How To Restore Your South African Citizenship After Losing It
Resumption is the formal process of reclaiming South African citizenship after you have lost it. It is only available to people who have returned to South Africa and are living here permanently.
You cannot apply from abroad. You cannot apply while on a visit. The physical presence requirement is real, and DHA will verify it.
Before going further — if you lost your citizenship because you acquired foreign nationality without a retention letter after 6 October 1995, you may not need resumption at all. The May 2025 Constitutional Court ruling may have already restored your citizenship. Read the Citizenship Reinstatement guide first to check whether that route applies to you. If it does, it is faster and simpler than resumption.
Who Qualifies for Resumption
Former citizens by birth or descent
If you originally held SA citizenship by birth or descent, you may apply for resumption once you have returned to South Africa and are living here permanently. You do not need to re-obtain permanent residence first — your right to permanent residency in South Africa was retained even when you lost citizenship.
You must be:
- A former SA citizen by birth or descent
- Physically present in and living permanently in South Africa
- Able to prove your permanent residence in SA (a municipal account or similar)
Former citizens by naturalisation
If you originally acquired SA citizenship through naturalisation, the path back is harder. You must first re-obtain a valid South African permanent residence permit — or obtain an exemption from the permit requirement — before you can be considered for resumption.
Only once your permanent residence is confirmed can you submit a resumption application.
Before You Apply — Check the ConCourt Route First
The May 2025 Constitutional Court ruling declared Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act unconstitutional. This means that if you lost SA citizenship after 6 October 1995 simply by acquiring foreign nationality without a prior retention letter, you are now deemed never to have lost it.
If this describes your situation, you do not need resumption. Your citizenship may be legally intact — it just needs to be confirmed and updated on the National Population Register. Use the Citizenship Reinstatement Portal at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za to check and correct your record.
Resumption is for people who genuinely lost citizenship through:
- Formal renunciation (voluntary — you signed Form BI-246)
- Loss before 6 October 1995 by acquiring foreign nationality (the ConCourt ruling does not apply retrospectively before that date)
- Deprivation by ministerial order
- Other specific statutory grounds not covered by the ConCourt ruling
If you are unsure which category applies to you, apply for a Determination of Citizenship first.
How to Apply
Resumption applications are submitted at your nearest DHA office in South Africa. The application cannot be done online or through an SA mission abroad.
Forms required
Form DHA-175 — Application for Resumption of South African Citizenship. Records your personal details, how you previously held citizenship (birth, descent, or naturalisation), date your citizenship was lost, and your current permanent residential address in SA.
Form DHA-52 — Supplementary form required alongside DHA-175.
Form DHA-9 — Application for an Identity Document. Required for the re-issue of your SA ID once citizenship is resumed.
Supporting documents
- Two ID photographs complying with DHA passport and ID photograph specifications
- Proof that you are living in South Africa permanently — a municipal rates account, utility bill, or similar document showing your SA address. Submit the original and a certified copy.
- Your previous SA identity document or passport (if available)
- Birth certificate or other proof of original citizenship basis
- Proof of how you lost citizenship (renunciation certificate, or other relevant documentation)
- Marriage certificate and copy, if applicable
- If you were a citizen by naturalisation: your valid South African permanent residence permit (obtained before this application)
Fee
A prescribed fee applies. Confirm the current amount with your DHA office at the time of submission — fees are set by National Treasury and updated periodically.
After Resumption Is Approved
Once DHA approves your resumption:
- You are issued a certificate of resumption of citizenship
- You can then apply for a Smart ID and a South African passport
- Your citizenship is restored to the category you previously held — birth, descent, or naturalisation
Smart ID: Apply at any DHA live capture office. Fee: R140. See the Smart ID application guide.
Passport: Apply at any DHA live capture office or — once you hold a valid SA ID — at a participating bank branch. See the passport application guide.
Children of Former Citizens
If your child was born while you had lost citizenship, their citizenship status depends on the circumstances.
A child born abroad to a parent whose citizenship has been reinstated or resumed may qualify for SA citizenship by birth or descent — but the timing matters. Whether your citizenship was technically intact at the time of their birth (under the ConCourt ruling’s retroactive restoration) or lapsed determines the avenue.
This is a complex area. If your children’s citizenship status is unclear, apply for a Determination of Citizenship for each child, or consult a qualified immigration attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
I formally renounced SA citizenship years ago to get a foreign passport. Can I get it back? Yes, through resumption — but only once you have returned to South Africa permanently. There is no shortcut and no way to apply from abroad. If you were a former citizen by birth or descent, you retain the right to permanent residency in SA, which makes physical return easier. Once you are living in SA permanently, submit Form DHA-175.
I lost citizenship before 6 October 1995. Does the ConCourt ruling help me? No. The May 2025 Constitutional Court ruling only applies to citizenship lost after 6 October 1995 under Section 6(1)(a). Losses before that date are not covered. Resumption — requiring your permanent return to SA — remains your route.
My permanent residence was valid when I held SA citizenship but it lapsed. Do I need to reapply for PR before resumption? If you were a former citizen by birth or descent, you retain the right to permanent residency and do not need to re-obtain a PR permit before applying for resumption. If you were a former citizen by naturalisation, you must have a current valid PR permit before applying for resumption — a lapsed permit will need to be renewed or re-applied for first.
How long does the resumption process take? DHA does not publish a fixed processing time for resumption. Processing times at DHA Head Office for citizenship applications typically range from several months to over a year. Submit a complete application, keep your proof of submission, and follow up with the DHA Contact Centre at the six-month mark if you have not received feedback.
Can I vote, work, or open a bank account while my resumption application is being processed? You are a permanent resident — not a citizen — while your application is pending. Permanent residents can work legally in SA and conduct most financial activities, but cannot vote in national or provincial elections or hold an SA passport. These rights return once citizenship is formally resumed.
Contact Details
| DHA Contact Centre | 0800 60 11 90 |
| DHA Email | hacc@dha.gov.za |
| DHA Application Portal | services.dha.gov.za |
Related Guides
- Citizenship Reinstatement — ConCourt Ruling
- Renunciation of SA Citizenship
- Determination of Citizenship Status
- Dual Citizenship in South Africa
- How to Apply for a Smart ID
- How to Apply for a South African Passport