Birth Registration

Persons born abroad to South African parents may avail of South African citizenship by descent through birth registration.

Birth registrations are processed and finalized in South Africa therefore requires a processing period of 4 months.

As soon as the application is finalized an abridged birth certificate will be mailed to the applicant. Upon receipt of the abridged birth certificate, the applicant may apply for his/her passport and full birth certificate.

Please note that children born abroad and whose births have been registered in South Africa are automatically allowed to maintain dual citizenship.

Requirements:

  • Form DHA 24, Notice of Birth
    Section F: To be completed and signed by the South African parent of child being registered. If both parents are South African citizens, the father must complete and sign this part.
    DHA 24 is a barcoded form. If application is to be mailed into this office please request for this form ahead of time by sending in a request with a prepaid self addressed stamp envelope.
  • Form BI 529, Determination of Citizenship Applicant and South African parent must complete this form. If both parents are South African citizens, each must complete this form.
    The form BI-529/DHA-529 must be fully completed by the applicant;
    The purpose of this form is to locate records at the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria; therefore, all applicants must complete this form and ensure that the information furnished is correct and complete.
    Questions that are not applicable should be marked as ‘n/a’; if answers to certain questions are not known, they should be marked as ‘Do not know
    Questions 9, 10, 11 of Part A are of particular importance.
  • An original or notarized copy of the child’s foreign birth certificate.
  • An original or notarized copy of the parent’s marriage certificate.
  • An original or notarized copies of the South African parent’s proof of South African citizenship e.g. birth certificate, identity document or valid passport.
  • Notarized letter from the non-South African parent or South African mother of child being registered, confirming his/her consent for the child’s birth to be registered in South Africa.
  • Certified copy of non-South African parent’s passport or government-issued ID.
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