By Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants

Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants receive many queries from South Africans on citizenship and passports. Our SA immigration consultants have subsequently drafted a FAQ guide for South Africans on these issues. If you need more information, please feel free to get in touch with AfriForum Worldwide or Breytenbachs.

How does dual citizenship work for South Africans?

South Africans are allowed to hold more than two nationalities.

It is, however, crucial that persons protect their South African citizenship before taking on any other nationality through naturalisation. Should you fail to do so, you will automatically lose your South African citizenship.

Do I need to retain my South African citizenship?

South Africans who are about to apply for another citizenship through naturalisation must apply for retention of South African citizenship before they acquire another citizenship. They must do this to safeguard their SA citizenship. The retention process ensures that their SA citizenship is protected and they can hold another nationality. It is important to note the difference between obtaining the other nationality through descent and naturalisation. 

What is descent?

Persons who acquire another nationality via descent will NOT automatically lose their South African citizenship, provided he/she can automatically apply for the second passport without lodging a formal application for such citizenship. They, thus, do not have to follow the process of retaining their SA citizenship. Descent is passed down by a parent only. An example is a British parent that passes citizenship down to children born outside of the UK.  

What is naturalisation? 

This applies to people who obtain a second nationality through a formal application (i.e. after holding indefinite leave to remain for a certain period).  If you can obtain another citizenship through naturalisation, you must apply formally for the retention of your SA citizenship before acquiring the other nationality. If you fail to do so, you will automatically lose your South African citizenship. 

Why should I protect my South African citizenship?

Clients often ask the consultants at Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants (BIC) why they need to protect their SA citizenship, as they are often of the opinion that their move overseas is a permanent one. 

Reasons will, of course, differ from case to case, and the decision is a personal one, but protecting your SA citizenship in the first instance is a relatively simple process. Protecting it from the outset can prevent a lot of administration and hassle in the future, should a person’s circumstances change.  

How can I retain my South African citizenship? 

The process to retain your South African nationality has two stages. The first involves applying for a Certificate of Non-Acquisition from the relevant government authority, where you will obtain your second citizenship.

The second stage involves applying for your Certificate of Retention from the South African High Commission or SA Embassy, or SA Home Affairs offices in SA.  Please speak to your Breytenbachs consultant for more advice in this regard. 

If I lost my SA citizenship, can I reinstate it?

It is possible to re-instate your South African citizenship, should you have lost it by inaction or due to being uninformed about the required process of retaining one’s South African nationality. Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants (BIC) have a dedicated team of SA immigration consultants in South Africa, dealing with the SA Department of Home Affairs, who will be able to assist in every unique circumstance. However, note that this can be a time-consuming process involving much red tape.

SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORTS

Can I apply for my new SA passport abroad?

It is possible to apply for your passport overseas. You can do this at the nearest SA representative offices overseas. In the UK, it can be done through the VFS offices.

Applicants will need to provide the relevant documents, e.g., birth/marriage certificate and provide the retention letter if they hold other citizenships.

Do I need to use my SA passport to enter and exit South Africa?

The South African Citizenship Act dictates that any person who has the right to make use of a SA Travel Document (passport) must enter and leave South Africa with their SA passport. If you fail to do so, it can be seen as a punishable offence.

Travellers with dual citizenship (SA and UK) must travel with both passports, as they must enter the UK with their UK passport, as proof of their right to enter the UK.

What are the criteria for applying for a new SA passport?

Applicants will need to provide the relevant documents, e.g., birth/marriage certificate and provide the retention letter if they hold other citizenships.

Can I renew my SA passport?

One does not actually “renew” a SA passport. Once the validity expires, you must apply for a new passport.

The SA authorities state that your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after the intended departure date. The passport should also have at least two blank pages for entry stamps. The empty pages exclude the endorsement pages.

However, it is important to note that some countries require your passport to be valid for three or six months past your intended travel date. As this requirement differs from country to country, we strongly advise that you speak to your travel agent or airline for advice.

Can I apply for a passport with more pages?

A regular SA passport contains 32 pages. However, frequent travellers can apply for a maxi passport with 48 pages. 

Can someone collect my SA passport for me?

Third parties may not collect an SA passport on someone’s behalf. It is also not possible to courier a passport overseas to an applicant. The SA authorities introduced this rule in 2022 to combat fraud on SA passports.

In the case of minor children, the parents or guardians who applied for the passport will be the only ones allowed to come and collect the passport using their fingerprints.

How Breytenbachs can help you

If you have any specific questions about SA citizenship or dual citizenship, please feel free to get in touch with us. Note, however, that we cannot help you apply for your SA passport, but we should be able to advise on SA passport queries.