Citizenship by Birth

In terms of Section 2 of the South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995, which was amended in 2010, a citizen by birth is someone who was already a citizen by birth prior to the commencement of the Amendment Act or someone who was born in or outside of the Republic of South Africa and:

• At the time of their birth, one or both of their parents was a South African citizen.
• Was born in the Republic and who is not a citizen by birth by virtue of the preceding subsection, if they do not have the citizenship or nationality of any other country, or have no right to such citizenship or nationality.
• Was born in the Republic of parents who have been admitted to the Republic for permanent residence.

Important Considerations

The status of South African citizenship is strictly governed by the Citizenship Act. Changes in 2010 shifted the focus toward ensuring that minors born in South Africa have a path to citizenship based on the status of their parents or their lack of any other nationality.