Whenever someone mentions unabridged and abridged birth certificates, you will likely think there’s no difference between the two. However, if you happen to be a South African, this is a distinct document that is both authentic and you may be able to make do with an abridged version if you happen to be a natural citizen of South Africa.
There isn’t much difference between an unabridged birth certificate and an abridged one, since both are valid documents, but there are circumstances when an unabridged version is required.
Abridged Birth Certificate
Abridged birth certificates are issued by the Department of Home Affairs and contain information about the birth of a person, including their identity number, full name, and country of birth.
It is a computer printout issued by the local DHA office within an hour of your request. This is a valid birth certificate that can be used anywhere such as in schools, universities, and government offices.
Unabridged Birth Certificate
The parent’s identity numbers and places of birth, as well as their nationality at the time of the birth, are included on an unabridged birth certificate.
South African law requires one to have a birth certificate that is unabridged when travelling overseas. As well as applying for citizenship by descent, a person may require an unabridged birth certificate if they wish to become a permanent resident.
The unabridged birth certificate is required even when applying for insurance or any other situation where it is necessary to demonstrate one’s ancestry. Abridged birth certificates are not accepted when applying for passports.
An unabridged birth certificate with a stamp from South Africa’s Department of International Affairs is commonly accepted and preferred overseas over an abridged birth certificate.
Need to apply for unabridged or abridged birth certificates in South Africa? Doc Assist can help. For more information, feel free to get in touch.
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