Anyone can apply for and be granted Citizenship in South Africa, provided all requirements have been met before and during application. This article expounds on the processes involved in obtaining a South African Citizenship.
Eligibility Conditions for Obtaining South African Citizenship
Before you can even apply for a citizenship status in South Africa, as an applicant, you must meet these conditions:
- You must have held a South African residency permit before the time of application before you can be cleared to proceed with your citizenship application.
- You must have lived in South Africa for at least five years before applying.
- Ensure you have a good command of South Africa’s official languages, which are eleven.
- You must have a fair knowledge of South Africa’s history, culture, and norms.
- You should know what the government expects of South African Citizens, including law-abiding, paying taxes, and participating in elections, among others.
- Applications usually go in the favor of applicants with good character and stellar reputations.
South African Citizenship Requirements
According to the South African Citizenship Amendment Act, 2010, the Department of Home Affairs requires the following conditions to be met before you can be considered for citizenship rights:
- The applicant must have been a holder of Permanent Residence for at least five years. The Department can only receive applications from individuals who have arrived at the five-year mark.
- Your application will only be processed on the grounds of successfully verifying your permanent residence status with the Immigration Service, which will come in the form of a duly signed letter from Immigration Services.
- You must possess a valid SAPS record containing criminal records and relevant police clearance documents.
- An applicant must have obtained a letter of acceptance of dual citizenship from their country of origin.
- Your language proficiency test results must be attached as supporting documents during your application.
- Applicants must attend the citizenship induction or their application might be refused.
- Failure to appear before a judge during the naturalization ceremony results in non-issuance of the certificate.
- Applicants are advised to constantly keep track of the progress of their application, especially for applications that require signing a document known as the “Declaration of Allegiance.”
Documents Required in Applying for Citizenship in South Africa
The following documents must be presented during the application for South African Citizenship.
- DHA-175 Application Form.
- DHA-529 Applicant Form.
- Permanent Residence and proof of Permanent Residence in South Africa for five years as a permanent residence permit holder and one year before the filing application.
- RSA Police Report of at least six months old.
- Police Report from the applicant’s present country/countries of origin.
- Payment of R300 as stipulated by the country’s National Treasury and relevant proof of payment.
- Letter of acceptance of dual Nationality. (If this is not included, applicants must denounce their current citizenship.
- The Republic of South Africa issues a non-citizen means of identification.
If South African parent(s) who had a child abroad wish to register such a child officially as a South African citizen, the documents required will include;
- Form DHA-24 logs the notice of birth.
- DHA-529, which is the Applicant Form.
- Birth certificate of applicant.
- Parents’ birth certificates.
- Marriage certificate of parents.
- Proof of paternity in the form of DNA tests for applicants at least fifteen years old.
- Police Report from country of present Nationality. (For applicants aged fifteen and above)
In any of the above cases, when applying for naturalization in South Africa, your application must be submitted with all the required supporting documents, or your application will not be admitted for processing.
Procedure for Obtaining Citizenship in South Africa
South African Citizenship is generally obtained in any of the ways below, following the relevant processes that apply to each:
Citizenship by Birth
An individual can acquire a South African Citizenship by birth if you were born in South Africa during the period preceding October 1995 or after this time.
You are equally a citizen of South Africa by birth if you had at least one parent who held a South African Citizenship status at the time of your birth.
If one of your parents had a permanent residence permit when you were born, were refugees in South Africa, or were adopted by a South African citizen or permanent residence holder, you are eligible as a citizen by birth.
However, for your Citizenship by birth to be recognized, birth must be registered within 30 days.
Citizenship by Descent
South African Citizenship by descent is earned if you were born abroad to at least one parent who possessed South African Citizenship when you were born, or a citizen outside the country adopted you and your birth was registered correctly.
To apply for Citizenship by descent, the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa will require you to present the following;
- Form BI-24 signed by your parents to confirm your paternity.
- Form DHA-24 shows the registration of your birth.
- Form DHA-529.
- Your actual birth certificate.
- Proof of identity of parent(s).
- Form DHA-9 to prove your identity.
- Two passport-sized photographs.
- A valid court adoption order (if you were adopted).
Citizenship by Naturalization
For anyone interested in applying for Citizenship by Naturalization, you must have held a permanent residence permit for five years or be married to a South African Citizen during your application period.
To apply, the following processes must be followed;
- Submit Forms DHA-63 and DHA-757 duly filled and printed.
- Originals of your identity documents.
- Your civil status (i.e., marriage certificate, divorce decrees, or death certificate of a spouse)
- Proof of permanent residence status.
- Proof of continuous residence before application.
- Form SAP-91 with all biometrics recorded therein.
- Signature of consent from parent or guardian for applications made by minors in form BI-63.
- Police clearance from country of origin.
- Payment of Naturalization fee.
Conclusion
Once these have been duly completed and submitted due to your circumstances, it is up to the consulate to review and process your application before they can clear you for approval of citizenship status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does marrying a South African give you Citizenship?
Citizenship can be acquired if your spouse is South African, and the union must have reached five years before you can apply.
How much bank balance is required for obtaining a South African visa?
Before being granted a South African visa, your account statement must read at least $173 during application before consideration.
