Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
The new South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act 88 of 1995), came into effect on 6 October 1995. With this Act, the previous South African Citizenship Act, 1949 (Act 44 of 1949), was repealed in its entirety.
The implementation of a new South African Citizenship Act became necessary as the previous one had become outdated.
Certain aspects regarding citizenship which will be applicable in the new act are-
- South African citizenship through naturalisation, for persons aged between 16 1/2 yrs and 25 yrs, are no longer acquired automatically after 5 year;
- the granting of South African citizenship through naturalisation after 1 year under certain specific circumstances, no longer applies. Foreigners who have had permanent residence status in South Africa for two years, can become South African citizens two years after marrying a South African citizen;
- naturalised South African citizens no longer lose their South African citizenship after an absence from the country of 7 years;
- citizens of the former TBVC countries who acquired citizenship through naturalisation are now regarded as South African citizens through naturalisation; and
- persons who forfeited their South African citizenship through formally obtaining citizenship of another country, will have to formally apply for South African citizenship on their return to the country.
Issued by: Uitgereik deur: Subdirectorate Subdirektoraat COMMUNIATION DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTEMENT VAN BINNELANDSE SAKE
PLACE/PLEK: PRETORIA DATE/DATUM: 1995/1026