Travel into U.K. with SA birth certificate only

[Saffadad]

Hi all,

Appreciate any assistance - thanks in advance.

I am South African, my wife is British.
We have just had a baby in SA.
We now need to return to the U.K.
We don't have time to obtain a U.K. Passport.
We shall have SA unabridged birth certicate.
Potentially an SA passport in time.

As the baby will only be a few weeks old and his mum is British will the baby be allowed into the U.K. without a visa or indeed only with an unabridged birth certificate?

We will travel as a family unit with proof of marriage, passports etc

Thanks much

The baby will need a passport.

Congratulations on your baby!
Baby would need a passport- it's
not possible to enter UK without one.
Baby does not get British citizenship automatically just because the mother is British, you still have to apply.
I assume baby would be turned away at passport control (though SA exit control are likely to know enough to prevent you flying to UK if baby wouldn't be allowed entry to UK, there is enough travel between the two countries).

Thank you. If I obtain an Sa passport and as baby will be 0 will the baby need a visa?

Thank you Haba, most appreciated. Yes we so happy to have a healthy baby and mum safe :-).
Thanks for detail- I understand and agree with you and MMaHC:
Passport needed, understood.
Further question
If I obtain an Sa passport and as baby will be 0 will the baby need a visa?
Thanks

Ps I am doing some research on line but can't find.

Regards
sd

I think you will firstly have to register your baby as a British Citizen by descent.

Then apply for baby to have a British passport in addition to its South African passport.

Yes, baby will need a visa if travelling on a SA passport, bonkers really, as if a baby can go anywhere by himself!