The unintentional way you can lose your South African citizenship

[Nat Quinn]

The three ways foreigners can gain local residency are well documented, but it’s discussed far less publicly how you can lose your South African citizenship. Worryingly enough, in certain instances, dual-citizenship South Africans can lose local nationality without even being aware of it, warns FinGlobal.

LOSE YOUR SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP

Make sure you don’t lose your South African citizenship when applying for dual nationality in another country. Image: File

As The South African has reported before, the 1995 South African Citizenship Act 88 – amended in 2010 – explains that foreigners can acquire South African citizenship in one of three ways:

• By birth.

• By descent.

• By naturalisation.

Did you know you can lose your South African citizenship when you apply for citizenship of another country. However, South African citizens by birth must not forget that they will never lose a right to Permanent Residence in South Africa, even if they do lose citizenship.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

You must alert Home Affairs before your begin an application for foreign citizenship. Image: Pixabay

What this means is those who’ve left the country and acquired dual citizenship elsewhere may return permanently to South Africa as residents. But they will have to reapply to resume their South African citizenship, explains FinGlobal.

According to Section 6 of the South African Citizenship Act, you are obliged to seek permission to hold on to your South African citizenship before applying for an additional citizenship. This is critical when it comes to retaining your South African passport, and the right to vote in South African elections as an expat.

UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE

If you’re less than 18-years old you are exempt from this eventuality. Image: File

South African citizens under the age of 18 are exempt and will not need to reapply, as long as their foreign citizenship is acquired before their 18th birthday. Therefore, citizenship is automatically retained for life unless, once reaching the age of 18, they then wish to acquire another further foreign citizenship.

So, let’s say you’re a Saffa living abroad for some time and you’re toying with the idea of applying for citizenship in that country, what do you do?

• Firstly, you must obtain permission from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) before you start work on a foreign citizenship application.

• Doing so successfully will lead to a ‘Letter of Retention’ for your South African citizenship. This, in turn, allows you to retain your South African passport and the right to vote.

• Without this letter, you will automatically lose your South African citizenship upon voluntary acquisition of a foreign citizenship.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Why not have your say … Image: Duncan P Walker

Were you aware you could lose your South African citizenship in this way? Be sure to share your thoughts with our audience in the comments section below. And don’t forget to follow us @TheSANews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest updates.

 

source:The unintentional way you can lose your South African citizenship (thesouthafrican.com)

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