How to Apply for SA citizenship

 

South African-SA Citizenship | How to Apply for SA citizenship Anywhere, South African-SA Citizenship

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Now if you have ever wondered about any of the words above, this article is for you. Everything you need to know about the South African Citizenship and the meaning of each of them is written here.

 

You automatically qualify for South African citizenship if:

  • you are born in South Africa and at least one of your parents is a South African citizen or a SA permanent residency permit holder
  • if you are adopted by a South African citizen.

You can apply for South African citizenship by descent or naturalisation.

You can also apply to retain your citizenship before you obtain citizenship of another country. Unless you have been granted retention of citizenship before acquiring citizenship of another country, you will lose your SA citizenship automatically.

You may apply to have your South African citizenship reinstated if you are a former citizen by birth or descent and you have returned to South Africa permanently.

You may renounce your South African citizenship if you intend to get citizenship in another country.

You may apply to be exempted from loss of citizenship if you acquired the citizen from another country before 6 October 1995.

 

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS 

The South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act 88 of 1995) was amended by the South African Citizenship Amendment Act, 2010 (Act No. 17 of 2010) which came into operation on 1 January 2013. It brought in updated requirements in areas of different applications around Citizenship:

 

NATURALISATION APPLICATIONS

  • Applications for naturalisation may only be received by the office if the applicant has been on a Permanent Residence Permit for a period of five (5) years from the date of obtaining Permanent Residence (PR) in the Republic of South Africa. No application may be received by the office if the applicant has less than the prescribed five (5) year period.
  • All applicants who wish to apply and are eligible to apply for naturalisation mustbe informed that the process for application will only begin when verification of Permanent Residence Permit has been confirmed by Immigration Services (IMS) through a written and signed letter of proof or PR to be attached to the application. This will require offices where such applications are received to first send verification of PR requests to IMS before receiving an application for naturalisation. Within the same period submit a request to SAPS for a Police Criminal Record check and confirmation to be attached. (SAPS record must be six months valid).
  • Applicants must be informed that they must obtain Police Clearance and a letter of acceptance of dual citizenship from country of citizenship (or origin) to be attached to the application for naturalisation.
  • Applications for naturalisation must be forwarded to the Head Office Citizenship Section within five (5) working days from date of receiving a fully compliant application by the Front Office.
  • Applications must be put on Track and Trace 035 reflecting every stage of the process update without fail.
  • All applications for naturalisation must have a PR identity number with a copy of ID submitted, before they can be received by the Front Office as applications for naturalisation.
  • Proof of language proficiency must be attached with application for naturalisation as well as the completed language test form.
  • Requirements for an application for naturalisation continue as they have been prescribed by the Citizenship Act.
  • It is compulsory to attend Induction to become a citizen of the Republic of South Africa
  • It is compulsory for all to attend the Naturalisation Ceremony and stand before a Judge in order to be granted citizenship in South Africa. Failure to attend would result in withdrawal or non-issuance of Certificate.

 

PLEASE NOTE – Applicants for naturalisation must be informed to constantly check their status of application or progress with the office of application as approved applications that require signing of “Declaration of Allegiance” will only be valid for a period of six (6) months from date of approval as appearing on 035. Any expired period of signing the “Declaration of Allegiance” will be considered as non-compliance. The application process would immediately lapse and an applicant for naturalisation would be required to lodge a new application.

 

​DETERMINATION OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS 

  • An application for Determination of Citizenship must be forwarded to Head Office before any application is submitted. This is to ensure that a correct application is submitted by the applicant.
  • All applications for identity documents, passports and other services mustbe accepted following confirmation of citizenship status of the applicant by the Head Office.
  • All applications for Determination of Citizenship Status must be fully completed in order to comply with the time for the determination of citizenship status.

 

REQUIREMENTS 

  • DHA -175 (application form)
  • DHA -529 (applicant form)
  • Proof of continuous residence 1 year prior to application
  • RSA Police report valid for six (6) months from the date of issue
  • Police clearance from country or countries of present nationalities
  • Letter confirming acceptance of dual nationality
  • Proof of payment (R300.00) as per regulated by the National Treasury

All supporting documents must be attached to enable easy reference to an application. All offices, including embassies, must ensure that office stamps and sign off are adequately done on each application submitted.

 

​FOREIGN BIRTH REGISTRATION

  • All births registered by the Department are in terms of the Births and Deaths Registration Act. There is no exclusion or separate requirements for foreign birth registrations.
  • Supporting documents must be attached to an application as prescribed in the Births and Deaths Registration Act. Only complete applications with required supporting documents will be accepted and processed for Foreign Birth Registration.
  • Offices must ensure that parents/grandparents birth certificates are attached with every application submitted. Without these no application will be processed.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Application form Notice of Birth (DHA 24)
  • DHA 529 (applicant, parents duly fully completed)
  • Full birth certificate of the applicant
  • Front office Verify birth certificate of the applicant’s age from 15years and above with the country of origin (embassy)
  • Marriage certificate if the parents are married or both parents must acknowledge paternity.
  • Proof of birth / citizenship of the South African parent
  • Police report from country of origin as well as one from RSA (15 years and above)
  • An interview report for both the applicant and the South African parent (15 years and above)
  • Proof of Paternity / DNA tests (15 years and above)

 

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