Can a Naturalized Citizen have Dual Citizenship?

Becoming a dual citizen as a South African could be a complicated process. The 2006 South African Nationality Act stipulates that any South African citizen over the age of 18 who wish to hold dual citizenship must first apply to retain their South African nationality.

Applicants would be required to be granted permission by the South African High Commission to become a dual citizen in the UK prior to applying for UK citizenship or a UK passport as stated by the South African Citizenship Act.

If you don’t obtain this prior permission, you will automatically lose your South African nationality on the voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship.

It’s important to note that whilst you still apply for British nationality in the same way if you would like to retain your South African citizenship, then you need to apply for the retention of your South African Citizenship before you acquire your British Citizenship. Otherwise, you will lose your status as a South African citizen.

If you do lose your South African citizenship this way it is possible to have it re-instated but this is a complex process.

If you are a minor (under 18), you are not required to apply for permission to seek your home country nationality.

In general dual citizenship or dual-nation citizenship is a type of citizenship in which a single person holds two nationalities simultaneously from a foreign country or countries.

The concept of dual citizenship varies according to nationality law in the UK. British citizens who wish to obtain British citizenship are free to retain their original citizenship.

Foreign nationals will have to go through a lengthy process in order to achieve dual nationality in the UK.

To retain your South African Citizenship, you’ll first need to apply for a Certificate of Non-Acquisition from the UK Home Office. This will prove that you have not already been granted British citizenship.

Once you have this, you’ll need to apply for a Certificate of Retention from the South African High Commission.

Being dual citizens means that you have both citizenship advantages. The most important advantage of dual citizenship is the freedom to stay or travel across the country from one country to the other.

Whilst being a dual citizen brings with many benefits it is important to understand that as a dual country you could potentially suffer double taxation.

Naturalization is the most common form for acquiring UK citizenship. Citizenship may be applied online or by mail.

You are able to apply in Britain for British dual citizenship if your original country gives you a right to retain it.

If you are applying for naturalisation to the UK you must satisfy the above conditions.

Not all countries allow you to keep the original citizenship in Britain; some countries only permit you as a dual citizen in other countries.

Typically the law of your home country dictates whether you are required to renounce your citizenship or not to become an English citizen or to become a dual national.

Naturalisation is the name for the legal process of obtaining citizenship.

For example, if you are an individual who has held a Skilled Worker visa in the United Kingdom for 5 years and would like to apply for UK citizenship, the process of applying and waiting for the result is called: Naturalisation.

It is not as straightforward as the example above however, and can take years to complete, if at all.

Naturalisation can be hindered by individuals breaking their visa rules, committing crime, or being deported.

Applications for citizenship can also be rejected for something as simple as a mistake on the individuals application documents.

This is why it is vital to acquire the help of an Immigration lawyer to guide you through the process and who will ensure your application is flawless.

If you were born in the UK, you are automatically recognised as a British Citizen by birth, unless you have renounced this citizen status later in life.

You may also be considered a British citizen by descent (through your birth parents British citizen status) or through obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

You are eligible if:

• You have a certified visa which allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years or more
• You have never committed a crime, and present benefits to the UK economy and community
• You must have held the legal right to remain in the UK continuously for 12 months after applying for ILR
• You have an extensive portfolio detailing your personal information including identity documents (proof of your identity such as your passport, your birth certificate, driving licence, or other relevant travel documents, confirmation that you were lawfully resident in the UK during your qualifying period, proof that you have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, proof of your previous immigration status including before settling in the UK, a letter to confirm you’ve passed the Life in the UK test, or details of any time spent outside the UK during your qualifying period)
• You are 18 years old or over
• You pass the Life in the UK test
• You demonstrate your knowledge of the English language
• You meet the Good Character requirements
• You can prove your continuous residence in the UK, meaning you can’t have spent more than 450 days outside of the UK during your qualifying period

Once you have collated all of this information into a portfolio and sent it to the Home Office for consideration, applicants may be facing a 6 month wait time.

If there are inconsistencies within the application, it could take longer than this.

You should note that you will not have access to the documents you have sent of with your application until it has been processed, so should prepare to not be able to use any of these documents for at least 6 months.

To speed up the application process, you can make sure that your portfolio of evidence is comprehensive and that there are no errors in your application. The Home Office also offers priority and fast-track services for an additional fee.

Applying to become a British citizen is an expensive process, the current fees are as follows:

• £1,709 for British citizenship by naturalisation
• £1,540 for nationality registration
• £130 for the citizenship ceremony
• £5 for the administration of a citizenship oath

As well as these fees you should also consider other costs you may incur as part of your application, this includes the cost of the Life in the UK test, an English language test, and any document translations you may need.

Further to the application costs, you should also be aware you will be subject to double taxation.

Dual citizenship can be both beneficial and harmful due to the more complicated legal status it carries, and this is why it’s important to understand this effect prior to applying.

Dual citizens can enjoy a variety of benefits, in some instances you can receive lower tuition rates or own more properties. You may be subject to double taxes and restrictions on some jobs, as well as military restrictions, but are granted voting rights and jury duties.

You are able to study in the UK, but will be subject to council tax. You will have access to the UK’s healthcare system, but will still have to pay tax for your other country.

We are an experienced legal service provider who can advise on completing the citizenship application.

We’ll ensure that you have eligibility for dual nationality before we start our applications. We have an experienced legal team who have successfully handled applications for dual citizenship to British citizens.

You will receive legal assistance for all aspects of British dual citizenship application. This will help with the collection of information that is relevant to the Home Office processing methods.

The Department will also manage all the application processes and act as your liaison officer with the Home Department.

Here at the Immigration Advice Service, our expert lawyers have helped thousands of people to successfully apply for British Citizenship. Because of the high standard of training that all of our lawyers have received, they are able to offer several services that can help you with your application for British Citizenship.

To find out more about the ways they can help you, or to begin your British Citizenship application today, simply get in touch on 0333 414 9576