How long does the naturalisation process actually take?

Eighteen to thirty months from submission to ceremony for a straightforward case. The documentary build adds another six to twelve weeks beforehand. Reinstatement applications are typically faster — eight to fourteen months — because the documentary requirements are narrower.

Does South Africa allow dual citizenship?

Yes. South Africa permits dual citizenship in both directions: SA citizens may acquire foreign nationality with prior written DHA retention permission (which DHA grants in the ordinary course), and foreign nationals naturalising as SA citizens are not required to renounce their original nationality.

I lost SA citizenship by acquiring foreign nationality decades ago. Is reinstatement still possible?

Yes, and there is no time limit. Reinstatement applications are processed regardless of how long ago the loss occurred. The documentary build focuses on proving original SA citizenship and identifying the date of foreign acquisition; the rest is administrative.

Can I apply for naturalisation while still on a temporary residence visa?

No. Naturalisation requires five years of permanent residence preceding the application. The PR period itself does not include time spent on TRVs. Plan the sequence: TRV → PR (after qualifying period) → five years on PR → naturalisation.

What if my child was born abroad and I never registered the birth?

Late registration of foreign birth remains available regardless of how late. This is a separate pathway from citizenship by descent — the registration creates the documentary record, and citizenship by descent is then claimed on the strength of that record. See our dedicated Late Registration of Foreign Birth page.

Do I have to give up my original citizenship?

No. South Africa does not require renunciation. Whether your original country requires renunciation on acquisition of SA citizenship is a question of that country's law, not SA law.

Practice area

South African citizenship

Four statutory routes to South African citizenship — birth, descent, naturalisation, and registration following marriage. Each carries distinct evidentiary and timing requirements under the Citizenship Act, 1995.

The three routes to South African citizenship

Citizenship by birth. Granted automatically to a person born in South Africa to at least one parent who is a South African citizen or permanent resident. The 1995 Citizenship Act removed pure jus soli — birth on SA soil alone is no longer sufficient.

Citizenship by descent. Available to a person born outside South Africa to at least one SA-citizen parent at the time of birth. The child's birth must be registered with DHA within thirty days where possible, but late registration of foreign birth remains the cure for missed registrations.

Citizenship by naturalisation. Available after five years of permanent residence. Requires good character, language proficiency, and intention to remain.

Renunciation of Citizenship

A South African citizen who intends to acquire the citizenship of another country, or who also has the citizenship of another country other than South Africa, may renounce South African citizenship.

Once the South African citizen's declaration of renunciation is registered by the Department of Home Affairs, such person shall cease to be a South African citizen. Whenever a person ceases to be a South African citizen by way of renunciation, his or her children under the age of 18 years shall automatically cease to be South African citizens if the other parent of such children is not, or does not remain, a South African citizen.

Reinstatement of citizenship lost on acquisition of foreign nationality

Under Section 6(1) of the Citizenship Act as previously read, an SA citizen who acquired foreign citizenship without first obtaining the Department of Home Affairs' written retention permission lost SA citizenship by operation of law. Many South Africans who naturalised in the UK, Australia, Canada, or New Zealand discovered they had lost SA citizenship years later.

Following the Constitutional Court's 2024 confirmation of an earlier high-court finding that Section 6(1) was unconstitutional, reinstatement is now an established procedure. Applications are lodged with DHA together with proof of original SA citizenship, evidence of the foreign citizenship that triggered the loss, and a sworn affidavit covering the period.

Reinstatement restores citizenship as if it had never been lost. It does not require renunciation of the foreign nationality (SA permits dual nationality post-reinstatement).

Common questions

Questions, answered.

How long does the naturalisation process actually take?: Eighteen to thirty months from submission to ceremony for a straightforward case. The documentary build adds another six to twelve weeks beforehand. Reinstatement applications are typically faster — eight to fourteen months — because the documentary requirements are narrower.
Does South Africa allow dual citizenship?: Yes. South Africa permits dual citizenship in both directions: SA citizens may acquire foreign nationality with prior written DHA retention permission (which DHA grants in the ordinary course), and foreign nationals naturalising as SA citizens are not required to renounce their original nationality.
I lost SA citizenship by acquiring foreign nationality decades ago. Is reinstatement still possible?: Yes, and there is no time limit. Reinstatement applications are processed regardless of how long ago the loss occurred. The documentary build focuses on proving original SA citizenship and identifying the date of foreign acquisition; the rest is administrative.
Can I apply for naturalisation while still on a temporary residence visa?: No. Naturalisation requires five years of permanent residence preceding the application. The PR period itself does not include time spent on TRVs. Plan the sequence: TRV → PR (after qualifying period) → five years on PR → naturalisation.
What if my child was born abroad and I never registered the birth?: Late registration of foreign birth remains available regardless of how late. This is a separate pathway from citizenship by descent — the registration creates the documentary record, and citizenship by descent is then claimed on the strength of that record. See our dedicated Late Registration of Foreign Birth page.
Do I have to give up my original citizenship?: No. South Africa does not require renunciation. Whether your original country requires renunciation on acquisition of SA citizenship is a question of that country's law, not SA law.

Related practice areas

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Reviewed by Tasneem Hanslo · May 2, 2026