SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP | Page 1 2

RESUMPTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP
Any former citizen by birth or descent who:

• Gave up his or her South African citizenship, or
• Automatically ceased vto be a South African citizen

can apply for the reinstatement of his/her South African citizenship. However this person must return permanently to South Africa.

AUTOMATIC LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP
This occurs when a South African Citizen:

• Obtains citizenship of another country by a voluntary and formal act, other than marriage, or:
• Serves in the armed forces of another country, where he or she is also a citizen, while is at war with South Africa.

DEPRIVATION OF CITIZENSHIP
A South African citizen by naturalization can be deprived of his citizenship if:

• The certificate of naturalisation was obtained fraudulently or false information was supplied.
• He or she holds citizenship of another country and has, at any time, been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in any country for an offence that also would be an offence in South Africa.

ACQUISITION OF THE CITIZENSHIP OR NATIONALITY OF ANOTHER COUNTRY
Any person who wants to apply for citizenship in another country must apply to the Minister of Home Affairs to retain his or her South African citizenship before acquiring the citizenship of the other country.