Over 3,500 South Africans received British citizenship in 2018

The United Kingdom remains a popular emigration destination for South Africans. South Africans adapt very easily to the culture and work environment in the UK. Language is not a barrier. The travel time between the two countries makes it easy to hop on the plane and visit loved ones back home. Furthermore, there is a large diaspora of South Africans in the UK, that makes the transition easier for many.

British citizenship also offers several advantages and is a dream for many South Africans. As soon as you receive British citizenship, there are, of course, no longer any immigration restrictions imposed on you or immigration controls.

British citizenship and dual nationality for South Africans

South Africans are also fortunate enough to be able to hold more than one nationality.

However, one first has to apply to retain your SA citizenship before taking on any other nationality through naturalisation. If a person fails to follow this process, they will automatically lose their South African citizenship.  Furthermore, we have found that even if a person takes up a second nationality through direct descent, it is important to safeguard his/her SA nationality status. Proof can then be submitted when a newly issued SA passport is applied for from outside South Africa as to avoid any difficulties when such applications are lodged. 

The process of retaining one’s South African citizenship must be done through a formal application. It has to be done in the country where one resides when the second nationality is obtained. Important to also note is that one must apply before British citizenship is applied for.  

This rule does not apply to persons who acquire another nationality via descent.  However, due to recent developments when applying for SA passports from abroad, we advise clients to ALWAYS retain their SA citizenship status. Normally, if you acquire another nationality through direct descent, you will not lose your South African citizenship. However, we advise clients (especially UK nationals) who were born before 1983 and intended to obtain their UK nationality via their mothers to apply for retention of their South African citizenship.

Contact one of our consultants today for a consultation to determine your eligibility to live and work in the UK, and plan your route to British citizenship.

Please note that the information in this article does not constitute professional advice. It is provided for general information purposes, without giving any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. For more information, please send an email to info@bic-immigration.com or visit the Breytenbachs website at www.bic-immigration.com