Application for a Certificate of Naturalisation


In terms of Section 5 of the South African citizenship Act (most recently amended by Act 17 of 2010), a foreign national who is a permanent resident of South Africa may apply for naturalisation as a South African citizen to the Minister of Home Affairs SAPS.
It is important to remember that applications for naturalisation may only be received by the office if the applicant has been on a Permanent Residence Permit for a period of five years from the date of obtaining permanent residence in the Republic of South Africa. No application may be received by the office if the applicant has less than the prescribed five year period.
The following conditions need to be met in order to qualify for naturalisation as a South African citizen:

• the applicant must be a major (in this case, over the age of 21years);

• the applicant must have been admitted to the Republic for permanent residence;

• the applicant must have lived in South Africa as a permanent resident for at least one year’s ordinary residence immediately
prior to the application for naturalisation;

• after acquiring permanent residency, the applicant must have an additional 4 years of physical residence in the country during the 8
years prior to the naturalisation. This does not include the one year mentioned above;

• the applicant must be of good character;

• the applicant must intend to continue to reside in South Africa;

• the applicant must be able to communicate in any one of our official languages. Therefore, applicants must undergo a language test and proof of language proficiency must be included in the application;

• the applicant must have adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of South African citizenship;

• the applicant must be a citizen of a country that allows for dual citizenship – if a citizen of a country where dual citizenship is not
allowed, such applicant must renounce the citizenship of that foreign country and provide proof of renunciation;

• if married to a South African spouse, the applicant must have two years of permanent residence and two years of marriage to the South African spouse before submitting the application;

• The applicant must fully and accurately complete the Form BI-63 for naturalization accessed on www.LawyerEzyFind.co.za.

• All applications for naturalisation must have a permanent residence identity number with a copy of the applicant’s identity document.

• The application for naturalisation must be forwarded to the Head Office Citizenship Section within five (5) working days from date of
receiving a fully compliant application by the Front Office.

• All successful applicants are required to attend a compulsory induction as well as a Naturalisation Ceremony. Failure to attend would result in withdrawal or non-issuance of certificate.

However, an application for citizenship by naturalisation can be refused by the Minister even if the applicant seems to fulfil all of the above conditions. Acquiring citizenship is regarded as a privilege and not a right.

Application for naturalisation on behalf of a minor

In the case of a minor who wishes to apply for naturalisation and who qualifies for naturalisation on the basis of being permanently and lawfully resident in the Republic, an application can be brought by the responsible parent or legal guardian of that minor.

Marriage to a South African citizen

In respect of an applicant who is married to a South African citizen the period of ordinary residence that an applicant must comply with before applying for permanent residence is that the applicant must have been ordinarily resident in South Africa for a period of five years preceding the date of application for naturalisation. During this five year period the applicant must be or have been married to the South African citizen spouse.

Permanent residence that is granted to an applicant on the basis of marriage to a South African citizen generally has a condition that the couple must attend an interview with the Department of Home Affairs within a two to three year period from having obtained such permanent residence. If this is not done, the applicant may not qualify for naturalisation.

In respect of any application for naturalisation it is important to note that the applicant should not have been absent from the Republic for more
than ninety days in any year during the five year period immediately preceding the date of application for naturalisation.

The following quintessential documents must be submitted with the application for naturalization:

• a certified copy of your Permanent Residency Permit showing that you have been a permanent residence holder for a minimum of 10 years in the Republic of South Africa;

• a letter of acceptance of dual citizenship from your country of origin;

• a certified copy of your South African non-citizen identity document

• Police Clearance certificates for South Africa as well as your home country.

All applicants who wish to apply and are eligible to apply for naturalisation must be informed that the process for application will only begin when verification of Permanent Residence Permit has been confirmed by Immigration Services through a written and signed
letter of proof or permanent residence to be attached to the application.

This will require offices where such applications are received to first send verification of permanent residence requests to Immigration Services before receiving an application for naturalisation.

Processing time and fees:

Naturalisation applications take approximately 12 months to process. The process may take longer depending on any errors in your application.

The fee for a naturalization application and the issuing of an original citizenship certificate is R 300. 00.

Important considerations:

Any period during which an applicant for naturalisation has been employed outside the Republic in the service of the Government of the Republic (otherwise than as a person engaged locally) or on a ship or aircraft or a public means of transport registered or licensed in and operating from the Republic, and any period during which an applicant for naturalisation has been resident outside the Republic with his or her spouse while the latter was so employed, shall be regarded as a period of residence or ordinary residence in the Republic.

A certificate of naturalisation shall not be issued to any person over the age of 18 years before that person has made the declaration of allegiance set forth in Schedule 1of the South African Citizenship Act.

The Minister (SAPS) may in respect of any person who has applied for a certificate of naturalisation make such enquiries as the Minister may deem fit, and require such person to appear personally before him or her or a person designated by him or her.

If the Minister has refused an application for a certificate of naturalisation by or on behalf of any person, the Minister shall not be obliged to reconsider such application at any time, and shall not consider another application for a certificate of naturalisation by or on behalf of such person until the expiration of a period of at least one year from the date upon which the person in question was advised of the Minister’s decision. However, the Minister shall at any time reconsider an application if he or she receives any new information regarding the applicant which may influence his or her original decision.

The Minister may under exceptional circumstances grant a certificate of naturalisation as a South African citizen to an applicant who does not comply with the requirements relating to residence or ordinary residence in the Republic.