How to renounce dual citizenship

In South Africa, if you apply for dual citizenship you will also need to apply to keep your South African citizenship. If you don’t, you will automatically lose citizenship status.

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.

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

Application for Renunciation of South African Citizenship: Form BI-246 in duplicate (i.e. two (2) forms per applicant). For applicants under the age of 18, both parents must sign renunciation Form BI-246.

There is no fee to be paid for this application.

Page Contents

• Overview
• Dual Citizenship
• The benefits of dual citizenship
• Documents you will need to renounce citizenship
• How long is the renunciation process?
• Reinstating citizenship
• How can IAS help?

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.

Generally, you must pay tax on your worldwide income, regardless of whether you have single or duel citizenship or if you’re only a tax resident in a certain country. It is therefore crucial to determine the eligibility for being considered dual citizens.

Many countries allow multiple citizenships, some by naturalisation through work visas, study visas, or even through investment in the countries economy.

Many people wish to have dual+ citizenship or more than one citizenship to ensure they have rights to live and work in more than one country. Perhaps for investment purposes, familial, or to escape conflict.

Benefits include various opportunities for growth, financially, socially, politically, or personally. Entrepreneurs are able to establish and expand their sales channels abroad.

Individuals can open an open bank account with reliable banks without currency controls and grow their personal wealth. In Caribbean nations including Saint Lucia you can find the potential for investing in local companies, obtain citizenship and get good returns.

Visa free travel is another positive of dual or multiple citizenship. In some Caribbean nations such as Grenada, the second passport is visa-free. European citizenship allows entry in over 170 countries including Italy, France and Germany.

In theory, an individual could have as many citizenships as they wanted to, although gaining citizenship is a massively time consuming and complicated process in most instances. It also depends on which countries you are applying for, and which country you come from.

A person holding multiple citizenship is, generally, entitled to the rights of citizenship in each country whose citizenship they are holding (such as right to a passport, right to enter the country, right to work, right to own property, right to vote, etc.), but may also be subject to obligations of citizenship (such as a potential obligation for national service, becoming subject to taxation on worldwide income, etc.).

While a majority of countries offer citizenship to citizens seeking citizenship some countries do not allow dual citizens like Indonesia, Singapore, and UAE countries, and individuals would have to relinquish citizenship to switch citizenships.

If you were born in a country that did not permit dual citizenship, you would be denied entry to that other country if you were to obtain a citizenship.

However, if you have dual citizenship or the country’s nationality law permits this, you can still gain citizenship without sacrificing the citizenship you gained.

All documents must be signed in black ink, including copies. The documents you will need to send to the South African High Commission are as follows:

• Copies of South African Passports
• Identity Documents
• Retention of South African Citizenship certificate (if applicable)
• South African Naturalization certificate (if applicable)

Please note once formal renunciation has been recorded by the DHA all SA documents stand cancelled.

It is important you understand the consequences of renouncing your citizenship and the immigration law surrounding the loss of immigration status and switching to a foreign nationality.

There is no fee for this service.

To be eligible applicants must have already obtained the citizenship of another country because with effect of the renunciation, the person cannot become a stateless person.

A stateless person cannot be protected by any government, and has no nationality. This person cannot benefit from the rights that certain countries afford their citizens.

It is vital you ensure this does not happen to you during the process to renounce citizenship.

Processing time for renunciation is approximately 6 to 12 months for South Africans.

Giving up your citizenship or status only affects you and not any other members of your family – although it could affect the status of any children you have in future. Your right to live in South Africa will be affected if you give up citizenship.

Whenever a person ceases to be a South African citizen by way of renunciation, his or her children under the age of 18 years shall automatically cease to be South African citizens if the other parent of such children is not, or does not remain, a South African citizen.

To get your citizenship reinstated you may apply if you are a former citizen by birth or descent and you have returned to South Africa as permanent residents.

You may renounce your South African citizenship if you’re a person wishing to gain citizenship of another country as a dual citizen with multiple nationalities.

Navigating citizenship can be a potential minefield. Enlisting the aid of a diplomatic or consular officer and immigration lawyers affords you the best possible outcome for your case.

For expert advice seek professional guidance from our team of immigration lawyers.

To find out more about your countries citizenship laws, the significant tax implications on foreign bank accounts if you were to renounce, enlist the help of an immigration specialist as soon as possible.

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.

Just a few of our services include:

Application Package – this is for those who would like support throughout the entire British Citizenship application process. With this service, one of our lawyers will help you to fill in the application form, gather your portfolio of evidence, apply to the Home Office on your behalf, and will even liaise with the Home Office for updates regarding your application.

Advice Package – this is for those who are unsure of their British Citizenship options. With this service, one of our lawyers will discuss your situation with you and will offer their professional legal opinion as to what your best options are. This untimed advice session will also give you the chance to ask any questions you may have about British Citizenship

Document and application checks – this service is for those who have already completed their British Citizenship application but would like it professionally checked before submitting it. With this service, one of our lawyers will examine your application and ensure that there are no errors or inaccuracies, minimizing the chances of refusal.

Fast-track application services – This is for those who want to submit their British Citizenship application as quickly as possible. With this service, one of our lawyers will dedicate their time to having your application completed and submitted in as little as 24 hours.

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 363 7684 and we will help you with your citizenship application.