25 Jun South African Citizenship: Renunciation of Citizenship
The renunciation of citizenship is a voluntary loss of citizenship. However, South Africans always maintain their right to permanent residency, even if they renounce their citizenship.
Renunciation of citizenship is the opposite of naturalisation, where a person voluntarily obtains citizenship.
Renunciation of South African Citizenship
The citizenship legislation, which came into effect on October 6, 1995 (Act 88 of 1995), allows South Africans to voluntarily renounce their South African citizenship.
However, one is only eligible to do so if one has already obtained citizenship in another country. This is to prevent one from becoming a stateless person. Some countries require the renunciation of citizenship before obtaining citizenship from their country.
If you are a South African citizen who has voluntarily obtained citizenship of another country after turning 18 years old and have not applied for and received permission to retain South African citizenship before being granted the citizenship of another country, you have automatically lost your South African citizenship from the date the new citizenship was acquired. Individuals to whom this applies do not have to apply for renunciation of citizenship.
Once the Department of Home Affairs has registered the South African citizen’s admission of renunciation, the individual ceases to be a South African citizen. It’s important to note that if one ceases to be a South African citizen due to renunciation and has children under the age of 18, the children will automatically cease to be South African citizens if both parents are not South African citizens.
Those under the age of 18, who were born in South Africa, cannot themselves renounce their citizenship, since they are still minors. However, renouncing citizenship can be done by the parents.
How To Renounce South African Citizenship
Before you are able to renounce your citizenship, you will need to prove that you are a South African citizen. Once this step is completed, you will be required to fill out a form called the Renunciation of South African Citizenship Application (DHA-246). You will also need to prove you have citizenship in another country.
If you were a citizen through naturalisation, you need to provide a naturalisation certificate as well as a declaration confirming you wish to renounce your South African citizenship.
Once your application for renunciation of citizenship has been lodged, you will have to wait approximately 12 months before receiving confirmation of the outcome of your application. Once the declaration is registered at the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria, you cease to be a South African citizen. If the process is successful, you’ll receive a certificate confirming the renunciation of citizenship. You will then need to submit your South African passport and ID document to be cancelled.
The renunciation of South African citizenship is not always required, as South Africa allows dual citizenship, provided individuals adhere to specific procedures outlined by DHA.
As a reputable law firm, June Luna Immigration Attorneys is one of the few experts in the area of immigration in South Africa. Having the correct lawyer to assist you in these applications is imperative and offers invaluable guidance and assistance. For more information, contact us.