Citizenship

 

A permanent resident in South Africa can apply for Citizenship in this country if the candidate can meet the different eligibility criteria. 

 

South Africa Citizenship allows the South African permanent residents to enjoy certain benefits including the right to vote. One can get citizenship in South Africa by birth, by descent or by process of South African naturalization. 

 

South Africa Immigration Services offer different routes for foreign nationals to migrate to South Africa on a temporary or permanent basis. The type of visa issued to a foreign resident depends on the purpose of the visit and the time the applicant wish to spend in this country. 

 

For people who wish to visit South Africa to travel or to meet family members are generally given a visitor visa or a tourist visa. However, foreign nationals, who want to relocate to South Africa in order to live and work there, are given either temporary residence permits or permanent residence permits. 

 

With South Africa Citizenship, a person is allowed to reside in the country and the candidate is free to take up employment that suits the candidate educational qualifications and working experience. As a citizen, the person is allowed to vote in the country and enjoy many benefits. 

 

A person willing to secure citizenship in South Africa can qualify for it under the following three categories: 

 

By Birth: To apply for citizenship under this category, one has to present valid documents to prove the location and date of birth. A detail of the candidate parentage is also required. The location of birth of the applicant should be within the present country. Different distinctions have been made based on the birth dates, which are as follows: 

 

Birth Dates before 1949

 

If an applicant is born before 1949 then the candidate only has to present those documents that prove that the candidate is born in this country. 

 

Birth Dates between 1949 and June 1961

 

If the birth date of an applicant is between 1949 and June 1961, then the candidate has to prove that the candidate was born in this country. Besides this, the person also has to prove the candidate father was not a prohibited immigrant when the candidate was born. In this case, the father of the applicant has to be a permanent resident or a citizen of South Africa. 

 

Birth Date between July 1961 and 1994

 

An applicant who was born between July 1961 and 1994 has to prove that the candidate was born in South Africa and either the candidate mother or father was recognized as a permanent resident or a citizen of the country when the candidate was born. 

 

Birth Dates Since 1995

 

Applicants whose birth dates are between 1995 to present day have to prove that either one of their parents is a permanent resident or a citizen of South Africa. The birthplace of the applicant should be in this country. During application for citizenship, the applicant has to prove that the candidate does not hold citizenship of any other country. 

 

If an applicant is born outside South Africa then the candidate can apply for citizenship in this country if one of the parents is a South African citizen. Application for citizenship under this category is also extended for adopted children. However, one has to prove that the adoption has been a legal one. 

 

Permanent residents of South Africa can apply for citizenship of this country under the process of naturalization. People who already hold work permits, business visas or any other temporary visas can apply for citizenship in this country. 

 

For South African naturalization process, the age of the applicant should be above 21. The candidate should possess a good character in order to apply for citizenship in this country. The candidate should have language proficiency in one of the 11 official languages of this country; these are - Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

 

The applicant should hold a status of permanent residency and live in this country for a period of at least 5 years. If the spouse of an existing South African citizen applies through this process, then the total years of residence in this country will be reduced to 2 years.