For years, South Africans living abroad have faced uncertainty and frustration over their citizenship status. Many expats discovered—often too late—that they had unknowingly lost their South African citizenship simply by adopting the nationality of their new home country. This has caused significant stress, as losing citizenship meant being excluded from key rights and privileges as a South African. Thankfully, there’s now a clear resolution to this issue.
A groundbreaking Constitutional Court ruling in May 2025 has provided long-awaited clarity, declaring that any dual citizen who lost their South African citizenship under the old rules should now be regarded as never having lost it at all. This decision has brought relief and joy to many expats who have long felt disconnected from their homeland.
Following this landmark ruling, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has taken a proactive approach by introducing a new online portal to help affected individuals confirm their status and reinstate their South African citizenship easily. If you’ve been unsure about your citizenship status or felt stuck in bureaucratic limbo, here’s everything you need to know about the steps to take.
Why did South Africans lose their citizenship?
For nearly three decades, Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act caused thousands of South Africans to automatically lose their citizenship without their knowledge. This happened when individuals obtained another nationality without first receiving formal permission from the Minister of Home Affairs. As a result, many South Africans abroad unintentionally forfeited their rights as citizens, leaving them feeling disconnected from their heritage and excluded from key legal protections.
The Constitutional Court’s May 2025 judgment declared this provision unconstitutional, recognising it as an unfair and outdated law. Under this ruling, affected individuals are now acknowledged as having never lost their South African citizenship in the first place. This is a significant victory for expats who were unfairly impacted, as it means their citizenship has been restored retroactively.
How to reinstate your South African citizenship online
To make the process as simple as possible for the global South African community, the DHA has launched the Citizenship Reinstatement Portal. Designed to be user-friendly and accessible, this platform allows expats to confirm their citizenship status and, if necessary, complete the reinstatement process—no matter where in the world they are.
Here’s a straightforward guide to using the portal:
- Visit the portal: Go to the official website at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za. The homepage provides clear instructions on how to get started.
- Create your profile: If you’re using the portal for the first time, you’ll need to register by setting up a secure profile and confirming your email address. This step ensures your data is protected throughout the process.
- Verify your citizenship: Once logged in, enter your South African ID number to check your citizenship status.
If your citizenship was never affected by the old law, you’ll receive instant confirmation. If the system identifies that you were impacted by the previous regulations, the portal will guide you through the necessary steps to have your citizenship officially reinstated. The process is straightforward, and the digital platform reduces the need for frustrating paperwork or long delays.
Key features of the South African citizenship portal
The DHA’s Citizenship Reinstatement Portal is more than just a quick fix—it’s a modern, secure, and efficient tool designed to meet the needs of South Africans living abroad. The portal boasts several advanced features, including:
- Secure digital authentication: Your personal information and sensitive data are protected through advanced encryption and secure login systems.
- Biometric and document verification: The portal uses advanced technology to verify your identity, ensuring the process is smooth and accurate.
- Integration with the National Population Register: This feature ensures that citizenship checks are precise and up-to-date, drawing directly from official government records.
- Application progress tracking: Once you’ve submitted your application, you can monitor its progress in real time through your dashboard, giving you peace of mind at every step.
This system is a big step forward in modernising Home Affairs’ services, making them more accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of South Africans worldwide.
FinGlobal: cross-border financial specialists
While the recent Constitutional Court ruling ensures that you can now hold dual citizenship and even reinstate citizenship lost under the old law, it’s important to remember that your tax residency status may still need to be addressed. Failing to clarify your tax obligations could lead to unexpected liabilities down the line.
If you need help navigating tax emigration or other cross-border financial matters, the expert team at FinGlobal is here to help. They can guide you through formalising your tax residency status and obtaining confirmation from SARS, ensuring you avoid unnecessary complications. FinGlobal also offers assistance with retirement annuity encashment, international money transfers, and more, making your financial transition as seamless as possible.
To learn more about how FinGlobal can support you, leave your contact details below, and their team will be in touch to provide personalised assistance. Wherever life takes you, FinGlobal is here to help you manage your finances with confidence and ease.
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