In the following article about south african citizenship we would only like to provide an overview of how to obtain it. This proof includes a persons photograph, their full name, their date of birth, their place of birth, and their unique identity number. The path to getting south african citizenship getting south african citizenship means being a rightful citizen of one of the most beautiful and dynamic countries in the world. If you are working for the south african government or one of its statutory bodies outside the republic of south africa, you are also eligible to receive a south african id book. A certified copy of your unabridged birth certificate will be required for submission in your application. Department of state services dual nationality website. The first six digits yymmdd are based on your date of birth 23 january 1988 is 880123. An identity document id enables south african citizens and permanent residents to identify themselves for general purposes and daytoday activities in society. Study booklets uscis united states citizenship and. Know your rights as a permanent resident in south africa. A south african citizen by naturalization can be deprived of his citizenship if.
Government donates 720,000 protective masks to south african government. Why permanent residency may not be permanent in south. Identity documents are issued to south african citizens or permanent residence permit holders who. Decoding your south african id number western cape government.
Follow us on flipboard or visit our wikipedia page. You will also need your identity book to register to vote in the general and municipal elections. Citizenship for children born to foreign parents in sa. The south african citizenship act, 1995 act 88 of 1995 was amended by the.
It is also possible to open a bank account in south africa as a foreigner. Ids form an important part of each persons daily activities since all transactions require positive identification. Applying for a south african id book when receiving permanent. However, when i went to home affairs to apply they told me that i needed a bi30. My former colleague wrote this article just after she got married and her wedding was beautiful. South african id card securing government services thales. The certificate of naturalisation was obtained fraudulently or false information was supplied. In south africa, citizenship is subject to the provisions of the south african citizenship act,1995. To be submitted by applicants with dual citizenship or notarized sworn affidavit stating that no other citizenship has been acquired. Question 9 is the last permanent date of departure from south africa. Smart id card at banks south africans can apply for their smart id cards at local banks following the launch of the echannel program by president jacob zuma in april 2016. These rights are only obtained with south african citizenship applications. Entering south africa on a foreign passport south africa. South african citizens id book south african high commission.
Meanwhile, for all bank accounts, there are basic requirements. Visa requirements for south african citizens are administrative entry restrictions enforced by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of south africa. Following a pilot in 2012, the new south african smart id card was launched on 18 july 20, with a phased rollout over five to seven years. African citizenship is regulated by the south african citizenship act, 1995 act 88 of 1995, hereinafter referred to as the act, and the regulations issued in terms of the act. Simple steps on how to obtain south african id book from home. An identity document id book is important to get as soon as you are eligible as it is a form of identification when dealing with public and private institutions. The united states has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world. Be sure you dont lose your south african citizenship. The permanent resident can obtain a south african identity book endorsed as non citizen, but not a south african passport see citizenship for information on passports.
Nonwhite citizens were required to always carry the dompas dumb pass allowing them to live and work in specified parts of the country. According to advocate priscilla jana, deputy chairperson of the south african human rights commission sahrc, the organisation has been unaware that unabridged birth certificates were not issued to such children. There are three main forms of south african citizenship, namely citizenship by birth, descent or. The easiest ways to claim a british passport the south african. The south african citizenship act, 1995 act 88 of 1995 was amended by the south african citizenship amendment act, 2010 act no. Getting married to south african citizen dont forget your marriage interview. The card is not available to south africans citizens born outside of south africa, or south african permanent residents, who need to apply instead for the old green id book. South african citizenship act, 1995 i hereby solemnly declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information furnished above.
Each foreigner is advised to carefully contemplate hisher taking up of permanent residence, as this may in some instances lead to the loss of certain tax advantages. The acquisition, loss, deprivation and resumption of south african citizenship are regulated by the south african citizenship act, 1995 act 88 of 1995, hereinafter referred to as the act, and the regulations issued in terms of the act. If you are 16 years and older, you may apply for identity document id. Firstly if you have just received your permanent residency for south africa, let us. There are more people than you think, walking around thinking help i lost my id book, or please dont let someone ask me for my id. We have received many inquires since then asking us how to get married and what questions are asked in the home affairs interview. The applicant shall cease to be a south african citizen from the moment the declaration is registered at the department of home affairs in pretoria.
Identity document application welcome to the south african high. Application for a south african identity book id opening hours. Id book will be forwarded to the office where you made your application for you to collect. As more people move to south africa for residency or sought out a work permit, id books have been crucial for gaining full citizenship as well as easying the work of many people while moving around private and public institutions in south africa. It ensures the citizen s information never leaves the id card and does not require any connection to a central database. If youre still in possession of your green id book and want to apply for a new smart id card, this is what you need to know.
The united states provides ventilators to south africa to battle covid19. However, some of the content may still be useful, so we have archived the page. The process of applying is simple if you were born in south africa and your birth was registered within 30 days in terms of the births and deaths. If you are an american citizen in south africa desiring more information on prospective travel to the united states, please ensure you are enrolled in the smart traveler enrollment program step at. I was born in south africa and left when i was 11 years old. How to apply for your smart id card western cape government.
This is where the process gets a little technical, but stay with us. South african citizenship south african high commission. Sa migration international south african citizenship. South african citizenship can, subject to the provisions of the south african citizenship amendment act 17 of 2010, which came into force 1st january 20, be acquired by birth, descent and naturalisation. Improvements in the dha system have seen a more streamlined rsa id book application process for permanent residence awarded after.
Applying for an identity document western cape government. Cape town a child born in south africa does not automatically qualify for south african citizenship if their parents are foreign. Any south african citizen who has a south african identity number can apply for a passport and is only issued in pretoria please note. You automatically qualify for south african citizenship if. General information about south african identity books identity documents. Unless you are born in south africa or have south african parents, you can apply for south african citizenship after holding a permanent residence permit for five years, by marrying a south african citizen or by being a minor with a permanent residence visa. It will be done over eight years starting in 2014, so you will not necessarily get an id card when you now apply.
A copy of your retention of south african citizenship certificate dual citizenship if you also have the citizenship of a foreign. However, in order to make this possible a south african citizen aged 18 years or older must apply to the department of home affairs for the retention of their citizenship. How to renew your south african passport the citizen. South african citizens can apply via the ehomeaffairs website. The south african citizenship act, 1995 act 88 of 1995 was amended by the south. Though i produced a certified copy of my unabridged marriage certificate married in 2011, this wasnt good enough. Oct 20, 2017 the south african citizenship act, 1995 act 88 of 1995 was amended by the south african citizenship amendment act, 2010 act no. In 2017, south african citizens had visafree or visa on arrival access to 98 countries and territories, ranking the south african passport 55th in the world according to the visa restrictions index. An identity document id enables south african citizens and permanent. A south african citizen by birth or decent in respect of whom a declaration of renunciation is registered shall cease to be a south african citizen but will retain his or her right of permanent residence. You can apply for south african citizenship by descent or naturalisation. As of december 2014 home affairs have an added stipulation that all south african citizens applying to have a marriage solemnized with any non south african citizen need to comply with the following.
Any person who is born in south african territory, as long as hisher parents are south african citizens or legal aliens holders of a permanent residence permit for the rsa. Identity documents are issued to south african citizens or permanent. South african id books are issued to south african citizens and permanent resident holders from the age of 16 years and onwards. Certified copy of south african id book andor birth certificate. Information on legalization of documents issued by uk authorities is available on this link. Now its time for me to apply for a south african id. Birth certificate, proof of address and in case of minors, must be accompanied by the parents. Registration is not considered proof of south african citizenship. He or she holds the citizenship of another country and has, at any time, been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in any country for an offence that also would have been. Apply for an identity document south african government. In return, you are rewarded with all the rights and privileges that are part of u. According to the south african citizenship act, no.
A south african id number is a digit number which is defined by the following format. Renunciation of south african citizenship home page south. It is important to apply for retention before acquiring foreign citizenship or you will lose your status as a south african citizen. A south african id number is a digit number which is. A foreign child adopted by south african citizens becomes a citizen by descent whilst a naturalised citizen is one who has complied with the requirements for naturalisation as set out in section 5 of the south african citizenship act.
How to apply for a south african id book immigration sa. Applying for a south african id book once permanent residence. South african citizenship by birth can be acquired if the individual was born in south africa and if at least one of the parents or one of the adopted parents was a south african citizen or the holder of a south african permanent residence permit at the time of birth. Oct 19, 2017 im married to a south african and i was just given my permanent residency. For instance, birth certificate, id book, valid passport.
If you are a south african citizen or a thirdcountry national and would like information on applying for a visa, please visit the visas page. If you were born outside of south africa to a parent who was a south african citizen at the time of your birth or you were adopted by a south african citizen, and your birth was registered, you can apply for citizenship by descent. The office dealing with south african passport holders will be opened from 08h45 to 12h45 monday to friday except on public holidays. The minor children under 18 years of a person who has renounced his or her south african citizenship shall. Advice for south african citizens travelling abroad. Does south africa allow dual citizenship new world. The current sa citizenship act clearly stipulates that any person who has the right to a south african passport must enter and leave sa whilst using hisher sa passport, says hannes breytenbach. Discover more about south african citizenship, including all of the requirements and how to go about submitting an application. Does south africa allow dual citizenship yes, it is possible for a south african citizen to hold dual citizenship be a citizen of more than one country. How to apply for south african citizenship by descent. It brought in updated requirements in areas of different applications around citizenship. Requirements for south african citizenship applications.
In 2017 i got permanent residence and south african id. Recently reappointed minister of home affairs malusi gigaba on tuesday said that atul gupta was not a south african citizen but timeslive has proof that atul is in fact a citizen. A south african bank account can be set up in 2 major categories. We have received many inquires since then asking us how to get married and what questions are asked in. Both are identity documents that serve as proof of a persons identity. Applications for naturalisation may only be received by the office. If you lost or replaced your id book it is highly recommended that you get a new one. Identity documents are issued to south african citizens or.
What to do if youve relinquished your south african. In the following article about south african citizenship we would only like to. My parents applied for australian citizenship with no intention to keep our south african citizenship and as such, our south african passports expired and some 17 years later we all only have australian passports. May you assist me if this act is legal acording to south african law and refer me to. One of you should be a south african citizen or hold permanent residency in south africa.
Obtaining an south african id book intergate immigration service. If one parent is a south african citizen, the child will be a citizen by birth, the dha says. Obtaining an id book after being granted permanent residency. The following persons are south african citizens by birth. This id card states your sa id number and is important if you intend to reside in sa permanently. Identity document application first time applicants. At uscis, we understand that applying for naturalization is part of a lifechanging process. Please note, you will need internet banking to proceed with your online passport application. This pocket study guide contains the list of 100 civics questions and answers for the naturalization test as well as the english. This information will help you understand what the numbers in your south african id represents. Although you can use your drivers license or passport as a form of identification in the meantime, there are many things that you are going to require your id for.
South african citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent or naturalisation. Thus, even if a persons south african passport expired 10 years ago and heshe still has the right to a sa passport, heshe must apply for. Oct 21, 20 the information on this page is out of date. A south african citizen who has the citizenship or nationality of another country can apply to renounce hisher south african citizenship. Citizenship for children born to foreign parents in sa under. 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. South africa does allow its citizens to have a second citizenship, but you need to get. Permanent residence certificate and proof of address. The south african smart identity card known as a smart id card replaces the old green barcoded identity book. What documents foreigners need to get married in south africa. Certified copy of exemption certificate in terms of section 62 of the south african citizenship act, 1995. All applications for identity documents, passports and other services mustbe.
What your south african id number reveals about you. How can my foreign partner get south african residency. Identity documents can only be issued to south african citizens aged sixteen years or older. This exemption is applicable to south african citizens who have not yet acquired the citizenship of another country but who are contemplating of becoming one or in the process of obtaining one. In order to apply for your south african id book you will need to have been issued with a permanent residency certificate, only once you have a permanent residency certificate. I got employment at a state school and worked 3 month but they are refusing to pay me saying my id is written non citizen.
Determination of rsa citizenship bi 529 form must be fully completed by all south african citizens living outside of south africa. If your husband is a south african who already obtained us citizenship, and he did not apply for the retention of his sa citizenship before applying for us citizenship, then, in the eyes of the south african government, your husband automatically lost his south african citizenship when he obtained us citizenship. The facts sapeople your worldwide south african community. They automatically retain their south african citizenship for life unless, once they have reached the age of 18 years and they then wish to acquire a further. If your id book has been lost, misplaced or stolen then you may want to continue reading. You will need an id to register for your matric exams, get a driving licence or open a bank account. Our south african id number is a very important part of our lives and is the key to our access to banking facilities and our daily interaction with retail, medical aid, insurance and travel. Aug 14, 2015 south african id books are issued to south african citizens and permanent resident holders from the age of 16 years and onwards. They will then cancel my passport id and issue me with a letter to say i am now a south african permanent resident and no longer a citizen. Study booklet containing short lessons based on each of the 100 civics questions and answers on the naturalization test. Applying for a south african id book once permanent residence received an identity document id book is important to get as soon as you are eligible as it is a form of identification when dealing with public and private institutions.
If you are a south african who will be marrying a non south african citizen. Getting a south african id book is as easy as sunday morning. There is no application fee for the renunciation of south african citizenship. Entering south africa on a foreign passport south africa forum. You can get a south african id if you are a south african citizen or permanent resident and are aged 16 years or older. In order to apply for permanent residency, youll have to apply for a south african spousal permit that requires you to prove that youve been married for at least 5 years. If you already have an id, you will be invited to apply for the id card.
South african citizens under the age of 18 years are exempt and do not require to apply for dual citizenship, as long as they acquire the foreign citizenship before their 18th birthday. If you do not have a south african identity number you should apply for registration of birth and an identity document in order to apply for a passport. Its no surprise that so many people from across the world are settling in south africa permanently. South african citizenship status a number of south african citizens travel abroad on a permanent or temporary basis, to gain international work experience or merely to experience the novelty of. After receiving your permanent residence certificate, you are obliged to apply for a sa identity card.
If you apply for any service from a high commission, embassy, or consulate general mission while abroad, you will be asked by staff to provide proof of south african citizenship, such as a passport or bar coded id book smart id card. Firstly if you have just received your permanent residency for south africa, let us congratulate you and welcome you to this. The department of home affairs is replacing the green id book with a smart id card. Only south african citizens born in south africa may apply for the new smart id card. Applying for a south african id book once permanent.
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