QUESTION & ANSWERS
Who needs an Unabridged Birth Certificate?
South African children (under the age of 18) require the Unabridged Birth Certificate. The same rule applies to unaccompanied foreign children flying to South Africa.
It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure their children have the correct documents or stand the risk of being denied boarding. The law is being enforced by airlines and immigration officials across the board (land, sea and air). Although airlines and travel agents are doing everything to keep passengers informed, ultimately it is passengers’ responsibility to know all the requirements.
In cases where the Unabridged Birth Certificate is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation issued by a competent authority in the country concerned.
Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
If you want to emigrate or work abroad, you must apply for police clearance certificate at your nearest South African police station.
The certificate confirms whether you have a criminal record or not.
You must provide your full name, surname, date of birth and identity document or passport to the police at the police station where your finger prints will be taken.
If you are outside the country, you may apply at any police station in that country or at the South African Embassy.
How do you apply for an unabridged marriage certificate?
The following documentation must be submitted for an application for an unabridged marriage certificate:
- A fully completed BI-130 form in black ink, dated and signed by the applicant;
- a letter from the applicant requesting the marriage certificate; the letter must also include the applicant’s contact details (residential address, mobile phone number and email address);
- both spouses’ original passports (and / or identity documents), and photocopies of the page with the applicant’s biometric data / photograph;
- the applicant’s South African abridged or unabridged marriage certificate, if available, and a photocopy of it;
- in the case of a marriage within the last six (6) months, a copy of the form BI-30 from the marriage officer, which he or she would have submitted to an office of the Department of Home Affairs to register the marriage – may be attached to the application as a fax or scan;