Foreign Birth Registration – South African Citizenship Process

FOREIGN BIRTH REGISTRATION FOR CHILDREN OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS

Claim South African Citizenship for Children Born Abroad

Children born outside South Africa to one or both parents who are South African citizens may be eligible to register their foreign birth with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and claim South African citizenship. This process ensures that your child’s citizenship status is formally recognized, enabling access to important rights and privileges.

WHO QUALIFIES?

A child born abroad qualifies for South African citizenship if at least one parent is a South African citizen at the time of the child’s birth. However, the child’s birth must be registered with the DHA within 30 days of birth to formalize this status.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR FOREIGN BIRTH REGISTRATION

To successfully register a child’s foreign birth and apply for citizenship, the following documents must be submitted (Xpatweb can assist you in compiling and verifying all documentation):

Important: The Department of Home Affairs requires that birth certificates of the parent(s) or grandparents accompany every application. Failure to include these documents will result in the application not being processed.

PROCESSING TIMES AND FEES

RELATED VISA CATEGORIES AND APPLICATIONS

WHY REGISTER FOREIGN BIRTHS?

Registering a child’s birth with the South African Department of Home Affairs is essential to:

If you need assistance with foreign birth registration or related immigration matters, Xpatweb’s expert team is here to guide you through the process smoothly and efficiently.


A child whose parent(s) is a South African Citizen may automatically qualify for citizenship. Their birth will however need to be registered with the Department of Home Affairs within 30 days.


The following quintessential documents must be submitted inter alia with the application (we can assist with these as required):

  • A certified copy of the unabridged birth certificate issued abroad or at birth
  • Proof of birth and/or citizenship of the South African parent(s)
  • Letter from the parents confirming paternity


Foreign Birth Registration take approximately 6 months to process by the Department of Home Affairs


Offices must ensure that parents/grandparents birth certificates are attached with every application submitted. Without these no application will be processed.

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