Appointment Booking

Please note that a separate appointment is required for each applicant. For example, if you are submitting applications for two applicants, you must book two separate appointment slots through the Booking Calendar available on the above webpage.

Renunciation of South African Citizenship

The South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act 88 of 1995), which came into effect on 6 October 1995, provides for South African citizens to apply for the voluntary renunciation of their South African citizenship.

To be eligible to apply for renunciation, applicants must have already acquired the citizenship of another country. This requirement ensures that the renunciation of South African citizenship does not result in the applicant becoming stateless.

Minor Children

Minor children under the age of 18 cannot independently renounce their South African citizenship. They may be included in the application of one or both South African parents who are renouncing their citizenship, subject to the consent of both parents.

Applicants Aged 18 and Over

Applicants aged 18 years and over may apply for renunciation once they have been issued with a South African identity document.

Important Notice: Restoration of South African Citizenship

Please note: The Department of Home Affairs has restored the South African citizenship of persons affected by Section 6(2) of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995. If you were affected by this provision, you are therefore deemed not to have lost your South African citizenship.

Applying for a South African Identity Document

You may book an appointment through the Booking Calendar to apply for a South African identity document and obtain an identity document reflecting your South African identity number.

For information on the applicable requirements, please refer to “Re-Issue of ID Document” under Services on our website.

Applying for a South African Passport

To apply for a new South African passport, please schedule an appointment with VFS Global using the link below: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ppt/en/zaf/apply-passport

APPOINTMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR RENUNCIATION OF CITIZENSHIP:

Important Information for Your Appointment:

• Please bring a black-ink pen to your appointment.
• All application forms must be fully completed but not signed. Forms must be signed in the presence of a Home Affairs Official.
• Where a child under the age of 18 is included in the application, both parents must be present at the appointment.
• Please bring the originals and two (2) copies of all supporting documents, including documents relating to children under the age of 18. The copies will be certified by the Home Affairs Official.
• The applicant, including any child included in the application, must provide documentary proof of citizenship of another country.
• The bar-coded DHA-246 form is not available for download and will be provided on the day of the appointment.

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

Completion of Application Forms:

Complete all forms in BLOCK LETTERS using BLACK INK.
Ensure that all forms are completed in full but do not sign them, as they must be signed in the presence of a Home Affairs Official.

Important information regarding children under 18 years of age:

• If your child is not registered as a South African citizen, do not include the child on the form.
• If your child is a South African citizen and one of the parents is applying to renounce South African citizenship, the child may be included in Section 11 of the form.

1. Form BI-246

This barcoded form cannot be downloaded.
It will be provided to you on the day of your appointment.

Please ensure that the form is completed in full, in BLOCK LETTERS and using BLACK INK and without any errors.

2. Form BI-529: Determination of Citizenship Status

• This form must be downloaded and completed in full on both sides before your appointment date.
• The purpose of this form is to confirm that the personal information provided is true accurate and complete and that your personal details correspond with those recorded on the National Population Register

Sections of Form BI-529 to Complete

Part A

• Questions 7 is important and must be completed if you were born outside South Africa
• 9, 10 and 11 are particularly important.
• For Question 9, provide the date on which you first entered the UK to live or work.
• Question 10(d) must also be completed by circling Yes or No:
  • Circle No if you do not have a Retention/Re-instatement of South African Citizenship Letter.
  • Circle Yes if you have a Retention/Re-instatement of South African Citizenship Letter and bring your original Retention/Re-instatement Letter/Certificate to your appointment.

Part B

• Enter your marital status next to the words “Marital Status” on the form (for example: Marital Status: Never Married, Married, Divorced or Widowed).
• Details of the applicant’s current or former spouse must be completed, including where the spouse is deceased, divorced or widowed.
• For the legalisation of UK marriage certificates and UK divorce decrees, visit: https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised (Please refer to Supporting Documents Requirement No. 5).

Part C and Part D

• Complete fully with both parents’ details, including:
  • No. 5: ID numbers
  • No.6 of Section “C” and No.7 & of Section “D” in important if parents were born outside RSA (provide proof such as RSA naturalisation/Permanent Residence Permit.
  • Any foreign citizenship they hold (Indicate and provide proof of foreign citizenship)

Part E

• Do not sign the form, must sign only in the presence of a Home Affairs Official.
• You must complete fully by providing your residential address, a valid telephone/mobile number, and an email address (in block letters).
• Please make two copies of the completed original BI-529 form before attending your appointment.

1. Form SVP – 109E:

To be completed by South African citizens born in Namibia.

Documents to be submitted:

Please bring all original documents, together with two (2) photocopies of each required document, to your appointment.

1. South African Passport and Identity Document

• Your current or most recent South African passport; and
• Your South African identity document (ID) or Smart ID Card.

2. South African Unabridged Birth Certificate

Please provide your South African unabridged birth certificate, reflecting the names of both parents.

3. Foreign Unabridged Birth Certificate

If you were born outside South Africa, please also provide your foreign unabridged birth certificate.

4. Proof of Acquisition of Foreign Nationality

If you hold a foreign nationality/nationality, you must provide documentary proof confirming how and when the foreign nationality was acquired.

Acceptable supporting documents may include:

• Naturalisation Certificate.
• Registration Certificate.
• Foreign birth certificate issued by the relevant Embassy/High Commission; or
• An official signed letter from the relevant authority confirming the date and way the citizenship or nationality was acquired.

Important: A foreign passport or birth certificate alone is not sufficient proof of the acquisition of foreign citizenship, as these documents do not indicate how or when the citizenship was acquired.

British Citizens

If you do not have the required documentary evidence, please refer to the UK Government website [www.gov.uk/hm-passport-office] for guidance on obtaining the relevant documentation.

You may also contact DPA.Queries@hmpo.gov.uk and attach copies of the following documents, where applicable:

• Your UK passport.
• Your birth certificate; and
• Evidence of your parents’ UK passports and UK citizenship documentation.

Other Nationalities

Applicants who hold a nationality other than British nationality should contact the relevant foreign authority and request an official signed letter confirming the date and way the citizenship or nationality was acquired.

Documents Issued in a Foreign Language

Any supporting document that is not in English must be officially translated into English.

Applicants must bring:

• The original foreign-language document, together with the required photocopies; and
• The official English translation, together with the required photocopies.

5. Marriage Certificate and/or Divorce Decree, if applicable

It is important to ensure that your marital status is correctly recorded on the South African Population Register.

• Submit your marriage certificate and/or divorce decree, where applicable.
• If the marriage or divorce took place outside South Africa, the relevant marriage certificate or divorce decree must be apostilled/legalised.
• A marriage or divorce that took place outside South Africa must be registered in South Africa, irrespective of the nationality of your spouse.
• This requirement also applies where you are renouncing your South African citizenship.
• Information, application forms and requirements for the registration of foreign marriages and divorces are available on our website under Services → Registration of Foreign Marriages/Divorce in RSA.
• For documents issued in the United Kingdom, information regarding apostille/legalisation services is available from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): Get your document legalised.

6. Letter of Exemption

Submit a Letter of Exemption if foreign citizenship was acquired as an adult before 6 October 1995.

7. Proof of South African Citizenship

If you acquired South African citizenship other than by birth or descent, submit proof of your South African citizenship, such as:

• South African Naturalisation Certificate; and
• South African immigration permit, where applicable.

8. Written Explanation for Renunciation

Submit a comprehensive written statement explaining the personal, legal and/or practical reasons for your decision to renounce South African citizenship.

9. Return Envelope

Please submit a prepaid, self-addressed Special Delivery envelope:

• with sufficient postage for an item weighing up to 100 grams; and
• clearly displaying your full postal address.

Please note: Franked envelopes, including envelopes bearing postage labels or stickers, will not be accepted

RENUNCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP FOR MINORS

Children Under 18 Years of Age

South African citizenship may be renounced on behalf of a minor under the age of 18 only where the child was born in South Africa, or where the child’s foreign birth has been registered with the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa, and one of the child’s South African parents is also renouncing his or her South African citizenship.

The minor child may be included in the parent’s application under Section 11 of the relevant application form.

Application Form

Form DHA-529 must be completed:

• In BLACK INK.
• In BLOCK LETTERS; and
• With the full particulars of the minor child and both parents.

Supporting Documents

Applicants must submit the original documents together with two (2) copies of each of the following, where applicable:

1. Current or expired passport of the minor.
2. Birth certificate:
   • South African unabridged birth certificate; and
   • If the child was born outside South Africa, the foreign unabridged birth certificate reflecting the details of both parents.
3. Proof of foreign citizenship/nationality, issued by the relevant foreign authority, confirming the date and way the child acquired foreign citizenship/citizenships.

PLEASE NOTE that a foreign passport or birth certificate alone is not regarded as sufficient proof of the acquisition of foreign citizenship/nationality, as these documents do not indicate the date and way citizenship was acquired.

British Citizenship:

A UK birth certificate alone should not be submitted as proof of British citizenship, as birth in the United Kingdom does not establish British citizenship in every case.

Where the required proof of British citizenship is not available, applicants should consult the https://www.gov.uk/hm-passport-office. for information on obtaining the appropriate documentation.

Applicants may also contact DPA.Queries@hmpo.gov.uk and provide copies of the relevant supporting documents, such as the child’s UK passport, birth certificate, and the parents’ British citizenship documentation, as applicable.

Citizenship of Other Countries:

Where the minor holds a nationality other than British citizenship and the required evidence is not available, applicants should contact the relevant Embassy, Home Office, immigration authority or other competent authority of that country and request official confirmation stating:

• The date on which citizenship/nationality was acquired; and
• The manner or basis on which citizenship/nationality was acquired.

Documents in a Foreign Language:

Any document issued in a language other than English must be officially translated into English.

Applicants must submit both:

• The original foreign-language document; and
• The official English translation, together with the required copies.

4. Consent and Signature Requirements

• The parent(s) responsible for the minor must sign the relevant forms on behalf of the child and in the presence of a Home Affairs official.

5. A motivation/consent letter signed by both parents in the presence of Home Affairs Official must be submitted, confirming their consent to the renunciation the minor child’s South African citizenship

6. Where the parents are divorced and one parent has sole custody, control and guardianship of the minor, documentary evidence confirming this arrangement, such as the relevant court order/ruling, must be submitted.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Failure to comply with any of the above requirements, including submission of the required photocopies, may result in your application not being accepted on the day of your appointment.

In such cases, you will be required to book a new appointment.  

Processing Time

• The standard processing time is approximately 12 to 18 months from the date on which the application is successfully lodged.
• Applicants are kindly requested not to contact the office for a status update before the 18-month processing period has elapsed.
• Once the application has been finalised, a letter confirming the outcome will be sent to the applicant using the pre-paid, self-addressed Special Delivery envelope provided at the time of application.
• The outcome letter/certificate should be kept in a safe place, as it is an important official document and may need to be presented to the Department of Home Affairs in the future, if requested.

South African High Commission,
15 Whitehall,
London,
SW1A 2DD