Obtaining an Unabridged Birth Certificate from South Africa

South Africans traveling abroad often have to submit a range of documents as part of the travel planning. An unabridged birth certificate from South Africa is one of the most important documents. Yet, incidentally, it is also one of the documents taking the longest to be issued.

On this page, we will look at what an unabridged birth certificate is and how you can apply for one using our expert documentation services.

Understanding the Unabridged Birth Certificate

Unabridged birth certificates are documents that contain information about a person’s two biological parents or legal guardians. Individuals under the age of 18 years need to provide unabridged birth certificates along with other legal documents (such as passports) when entering or exiting the Republic of South Africa. It wasn’t until after April 2016 that the Department of Home Affairs officially ruled out old birth certificates. Since then, all birth certificates issued are Unabridged Birth Certificates and are referred to as the Birth Certificate.

Is there a difference between an abridged and unabridged certificate?

Essentially, an abridged certificate is a summary of the unabridged certificate. Thus, the unabridged certificate contains more details than the abridged version.

From 1995 up until March 2013, South African children were issued abridged birth certificates. These certificates stated the name and surname of their biological mother. Children born after March 2013 were issued with unabridged birth certificates. These certificates indicate the name and surname of both their biological parents. Recently, the unabridged and abridged birth certificates fell away, and children are now automatically issued with The Birth Certificate, which indicates the name and surname of both parents.

How can I get an unabridged birth certificate from South Africa?

Here at Apostil.co.za, we specialise in helping our customers obtain all their legal documents, such as unabridged birth certificates. An application for an unabridged birth certificate is always lodged with the South African Department of Home Affairs. However, they can also be processed at South African embassies, missions, or consulates.

To apply for an unabridged birth certificate, you will need:

• Your ID document, as well as certified copies of the IDs of both your biological parents
• A completed BI-24 Form – filled in with black ink

How long does it take to obtain a full birth certificate?

Depending on how easily accessible your details are in the archives, the process generally takes less than three to six months. You can, however, apply for an official letter that can be used instead of the unabridged birth certificate should you need to travel during the processing time.

How we can help you

Do you need to obtain an unabridged birth certificate but do not wish to stand in queues at Home Affairs? We can take the stress out of the situation. Apostil.co.za is a document assistance agency specialising in legal document assistance. We can assist you in obtaining an Unabridged Birth Certificate. Get in touch with our team of experts today to learn more about our services and how we can help you obtain your legal documents.