What is Citizenship?
Citizenship is an allegiance of a person to a state. Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens and the conditions under which that status will be withdrawn.
How To Qualify For Citizenship In South Africa
South African Citizenship by Birth
The following persons are South African citizens by birth:
- Persons born in South Africa before October 6, 1995.
- Persons born in or out of wedlock on or after October 6, 1995, if one of his or her parents is either a South African citizen or a permanent resident. For those born before October 6, 1995, the mother of the child must have been a South African citizen at the time of the birth of the child.
- Persons born in South Africa, adopted by parents of which one parent is a South African citizen and whose birth is registered.
- Persons born in South Africa, not having the nationality of any other country, and whose birth is registered.
- A person born outside South Africa and whose parents were at the birth of the child in the service of the South African Government, representative, employee of a person, association of person resident, established in South Africa, was in the service of an international organization to which the Government of South Africa is a member.
Registrations under this category are normally filed in South Africa and the nearest offices of the Department of Home Affairs can be contacted in this regard.
South African Citizenship by Descent
The following persons are South African citizens by descent:
- Persons born outside South Africa of whom one of his or her parents was a South African citizen at the time of his or her birth and whose births are registered.
- Persons born outside South Africa, adopted by a South African citizen, and whose birth is registered.
- Any person in Namibia on or after March 21, 1990, whose mother or father was a South African citizen at the time of the birth of the child.
- An adopted child whose responsible parent was issued with a certificate of resumption of citizenship and has entered South Africa for permanent residence while he or she was a minor and whose birth was registered within a year after the certificate of resumption was issued.
South African Citizenship by Naturalization
Persons who are South African citizens by naturalization or registration or were citizens of any of the former TBVC states by naturalization are regarded as naturalized South African citizens. Applications for naturalization are filed only in South Africa and the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs.
How long does it take to become a permanent citizen in South Africa?
According to VFS Global and the Department of Home Affairs, the expected turnaround time for an application is 8 to 24 months. This estimation is from the date of submission and varies depending on the category applied under.