30 Jun Regaining SA Citizenship After Dual Loss
The Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled in favour of an application made by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on the 6th of May 2025. The court upheld the citizenship of South Africans who had unintentionally lost their nationality due to acquiring dual citizenship.
After a lengthy battle in court the decision was made and all the people who lost their citizenship as a result of this provision have the right to regain their South African nationality. Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act stated that South Africans lost their citizenship automatically upon acquiring a foreign nationality, the Court ruled that this provision was irrational and also that it infringed on the constitutional right to citizenship.
Since the court declared Section 6(1)(a) unconstitutional, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) took action and is rolling out an online portal for restoring status, scheduled to launch at the end of June 2025 and issuing these affected individuals with Smart IDs as well as South African passports.
Individuals who have been affected by this ruling and acquired foreign citizenship without applying to retain their SA citizenship since 6 October 1995, their nationality will automatically be restored, however be sure to confirm your status regardless. Prepare all necessary documents which would include old passports, South African birth certificates, proof of foreign citizenship acquisition, and any previous correspondence with Home Affairs. Once the portal rolled out by the DHA is launched submit your details to officially confirms your reinstatement.
If you or someone close to you perhaps accidently forfeited your South African citizenship due to Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act by acquiring another nationality without prior ministerial permission and would like to retain your lost South African nationality, June Luna Immigration Attorneys are here to assist.
As SA Immigration Specialists, our dedicated team can verify your case especially those with complex histories, foreign-born SA citizens or older renunciations. We will assist you with getting all the paperwork in order as well as provide you with the necessary guidance when the portal goes live to ensure your reinstatement is processed swiftly. This will also include assistance in securing your Smart ID and passport and advise you on dual citizenship and your travel rights. Since this law and policy continues to evolve, JLIA will be your expert partner for any future citizenship or dual nationality queries.
Ready to take the next step in reclaim your South African nationality? Contact our dedicated team of professionals today at June Luna Immigration Attorneys to book a consultation.