesotho nationals living in South Africa have applied.

In an effort to push up the number of applicants for the Lesotho Special Permit (LSP) and create a one-stop shop to save applicants’ time, the DHA on Tuesday, 27 September, announced a new special provision that allows Basotho to apply for the Lesotho Special Permit, at the VFS Global-operated application centres, without passports.

Previously, one of the requirements for Lesotho nationals to gain permission to stay in SA legally was to have a valid passport or travel document with a unique Lesotho identity (ID) number. The previous requirement further stated that the passport be valid for a period of more than four years.

South Africa had earlier granted amnesty to all Basotho nationals until 31 December 2016 to handover fraudulent SA IDs at dedicated Home Affairs offices. Those who comply will be eligible to apply for LSP with the application closing date remaining 30 September 2016.

The Department will make these concessions applicable:

People with Lesotho ID cards but without valid passports can apply for LSP by 30 September 2016. However, they must provide their passports by 31 December 2016.

Those who have submitted a fully completed application form but have not paid for their visa can do so by 31 December 2016.

If applying with a passport, applicants with passports expiring within the next two years and having the LSP visa in them, can use both their old and new passports. In these cases, there would be no need to apply and pay for transfer of LSP visas.

Basotho applicants for the LSP must now only fulfill of the following requirements:

Be registered on the National Population Register (NPR) system of Lesotho and a have a Lesotho ID card.

Lesotho nationals who are in South Africa for less than 12 months need to have a police clearance certificate from Lesotho that is not more than six months old.

Applicants DO NOT need to apply for a South African police clearance certificate. The DHA in South Africa will obtain the South African Police Service clearance on behalf of all LSP applicants.

Applicants should also provide proof of employment or an affidavit from their employer in order to be issued with an LSP work permit.

For registration with an educational institution, all supporting documents or letters from an employer, school or business must show that the applicant has been residing in South Africa since before 30 September 2015.

NOTE: Those applicants who may have fraudulently obtained South African documents need to surrender them to the designated DHA office, and obtain an amnesty letter. This amnesty is until 31 December 2016.

Those who have applied have until the end of December 2016 to pay for the special permit and present their valid passports to receive the permit.

The end of September marks the deadline for undocumented Basotho who work, study or do business in South Africa to get the necessary assistance in order to regularise their stay.

Thus, Lesotho nationals have only seven days left to visit one of the 11 LSP where they will be assisted with their permit applications. The LSP project was launched in March this year, following which, a three-month extension was granted on 30 June to allow more time for Basotho nationals to apply.

To date, only 12%, or 77 720 people of the estimated 400 000 Lesotho nationals living in South Africa have applied for the LSP. Of these, 50 303 have made the necessary payment and booked appointments to visit VFS Global centres countrywide to complete the process.

Basotho who have still not applied must do so speedily, as the DHA says there will be no extensions for Lesotho permits to be issued.