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South African nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of South Africa. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the South African Citizenship Act, 1995, which came into force on 6 October 1995. Any person born to at least one South African parent receives citizenship at birth.
This Act of Parliament restored South African citizenship to Black inhabitants of independent homelands of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, and Ciskei.These independent states where given self-government between 1972 and 1977 due to an Apartheid policy of forced removal of all black inhabitants out of what was planned to be, a "white South Africa", and into homelands belonging to one of ten ...
South African citizenship has primarily been founded on conceptions of racial entitlement and lawful residence. [15] The development of migration restrictions attached to different racial groups in the Cape and the Boer Republics provided the precursor to South African citizenship: Union citizenship.
Individuals born in South Africa from and including 6 October 1995 onwards, to at least one parent who, at the time of the individual's birth, held either South African citizenship or South African permanent residency, are automatically South African citizens by birth, according to the South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act 88 of 1995).
Foreign spouses of South African citizens can apply for naturalization after two years of marriage, but is subject to potential denial of the minister. The minister can also grant citizenship to minors, if their parent applies for them. The minister also holds the power to revoke naturalization at any time for specific reasons listed in the Act.
The only exception is if any of the parents have diplomatic immunity (see São Toméan nationality law). South Africa: [52] Since 6 October 1995, a person born in South Africa to South African citizens or permanent residents is automatically granted South African citizenship (see South African nationality law).
Foreign spouses (by marriage or life-partnership) of a South African citizen or permanent resident can apply for a spousal based visa. [16] Spouses and children of long-term visa holders can apply for long-term visitor visas to accompany their family member in South Africa.
A South African passport is a valid proof of citizenship document according to South African nationality law. As of February 2024, citizens of South Africa enjoyed visa-free access to 108 countries, of which some may require pre-travel registration according to the Visa Restrictions Index.