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RETENTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP (SECTION 6(2) OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1995

APPOINTMENT LINE NUMBERS

South African Citizens

Appointment line for Passports (Child passports applications MUST be made by post ONLY), Birth Registrations, Retention of RSA Citizenship and Exemption from Loss of RSA Citizenship is 09065 540 799.
(South African citizens who want to apply by POST are free to come to the office Monday to Friday between 3 PM & 4 PM to be assisted with the taking of fingerprints)

Foreign Citizens

Appointment line for visas & temporary residence permits is 09065 540 798.

:: Calls cost £1 / min from BT Landlines. Other networks may vary ::

  • PLEASE NOTE: Administrative Fines & Security Deposits are still by post only.

 

WHAT IS RETENTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS MAY AN CLIENT APPLY

  • Clients 18 years and older who intend applying for foreign citizenship, but who do not want to lose their South African Citizenship must first apply for retention of South African Citizenship. Failure to do this will result in the client losing his South African citizenship when he/she acquires foreign citizenship.

  • Persons under the age of 18 years do not need to apply for retention of their South African Citizenship, as they will not loose their citizenship whilst still minors.

REQUIREMENT FOR AN APPLICATION FOR RETENTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENSHIP (SECTION 6(2): SOUTH AFRICAN AS ACT, 1995)

  • All application forms to be completed in black ink.

  • Form BI-1664 to be fully completed
    Please ignore paragraph 8 of form BI-1664.

  • All applicants must complete form BI-529 - see paragraph 8.2.2.3.
    Form BI-529 must be fully completed.
    All South African Citizens who are abroad at the time of lodging a passport application form must fully complete this form. The purpose of the form is to establish that as a South African Citizen you have not lost your Citizenship. If certain questions are not applicable the mark as N/A. If certain questions are not known, for example, your mothers Identity number, then mark it as "do not know. Questions 9, 10, 11 of paragraph A is of particular importance.

  • Certified copies of your current passport (only bio-data page and UK residence visa page need to be certified).

  • A recently dated letter (under 3 months old) from the British Nationality Division confirming that you have not yet acquired British Citizenship.
    The address of the British Nationality Division is; 3 Floor, India Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L2 OQN

  • A self-addressed special delivery envelope (obtainable from any UK Post Office) for the return of your documents.

PRESCRIBED FEES

The prescribed fee is £10.00 only cash or Postal Orders are accepted. Postal Orders must be made payable to South African High Commission.

PROCESSING PERIOD

All applications will be finalised within 15 working days.
All applications must be accompanied by prepaid A4 self-addressed stamped envelope

Forms to be downloaded:

BI-1664
BI-529

©Copyright South African High Commission, London, United Kingdom
Contact Details 

Our Physical address is:

15 Whitehall, London,SW1A 2DD.
Click here for directions,
bus and tube routes.

Our full postal address is:

South African High Commission,
Home Affairs, Consular Section,
15 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DD.

Telephone No:
020 7925 8900
020 7925 8901
020 7925 8910

Fax No:
020 79258930
020 79258931
020 79258932