SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Assist in the administration of agency and consular services 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114869  Assist in the administration of agency and consular services 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Diplomacy, Protocol and Foreign Affairs Assist 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Sovereignty of the State 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard has as its core purpose, qualifying learners who will assist in the administration of consular and agency services. They will demonstrate an understanding of what a consular services entail and carry out activities to assist in efficient consular and agency services. The learner will be able participate by supporting diplomatic desk activities

The qualifying learner will be to:
  • Describe the relevant International Conventions and Treaties re consular services.
  • Assist South Africans abroad administratively.
  • Assist in delivering agency and consular services to South African citizens abroad.
  • Render agency and consular services as per Department of Home Affairs prescripts. 

  • LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learners accessing this qualification are assumed to have completed a Level 4 qualification or RPL equivalent. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe the relevant International Conventions and Treaties on Consular services. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Categories of consular services are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Conditions for the delivery of agency and consular services are explained in terms of the Vienna and Hague Conventions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The purpose and scope of consular assistance is determined. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Assist South African citizens abroad administratively. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Consular rights of a specific target country are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Extradition treaties are studied and processes and procedures determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The visa agreements and requirements of specific countries are explained and necessary assistance given to applicants. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Assistance programmes to distressed South Africans abroad are administered according to DFA specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The necessary administrative back-up is provided for consular assistance upon detention and arrest of South African Nationals. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Assist in the delivering agency services to SA citizens abroad. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Visa agreements, passports and travel documents are administered. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Legality and authentication of SA documents are officiated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Administrative support for the development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations is undertaken. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Administrative co-operation with Interpol in international crime combating is given. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Stressful consular situations: child abductions, returning mortal remains, missing persons, security aspects are administered appropriately and according to DFA directives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Identification of persons, aliens control, refugee control and repatriation is administered. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Render consular services as per Department of Home Affairs prescripts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Methods to determine the status of persons in order to issue SA documents are demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Skills in identifying forged documents are demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Authenticity of claims are determined by applying observation and questioning techniques. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Prescripts of Department of Home Affairs are applied correctly. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Temporary and permanent residence permits are issued in accordance with Department of Home Affairs specifications. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the ETQA's discretion. 

  • UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • International conventions and treaties
  • The Vienna and the Hague Conventions
  • Visa agreements, passports and travel documents
  • Legality and authentication of SA documents
  • Support services for the development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations
  • The purpose and scope of consular assistance
  • Consular assistance upon detention and arrest
  • The role of Interpol in international crime combating
  • Assistance programmes to distressed South Africans abroad
  • Stressful consular situations: child abductions, returning mortal remains, missing persons, security aspects
  • Role of Department of Welfare and International Social Services: Administrative implications
  • Role of Department of Justice: the necessary administrative implications
  • Identification of persons, aliens control, refugee control and repartriation
  • Temporary and permanent residence permits
  • Department of Home Affairs prescripts
  • Security aspects when dealing with other issues abroad (SASS) 

  • UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others in assisting South Africans and others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage the consular and agency service administration. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, evaluate, organise and critically evaluate information pertaining to consular and agency services. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively in assisting SA nationals abroad. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems to acquire best possible understanding of international conventions of consular relations. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Assessment Methods and Integrated Assessment

    Ensure that assessment covers the specific outcomes, the critical cross-field outcomes and the essential embedded knowledge. Assessment activities should be appropriate to the context and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment.

    A range of assessment methods should be used, including direct observation, product sample, simulation, questioning (verbal or written) and testimony (portfolio collection of evidence).

    Integrated assessment: It may be more effective and efficient to assess a number of unit standards together thus reducing the number of assessment "events". Ensure that the commonalities that exist between a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment.

    Activity No. Hours
  • Lectures 20
  • Experiential Learning 40
  • Self-directed learning 10
  • Skills coaching 10
  • Other
    Total 80 

  • QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48761   National Certificate: Mission Administration  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2020-07-30  PSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 



    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.