{"id":608,"date":"2025-02-14T09:48:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T09:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/?page_id=608"},"modified":"2025-08-13T07:56:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T07:56:49","slug":"retention-of-south-african-citizenship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/retention-of-south-african-citizenship\/","title":{"rendered":"Retention of South African Citizenship"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"608\" class=\"elementor elementor-608\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"aux-parallax-section elementor-element elementor-element-d361432 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d361432\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a77b4c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a77b4c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">APPLICATION FOR RETENTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"aux-parallax-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ef87e5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7ef87e5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d895b54 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d895b54\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f80793 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f80793\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>NB: PLEASE APPLY BY POST<\/strong><\/p><p>The South African Citizenship Act provides for retention of South African citizenship <strong>PRIOR<\/strong> to the acquisition of a foreign citizenship. A condition of attaining dual citizenship for all South African citizens aged 18 years or older is that they must <strong>apply<\/strong> and be <strong>granted permission<\/strong> to retain their South African citizenship <strong>prior<\/strong> to the acquisition of a foreign citizenship.<\/p><p>If a South African citizen does not obtain this prior permission, they will <strong>automatically lose<\/strong> their South African citizenship on voluntary acquisition of a foreign citizenship.<\/p><p>South African citizens under the age of 18 years are <strong>exempt<\/strong> and <strong>do not<\/strong> require to apply for dual citizenship, as long as they acquire the foreign citizenship <strong>before<\/strong> their 18th birthday. They automatically retain their South African citizenship for life unless, once they have reached the age of 18 years and they then wish to acquire a <strong>further<\/strong> foreign citizenship, they will then have to apply for <strong>prior<\/strong> permission to retain their South African citizenship. Failing to do so, they will automatically lose their South African citizenship.<\/p><p>In essence legislation provides that a South African dual citizen can use his or her foreign passport\/citizenship\/nationality freely <strong>outside<\/strong> South Africa.<\/p><p><strong>Requirements to qualify and apply for retention: <\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Two certified copies of a <strong><u>valid<\/u><\/strong> South African passport. Please do not send your original passport.<\/li><li>Proof that foreign citizenship is not yet acquired, from the authorities of the country you wish to acquire foreign citizenship of, (original and with a sworn translated version if not issued in English). <em>In case of UK, it is a Non acquisition letter issued by the UK visas and Immigration, <strong>only an original letter from British Home Office will be accepted<\/strong>. <\/em><\/li><\/ol><p><strong>\u00a0 UK VISAS AND IMMIGRATION<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>\u00a0 Department 101<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>\u00a0 The Capital Building<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>\u00a0 Liverpool<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>\u00a0 L3\u00a0 9PP<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Tel.:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong><em>Web:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ol start=\"3\"><li>Processing fee (Non-Refundable): <strong>CHF<\/strong> (British pounds) must be deposited electronically into Embassy\u2019s account. See below banking details:<\/li><\/ol><table><tbody><tr><td width=\"193\"><p><strong>NAME OF THE BANK:<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"327\"><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"193\"><p><strong>NAME OF THE ACCOUNT HOLDER:<\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"327\"><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"193\"><p><strong>ACCOUNT NUMBER: <\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"327\"><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"193\"><p><strong>SORT CODE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"327\"><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"193\"><p><strong>REFERENCE NUMBER: <\/strong><\/p><\/td><td width=\"327\"><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><strong><u>Please attach proof of payment with your application<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><u>N.B<\/u><\/strong><strong><u>.<\/u><\/strong><u> NO Postal orders, or CASH must be posted)<\/u><\/p><ol start=\"4\"><li>Fully completed <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/BI-1664_Retention_SAC.pdf\">DHA-1664 form<\/a>, in BLACK INK and BLOCK LETTERS<\/li><li>Fully completed <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/04\/BI-529_Determination_Citizenship-1.pdf\">DHA-529 form<\/a>, in BLACK INK and BLOCK LETTERS <strong>(FULLY COMPLETED means all questions on the two forms must be answered. Please do not answer \u201cN\/A\u201d, it is not an answer to any of the questions. <\/strong><em><u>DHA-529 is required, disregard number 8 of DHA-1664<\/u><\/em><strong>)<\/strong><ol><li><strong>Part A:<\/strong> questions 9, 10 and 11 are most important for the applicant. <strong><u>B. number 10(d) must also be answered, with circling a No or a Yes. NO if you are applying for the FIRST TIME for Retention. Yes if you applied for a Retention previously and attach your first Retention copy.<\/u><\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Part B:<\/strong> The relevant status can be written next to the words Marital Status on the form (e.g. Never married\/ Married\/ Divorced\/Widowed). The details of the applicant\u2019s current or former spouse must then be completed on the DHA-529 whether deceased or divorced or widowed)<\/li><li><strong>Part C and D: <\/strong>Both the parents\u2019 details must be completed including their ID numbers.<\/li><li><strong>Part E<\/strong>: Ensure that form DHA-529 is signed. Valid telephone\/mobile number, email address (in block letters) and physical address must be provided.<\/li><\/ol><\/li><li>Self-addressed pre-paid special delivery envelope with your correct postal address.<\/li><li><strong>PLEASE NOTE:<\/strong><strong> Any application with incomplete forms\/information\/payment will be returned to the applicant without processing.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Processing time<\/strong>: 15 working days<\/li><li><em><u>(Non-acquisition letters must be received in the office 20 days before their expiry date)<\/u>.<\/em>\u00a0<\/li><\/ol><p><strong>N.B. Acquiring foreign citizenship without applying for retention will result in an automatic loss of your South African Citizenship. You cannot apply for retention after acquiring foreign citizenship.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Once it is processed the letter will be posted in the pre-paid self-addressed special delivery envelope. The letter\/certificate should be carefully preserved. You should be able to present to Home Affairs in future whenever requested.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>PLEASE DO NOT POST THE ORIGINAL PASSPORT<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>ADDRESS<\/strong><\/p><p>South African Embassy<\/p><p>Consular Section<\/p><p>Alpenstrasse 29<\/p><p>Bern<\/p><p>3006<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6d1d04 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c6d1d04\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-670c1b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"670c1b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"page\" data-elementor-id=\"442\" class=\"elementor elementor-442\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"aux-parallax-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f9dc782 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3f9dc782\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aada7c7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3aada7c7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c5742d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6c5742d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Services<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-221610b3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"221610b3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-203308f3 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-page-list\" data-id=\"203308f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-page-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-items \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-a6698c4 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/birth-registration-and-first-passport-for-child\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Birth Registration and first passport for child<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-39e8ae3 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/first-id-and-first-adult-passport\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">First ID and First Adult Passport <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-faecf8f ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/re-issue-of-id-document\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Re-Issue of ID Document<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-5a59813 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/emergency-travel-document\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Emergency Travel Document<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-6e2c904 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/registration-of-marriage\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Registration of Marriage <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-2d4a5e3 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/registration-of-divorce\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Registration of Divorce<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-19c4d8f ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/registration-of-death\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Registration of Death<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-851ee86 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/application-for-birth-certificate\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Application for Birth Certificate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-618ead9 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/application-marriage-certificate\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Application Marriage Certificate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-fc0a0f3 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/application-death-certificate\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Application Death Certificate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-40e0a35 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/determination-of-south-african-citizenship\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Determination of South African Citizenship<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-d5809f4 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/certificate-of-no-impediment\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Certificate of No-Impediment<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-90117f6 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/retention-of-south-african-citizenship\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Retention of South African Citizenship<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-3e7b227 ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/renunciation-of-south-african-citizenship\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Renunciation of South African Citizenship<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-list-item   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-repeater-item-9e3dfac ekit_badge_left\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/amendment-of-personal-particulars\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit_page_list_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ekit_page_list_title_title\">Amendment of Personal Particulars<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"aux-parallax-section elementor-element elementor-element-d0bba87 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d0bba87\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60819b8 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"60819b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"page\" data-elementor-id=\"19\" class=\"elementor elementor-19\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3dac81b4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3dac81b4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27ea61c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"27ea61c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Media Centre<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"aux-parallax-section elementor-element elementor-element-98223e7 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"98223e7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cde291a elementor-widget elementor-widget-aux_recent_posts\" data-id=\"cde291a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;inherit&quot;,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"aux_recent_posts.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"widget-container aux-widget-recent-posts aux-parent-au16a8f7d7\"><div data-element-id=\"au16a8f7d7\" class=\"aux-match-height aux-row aux-de-col1 aux-tb-col1 aux-mb-col1 aux-total-3 aux-no-meta aux-ajax-view  \"><div class=\"aux-col post-1093\">\n                        <article class=\"post column-entry no-media post-1093 type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-speeches\">\n                            \n                            <div class=\"entry-main\">\n                                                        \n                                <header class=\"entry-header\">\n                                \n                                    <h4 class=\"entry-title\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/29\/press-conference-remarks-by-his-excellency-president-cyril-ramaphosa-during-the-state-visit-to-switzerland-bern-switzerland-29-october-2025\/\">\n                                            Press Conference Remarks by His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State Visit to Switzerland, Bern, Switzerland, 29 October 2025                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/h4>\n                                                                    <div class=\"entry-format\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/29\/press-conference-remarks-by-his-excellency-president-cyril-ramaphosa-during-the-state-visit-to-switzerland-bern-switzerland-29-october-2025\/\">\n                                            <div class=\"post-format format-\"> <\/div>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/header>\n                                                            \n                                <div class=\"entry-info\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"entry-date\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/29\/press-conference-remarks-by-his-excellency-president-cyril-ramaphosa-during-the-state-visit-to-switzerland-bern-switzerland-29-october-2025\/\">\n                                            <time datetime=\"2025-10-29T07:30:42+00:00\" title=\"2025-10-29T07:30:42+00:00\" >October 29, 2025<\/time>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                                                                                                                                                                        <\/div>\n                            \n                                                        \n                            <\/div>\n\n                        <\/article>\n<\/div><div class=\"aux-col post-1091\">\n                        <article class=\"post column-entry no-media post-1091 type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-speeches\">\n                            \n                            <div class=\"entry-main\">\n                                                        \n                                <header class=\"entry-header\">\n                                \n                                    <h4 class=\"entry-title\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/29\/remarks-by-president-cyril-ramaphosa-to-the-swiss-house-of-parliament-in-bern-on-the-occasion-of-the-state-visit-to-switzerland-29-october-2025\/\">\n                                            Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Swiss House of Parliament in Bern, on the occasion of the State Visit to Switzerland, 29 October 2025                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/h4>\n                                                                    <div class=\"entry-format\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/29\/remarks-by-president-cyril-ramaphosa-to-the-swiss-house-of-parliament-in-bern-on-the-occasion-of-the-state-visit-to-switzerland-29-october-2025\/\">\n                                            <div class=\"post-format format-\"> <\/div>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/header>\n                                                            \n                                <div class=\"entry-info\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"entry-date\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/29\/remarks-by-president-cyril-ramaphosa-to-the-swiss-house-of-parliament-in-bern-on-the-occasion-of-the-state-visit-to-switzerland-29-october-2025\/\">\n                                            <time datetime=\"2025-10-29T07:23:39+00:00\" title=\"2025-10-29T07:23:39+00:00\" >October 29, 2025<\/time>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                                                                                                                                                                        <\/div>\n                            \n                                                        \n                            <\/div>\n\n                        <\/article>\n<\/div><div class=\"aux-col post-1089\">\n                        <article class=\"post column-entry no-media post-1089 type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-media-statements\">\n                            \n                            <div class=\"entry-main\">\n                                                        \n                                <header class=\"entry-header\">\n                                \n                                    <h4 class=\"entry-title\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/28\/president-ramaphosa-arrives-in-switzerland-for-a-state-visit\/\">\n                                            President Ramaphosa arrives in Switzerland for a State Visit                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/h4>\n                                                                    <div class=\"entry-format\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/28\/president-ramaphosa-arrives-in-switzerland-for-a-state-visit\/\">\n                                            <div class=\"post-format format-\"> <\/div>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                <\/header>\n                                                            \n                                <div class=\"entry-info\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"entry-date\">\n                                        <a href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/2025\/10\/28\/president-ramaphosa-arrives-in-switzerland-for-a-state-visit\/\">\n                                            <time datetime=\"2025-10-28T07:11:14+00:00\" title=\"2025-10-28T07:11:14+00:00\" >October 28, 2025<\/time>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                                                                                                                                                                        <\/div>\n                            \n                                                        \n                            <\/div>\n\n                        <\/article>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section><!-- widget-container -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>APPLICATION FOR RETENTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP NB: PLEASE APPLY BY POST The South African Citizenship Act provides for retention of South African citizenship PRIOR to the acquisition of a foreign citizenship. A condition of attaining dual citizenship for all South African citizens aged 18 years or older is that they must apply and be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-608","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Retention of South African Citizenship - South African Embassy in Berne<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dirco.gov.za\/berne\/retention-of-south-african-citizenship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Retention of South African Citizenship\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"APPLICATION FOR RETENTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP NB: PLEASE APPLY BY POST The South African Citizenship Act provides for retention of South African citizenship PRIOR to the acquisition of a foreign citizenship. 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