IMPORTANT NOTICE

Passport Applications

The Department of Home Affairs has appointed VFS Global to facilitate the submission of the following passport applications:

• Adult Passport Applications: South African citizens who are in possession of a 13-digit barcoded Identity Document (ID book) or Smart ID Card.
• Child Passport Applications: Children under the age of 15 years and 9 months whose births have been registered with the Department of Home Affairs and who have been issued with a South African unabridged birth certificate.

Applicants who meet the above requirements are kindly requested to schedule an appointment with VFS Global using the link below:  https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ppt/en/zaf/apply-passport

Public Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday

Please note that the office will be closed on all UK Bank Holidays and South African public holidays.

We kindly recommend that applicants take these public holiday closures into consideration when planning their visit.

Acquiring South African Citizenship

You may apply for South African citizenship through one of the following avenues:

1. Naturalisation
Applications for South African citizenship by naturalisation must be submitted while the applicant is residing in South Africa.

2. Citizenship by Descent
If one of your parents is a South African citizen, you may be eligible to acquire South African citizenship by descent.
In such cases, the foreign birth must be registered through the South African High Commission. Please refer to the “Services” section below.

3. Reinstatement of South African Citizenship
Reinstatement following loss of South African citizenship in terms of Section 26(4). Citizens who lost their South African citizenship due to acquiring foreign citizenship before 5th of October 1995 can be re-instated. Please refer to the “Services” page.

Important Update on South African Citizenship Following Constitutional Court Ruling

With the reference to the Constitutional Court ruling, the Department of Home Affairs has restored the citizenship of those affected by Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act 1995. As such, all South African citizens who acquired foreign citizenship are deemed not to have lost South African citizenship.

South Africans who wish to acquire citizenship of another country may now do so without applying for the Retention of South African citizenship letter, Section 6(2).

Those who lost their citizenship through conversion before 6 October 1995 are eligible for reinstatement under Section 26(4). In this case, please refer to services via postal applications on this page.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling does not apply to individuals who voluntarily renounced their South African citizenship.

Reinstatement Process

The following process applies to individuals who automatically lost their South African citizenship after 6 October 1995.

Following the Court’s judgment, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has introduced a dedicated online Citizenship Reinstatement Portal, which enables affected individuals to verify their citizenship status and, where applicable, initiate the reinstatement process.

Applicants should access the portal using the following link: https://myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za

Please follow the instructions provided on the portal and await the outcome of your application. The response may take up to 10 weeks.

Once you have received the outcome, please print a copy and approach VFS to apply for a new South African passport.

Important Notice

All South African citizens, including dual or multiple citizens, are required by law to use a valid South African passport when entering or departing South Africa.

Other Services

The Home Affairs Section of the South African High Commission, London, provides some services strictly by appointment and others are provided strictly by post.

Services Provided Strictly by Post

The following services are processed exclusively by post:

• Retention of South African Citizenship: Following recent changes, South African citizens are no longer required to apply for the retention of South African citizenship. Any application submitted for this purpose will not be processed, and any fees paid will not be refunded.
• Resumption of South African Citizenship Reinstatement following loss of South African citizenship in terms of Section 26(4). Citizens who lost their South African citizenship due to acquiring foreign citizenship before 5^th of October 1995
• Determination of South African Citizenship Status
• Certificates: Birth, Marriage, Death and Certificate of No Impediment
• Registration of Marriage: South African citizens who marry outside South Africa are required to register their marriage.
• Registration of Divorce: South African citizens who divorce outside South Africa are required to register their divorce.

For the relevant application forms, requirements and guidelines for any of the above services, please select the applicable service on the Civic Services page https://dirco.gov.za/uk/civic-services/ 

Book an Appointment

Please click on the Bookings Calendar to schedule an appointment for any of the following civic services:

• Notice of Birth: Birth Registration and First Passport.
• First ID Book and First Adult Passport: For applicants aged 15.9 years and older who have never been issued with a South African ID Book or Smart ID Card.
• Replacement or Re-issue of ID Book: Please note that Smart ID Cards are issued and replaced only in South Africa.
• Emergency Travel Certificate: In cases of death or severe illness, where you are unable to secure an urgent appointment, please contact : homeaffairs.london@dirco.gov.za or Milnet@dirco.gov.za

Please note Emergency Travel Documents cannot be processed or issued on weekends or on UK or South African public holidays.

• Renunciation of South African Citizenship.
• Consent for a Minor’s Passport Application: For parents residing in different countries.
• Amendments: Including Change of Forenames, Change of Surname not resulting from marriage or divorce, and Change of Gender.

Death Registration

For the registration of the death of a South African citizen in the United Kingdom, a legalised/apostilled Death Certificate is compulsory.

The Death Certificate must be apostilled before an appointment is requested. Information on legalising UK documents is available on the UK Government document legalisation website.

Please do not book a Death Registration appointment through the online Bookings Calendar. Once the Death Certificate has been apostilled, please request an appointment by email at Milnet@dirco.gov.za.

Important: One appointment must be booked for each applicant. For example, two applicants require two separate appointments.

If you are unable to attend, please cancel your appointment promptly so that the slot can be made available to another applicant.

Civic Services: Forms, Guidelines and Enquiries:

To access the relevant application forms, supporting documents and guidelines for the services listed above, please select the applicable service on the Civic Services page.

Passport Collection:

In accordance with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Circular, the collection of passports by third parties is strictly prohibited.

Please also note that where a passport application is submitted within South Africa, the Department of Home Affairs office at which the application was lodged cannot redirect the passport to a South African Mission abroad for collection or dispatch.

General Enquiries

For any other enquiries relating to Civic Services, please contact: homeaffairs.london@dirco.gov.za   

Application Fees

PLEASE NOTE: If you are applying through VFS Global, do NOT pay into the South African High Commission’s account as the payment cannot be refunded.

All application fees are non-refundable. Fees for applications through the High Commission are to be deposited electronically into the High Commission’s UK bank account and must be paid in Sterling Pounds only and at least three days before your appointment.

NB: Please be reminded that you will be required to bring printed proof of payment to your appointment.

Processing fees (British Pound Sterling) must be deposited electronically into High Commission’s bank account using the details below:

NAME OF THE BANK: LLOYDS BANK PLC

NAME OF THE ACCOUNT HOLDER: SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 51969368

SORT CODE: 30-65-41

IBAN: GB51 LOYD 3065 4151 9693 68

BIC Code: LOYDGB21685

Currency: GBP

REFERENCE NUMBER: SURNAME & FORENAMES (as they appear on the SA Passport /ID /Birth certificate). No Postal Orders or cash will be accepted.

ADDRESS:

THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION
15 WHITE HALL
LONDON
SW1A 2DD