Unless you were born in South Africa or have South African parents, you can apply for South African citizenship after five years of having a permanent residence permit, marrying a South African citizen, or being a juvenile with a permanent resident visa.
If you or your spouse have lived and worked in South Africa for at least five years, you can apply for permanent residency. You can also apply if you meet certain other requirements.
But what’s the difference between citizenship and permanent residency, and how do you apply for either?
South African citizenship vs. permanent South African residency
You have most of the rights and duties of a South African citizen as a permanent resident. You cannot, however, vote in South African elections or hold a passport.
Citizenship is more permanent than permanent residency. If you do not dwell in South Africa within the first year after receiving your permission, if you live outside South Africa for three years, or if you are convicted of a major criminal act, your permanent residence status may be revoked.
Citizenship by birth or descent cannot be withdrawn unless you take on another nationality without first asking to keep your South African nationality or serve in the armed forces of a country at war with South Africa.
You may lose your South African citizenship through naturalization if you provide false information about yourself, conceal important information about your application, or obtain your naturalization fraudulently, or if you are sentenced to a year in prison for an offense that would have been an offense in South Africa.
Who is eligible for South African citizenship?
You are immediately eligible for South African citizenship if you were born in South Africa and at least one of your parents is a South African citizen or a holder of a South African permanent residency visa. if you are the child of a South African citizen.
How long does it take to become a South African permanent resident?
five (5) years
If you and your spouse have lived in South Africa on the basis of your work visa for a minimum of five years, you are eligible for a direct permanent residence permit. Dependents of South African nationals or permanent residents are also eligible to apply.
