Do South Africans have to have Dual Nationality? Help Please!?

Question

Hello! My name is Nicole and i need some help before i submit an application for UK citizenship.

I am English and my husband is South African. He has recently passed his life in the UK test as required to get UK citizenship. I am unclear to the next step, as to whether we need dual nationality for him, or if we just apply for UK citizenship then get a passport in the normal way for UK citizens.

I don't understand why he might need dual, as he should be able to enter South Africa on a British passport, same as me, but i have read a few conflicting things. Or would he have to keep his South African one to enter South Africa, and his British one to enter everywhere else.

If anybody could clear the dual nationality question up for me i would be very grateful. Also, could you point me towards the relevant application forms that would help.

Looking forward to your reply, many thanks!

Answer 1

My cousin's husband, Edward, is South African. He, like many others, fled during the peak of the apartheid crisis in the mid Eighties and resettled in New Zealand. He held onto his South African citizenship despite taking up permanent residence in New Zealand for over 20 years, married to my cousin who was already a naturalized citizen of New Zealand prior to their marriage, and their first 3 kids were all NZ citizens by birth. Not wanting to lose his SA nationality, Edward opted not to acquire NZ citizenship and kept himself posted with the SA overseas diplomatic mission & made several trips annually back home to SA.

Then a few years back, he decided to start an import/export business trading goods between SA and Australia/NZ, setting up offices in all 3 countries. Right around this time he realized just how much of a hassle it was to travel into Australia with a SA passport (NZ citizens have unlimited travel access to Australia). He was just about ready to give up his SA nationality and apply for NZ naturalization, but as luck would have it, thanks to an 2004 ammendment to SA's nationality law dual citizenship was now permitted. According to Edward, all he had to do was submitt an application to the SA embassy requesting to keep his SA nationality after he acquires NZ citizenship. Then within 3 months, he received the okay from the SA government and he became a dual-citizen.

Less than 2 years ago, he and my cousin decided to expand their business to include the North American markets... so they relocated to Vancouver, Canada. And last December, the couple welcomed the birth of their youngest daughter. That child currently has 3 citizenships, Canadian by birth, and was registered with New Zealander and South African citizenships by descent .

Answer 2

Shenti is right. Her link supercedes Sidwell's, which was the old law. The new law states:



"Government recently repealed section 9 of the South African Citizenship Act of 1995, which regulated the use of the citizenship or nationality of another country by a major South African who has dual citizenship.



In essence, the act repealed the provision which allowed the Minister of Home Affairs to deprive a citizen of his or her citizenship for having used the citizenship of a foreign country. Consequently, the previous requirement for exemptions or letters of permission from the Minister to make use of a foreign passport has now been terminated. The issue of deprivation of citizenship was inconsistent with the Constitutional right to citizenship"

Answer 3

He has the right to keep dual citizenship and this cannot be held against him at all. I would advise him to keep his dual nationality because you never know what layes in the future. Many countries in the world despise Britain so a SA passport will be handy.

Answer 4

south africa does not allow dual citizenship except in special circumstances



http://www.paralegaladvice.org.za/docs/chap02/02.html



read this link to see if he qualifies or not.