Can I get South African citizenship by descent if I was born in another country?

The long answer

If you were born outside of South Africa to a parent who was a South African citizen at the time of your birth and your birth was registered under the South African Births and Deaths Registration Act (BDRA), you can apply for citizenship by descent.

But if your birth was not registered under the BDRA, you may have to prove that you are your father’s biological child by you and your father having DNA tests, as well as handing in all the forms that Home Affairs requires.

This is the list of documents required by Home Affairs in South Africa for an application for citizenship by descent: 

• Completed BI-24 form to be endorsed by South African parent of child being registered;

• Completed BI-529.  Child and South African parent;

• Original or notarized copy of foreign birth certificate;

• Original or notarized copies of South African parents' proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, ID book, or valid passport;

• Original or notarized copy of parents' marriage certificate;

• Police report from country of origin as well as one from RSA (for applicant of 15 years and above);

• An interview report for both the applicant and the South African parent (15 years and above);

• Proof of Paternity / DNA tests (15 years and above).

If Home Affairs does require DNA tests, these would have to be legal tests which can be done at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). They have branches in all the provinces, but this is their Head Office address.  You could enquire about their rates at the following telephone or email address:

1 Modderfontein Rd, Sandringham, Johannesburg.

Tel: 011 386 6000

Email: enquiries@nhls.ac.za

You could also ask for advice from one of the following organisations:

• The Black Sash, an organisation that gives free paralegal advice:

Email: help@blacksash.org.za 

Helpline: 072 663 3739 or 063 610 1865

• The Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town

Email: info@scalabrini.org.za 

Tel: 021 465 6433

• Lawyers for Human Rights

Email: info@lhr.org.za

Tel: Musina: 015 534 2203 

Durban: 031 301 0531

Pretoria: 012 320 2943

Johannesburg: 011 339 1960

Cape Town: 021 424 856

• Legal Resources Centre

Email: info@lrc.org.za, 

Johannesburg: 011 836 9831

Cape Town: 021 481 3000.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie