This website is the official platform of the Government of South Africa, designed to help you check your citizenship status and determine eligibility for reinstatement. In the future, the platform will expand to include a range of additional civic services.

The Constitutional Court has ruled Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act (1995) unconstitutional and invalid from its inception on 6 October 1995. Previously, this section caused South Africans to lose citizenship automatically when acquiring another nationality without prior ministerial consent. Following this judgment, anyone who lost citizenship under this provision is now considered to have retained it.
If you believe this applies to you, use this platform to check your status and, if needed, start the reinstatement process.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling does not apply to individuals who voluntarily renounced their South African citizenship - a common requirement when obtaining citizenship in another country. Furthermore, those who lost their citizenship through conversion before 6 October 1995 are not eligible for reinstatement under this judgment.

Create your profile to begin the application process.
We will email you a verification link - click it to confirm your email address. Once verified, log back into the website using your email and password you set up.
After logging in:

• Check your citizen status.
• To protect your identity, take a selfie for authentication.
• We may also ask you to scan your passport (South African or foreign). If your passport has expired, that is okay - please scan it anyway.
• If your citizenship is still valid, we will confirm it.
• If your citizenship may have been revoked, you will need to complete an application form - most of your details will already be pre-filled.
• Finally, submit your application.
• You will be informed via email once your application has been reviewed and finalised.

The reinstatement process requires thorough risk checks, so please allow 8-10 weeks for us to review your application and communicate the outcome.

Go to the “My Applications” page, located in the top-right corner of the homepage.

We use your selfie to verify your identity and ensure that your application is secure. This helps protect you from fraud and confirms that you are the rightful applicant. Please try and take the selfie in a well-lit place with a white background behind you.

If we’re unable to verify your identity using your selfie, we’ll ask you to scan your passport for additional verification. This can be either a South African or foreign passport. If your passport has expired, that’s okay - please scan it anyway. Please check the reflection from overhead lights and try and prevent direct overhead lights shining on the passport when scanning it.
Please note: Please be careful to ensure that fingers and hands are not covering the passport pages when scanning it. This is will result in a process failure and an inability to continue with the process.

Yes, the system is compliant with POPIA to protect your data.

Click “Forgot Password” on the login page and follow the prompts. We will send a reset link to your registered email address so you can create a new password.

You cannot change the email linked to your original profile. However, you can create a new profile using your updated email address. When you verify with the same ID number, we will move your previous profile applications, so you don’t lose any data.

This means your South African citizenship was never revoked, so reinstatement is not necessary. Our system verifies your status using official records - rest assured, you are still recognised as a citizen.

This usually happens if the ID number does not match official records (e.g. your ID format might have been updated by Home Affairs after 1986) or is entered incorrectly. Double-check the number and ensure there are no typos. If the issue persists, contact HACC on +27800 601 190 for assistance.

If you’re unable to proceed with the reinstatement verification or application, please reach out to our support team by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

No. The reinstatement verification and application process is fully online. However, in rare cases where records require manual intervention, we may advise you to visit a Home Affairs office.

Yes. The platform is accessible globally. You may apply using your foreign passport if you do not currently hold a valid South African passport.

You may be asked for:

• A selfie for biometric verification
• A passport (SA or foreign, even if expired)
• Additional documents only if requested during the review (Most data will pre-populate from DHA records, if on record.)

No. Reinstatement restores your citizenship status, but you must apply separately for a passport at a Home Affairs office or South African mission abroad.

Children born while you were incorrectly recorded as having lost your citizenship may have affected statuses.
Our system will advise if additional steps are required for dependants.

If your second nationality was acquired after 6 October 1995 and you did not obtain ministerial permission, you are automatically covered by the Constitutional Court ruling and considered to have retained your South African citizenship.
You may still use this platform to confirm your status.

No. For security reasons, applications must be completed personally by the individual concerned using biometric verification.
Assistance is allowed, but the applicant must be the one verified by selfie/passport upload.

If you qualify for reinstatement, the outcome will be communicated electronically.
If a certificate becomes available as part of DHA’s future enhancements, you will be informed.

No, South Africans living and working abroad must have a valid South African (RSA) passport to travel to the country. In the absence of a RSA passport, either due to medical reasons, death, theft, loss etc., clients may apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) at their local Mission/Embassy or High Commission.

No, Proof of passport application(s) will not be accepted for travel purposes. Clients may apply for ETC in cases of emergency. Clients may then also request for the passport applied for from the Mission/office abroad to be rerouted to a local office in the Republic for collection purposes.

Yes, you may, as you hold dual nationality, if the country of choice recognises and allows dual citizenship. If you wish not to be a citizen of RSA, you may apply for renunciation.

Yes, Minors holding foreign passports may travel to the Republic, however, one needs to bear in mind the visa requirements. Alternatively, to register the children as South Africans, clients must apply for foreign birth registration at the Mission or local office.

Yes, clients still holding RSA citizenship will be penalised if they enter the Republic on a foreign passport. As an RSA citizen living and working abroad, one must enter and exit the Republic with a South African passport, alternatively, apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate in case of emergencies.

Yes

Consent form from both parents with their identity documents and birth certificate to be presented in person.

It is standard practice to issue an ETC between three (3) to five (5) working days; EMERGENCY TRAVEL CERTIFICATES (ETC) will only be issued to an applicant under circumstances of emergency travel purposes if you do not have a valid regular passport and you need to travel urgently:

• if passport is lost/stolen while abroad
• if traveling to countries accepting ETC on emergency cases, such as family member in distress that needs immediate assistance or deceased family members.

Yes

No, as a South African living or working abroad, one must enter and depart the Republic with an RSA passport. You may enter the Republic with an ETC, and then once in the Republic, apply for your RSA passport to depart from the Republic. ETC only allows entry into the Republic, not departure.

Clients may access the Confirmation of Citizenship portal to verify their RSA identity number.

Yes, turnaround times for RSA adult passports are 13 working days and for minor 18 working days. Clients are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as they arrive in the Republic.

If there is an existing application that was lodged abroad then the client must make a choice to have it either cancelled. The system does not allow two applications at the same time, however adults, who are frequent travellers with valid reasons are permitted to have two passports.

Rerouting is discouraged as clients are expected to choose a point of collection upon application.

No, Permanent Residents must produce their passport that corresponds with their Permanent Residence status in the form of a permit or exemption certificate when they travel. If the permit/certificate is lost, they must apply for a proof of permanent residence certificate (re-print).

No, as indicated above, a South African living or working abroad must enter and depart the Republic with an RSA passport. You may enter the Republic with an ETC, and then once in the Republic, apply for your RSA passport to depart from the Republic. ETC only allows entry into the Republic, not departure.

Once citizenship is revoked, the client will have to travel on a foreign passport.

Citizenship needs to be confirmed prior to travelling (an individual can either be a citizen of RSA or of another country. So, if the citizenship is still under review or in process, then the client is encouraged to use the foreign passport. The DHA can respond to issues related to DHA products and services; anything outside the DHA requirements that is required by an airline should be addressed by the relevant airline.

No, as indicated above, if the client holds citizenship with another country, other than RSA, then the client may travel with the passport issued by that country. If the citizenship is confirmed, the client may enter with ETC or an RSA passport.

Yes, except on the National Public Holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and on weekends).

Missions abroad will remain operational; however, there will be a limited staff complement due to the holiday (festive) season. Added to this, the diplomatic bag services are suspended till January 2026. So, although applications may be taken, one must bear in mind that due to the suspension of the diplomatic bag service, there may be delays.