passports
3 May 2006
The Department of Home Affairs has noted that the British Government
announced on 19 April that it would stop accepting South African temporary
passports for travel to the United Kingdom (UK).
The British Government will terminate the acceptance of temporary passports
with effect from 1 June 2006.
Accordingly, the Department of Home Affairs was informed of this decision
and duly accepted it. In addition, the Department was in constant contact with
the British government and we also received a briefing from British officials
on the matter prior to the announcement.
In the light of this development, we would like to call upon the public to
apply for their passports such that they will be able to exercise their right
to travel to the UK and other countries as and when they need to. We are keenly
aware that there are challenges with the passport issuing process which we
recognise. We are working very hard to resolve these problems.
The British Government has therefore put in place transitional arrangements
that will allow travellers holding a temporary passport issued on or before 19
April to travel to the UK up to 1 June. This will ensure that anyone who plans
to visit the UK is able to do so. Those who hold a valid airline ticket
purchased before 10 May will be allowed to travel before 1 June. Anyone with a
temporary passport who purchases an airline ticket between 11 and 30 May can
also travel to the UK before 1 June but would need to obtain a United Kingdom
visa. From 1 June, South African temporary passports will no longer be accepted
for travel to the UK.
We are quite confident that once South Africans have applied for their
passports at their earliest opportunity, they will be able to travel to the UK
unhindered.
Enquiries:
Nkosana Sibuyi
Cell: 082 886 6708
E-mail: Nkosana.sibuyi@dha.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
3 May 2006
Source: Department of Home Affairs (www.homeaffairs.gov.za)
