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Lost retention of South Africa citizenship letter, how do I get a new one?

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yentldonn said:
Please advise if we need to have certified copies of the port or just the forms and a covering letter asking for a re-print.
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we provided all the documents, but do check with the office you are submitting from what they need
 
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Just want to say a huge thank you for posting this. I sent in my documents and payment to apply for an initial retention letter but added a cover letter saying I needed a reprint. I received a copy of my letter within 5 days - very impressed at the speed. They helpfully included the pre-paid self addressed special delivery envelope I sent inside the envelope so don’t waste your money on that. i do wonder if you actually need to pay the £25 or just fill in the forms. If you have time to spare maybe give it a go?!
 
I also managed to get a copy this way so thanks for the advice. Filled out form, wrote 'reprint required' on head of form, enclosed certified copy of port, proof of bank transfer of £25 and 1st class stamped large letter envelope (which they used). Sent it to London office which is where I originally applied. Got it in a couple weeks (y)
 
Hi,

Thanks everyone for your valuable information on this! I almost went all the way into London to figure this out.

Could I ask whether I need to send both the DHA1664 as well as DHA-529 forms?

Thank you,
Brian
 
Nickss said:
I also managed to get a copy this way so thanks for the advice. Filled out form, wrote 'reprint required' on head of form, enclosed certified copy of port, proof of bank transfer of £25 and 1st class stamped large letter envelope (which they used). Sent it to London office which is where I originally applied. Got it in a couple weeks (y)
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Thank you for the info! Very helpful! Could I ask whether you needed to send both the DHA1664 as well as DHA-529 forms?
 
Brian.s said:
Thank you for the info! Very helpful! Could I ask whether you needed to send both the DHA1664 as well as DHA-529 forms?
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yes you need to send all the forms as if you were applying from scratch, if you roughly when you obtained your original retention you can add a cover letter explaining this and providing dates
 
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Hello, thanks to all info posters, this was extremely helpful to me and I was able to successfully get my retention letter which I had also previously lost. To answer some unanswered questions above here is the checklist of things I sent.

  • Two certified copies of old port
  • £25 pounds proof of payment
  • Filled out copy of DHA-1664 form with 'Reprint' written on the top
  • Cover letter explaining the situation.
-self addressed prepaid return envelope
- sent to the high commission in London

Letter arrived with 1 week.
Note, you do NOT need to send the DHA 529 form, I didn't and got my letter just fine.
Link with the official checklist:
(Can't post links it seems, just google 'dirco retention of citizenship')
 
Olgaj said:
Hi, I am hoping someone will be able to help with some advice. I need to renew/apply for a new SA port from the UK, I have dual nationality (south African and British), but to renew my port I need my retention of South African citizenship letter as part of the application as I am in the UK when applying. Has someone else had this problem before? Please help? I need a copy or a new retention letter but I cannot get hold of anyone at the home office to ask what the process is in this situation, they don’t answer their phones or emails at all, I am desperate! Please help! What for I need to do to get a new letter?
thanks
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Hi there ~ I am facing this now and cannot find anything about how to apply for a duplicate. The SA Embassy in Washington DC keeps sending me all the forms to apply for retention.

How did you resolve this?

Thanks~
 
lizaliza said:
Hi there ~ I am facing this now and cannot find anything about how to apply for a duplicate. The SA Embassy in Washington DC keeps sending me all the forms to apply for retention.

How did you resolve this?

Thanks~
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Because you need to fill the same forms and just include a cover letter explaining you need a re-print but the same forms must be supplied and they will probably charge you the same fee as if you were applying from scratch, my husband had to send all the forms ( he did it via SA House in London)
 
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Kas_KZN said:
we provided all the documents, but do check with the office you are submitting from what they need
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Thank you so much for your helpful information, but... there is no checking with them. I've tried calling for probably 4 hours over different time periods this week and no reply. They haven't replied to my emails sent at the end of last year, not even an automated response. If you can check with them you're 99% of the way there 😂
 
carl.bm said:
Thank you so much for your helpful information, but... there is no checking with them. I've tried calling for probably 4 hours over different time periods this week and no reply. They haven't replied to my emails sent at the end of last year, not even an automated response. If you can check with them you're 99% of the way there 😂
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If you are trying though SA House in London use this list as guidance on what to re-send, just include a cover letter explaining its re-print of already issued Retention letter https://dirco.gov.za/uk/retention-of-south-african-citizenship/
 
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Kas_KZN said:
That's not correct , you can get re-print if it was previously issued to you just need to go to the office of original application , my husband got re-print in London , just filled the forms again and added a cover letter that he already had Retention letter and needed another copy - payment was the same as new application , if you got yours in London they will have a record or it and will need to provide you with another copy
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Hi. Thank you for this.
I also got mine in London. Can this be done online or do you need to physically go to the embassy? Or the high commission as they say that VFS global deal with all applications now. Thank you
 
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Kas_KZN said:
If you are trying though SA House in London use this list as guidance on what to re-send, just include a cover letter explaining its re-print of already issued Retention letter https://dirco.gov.za/uk/retention-of-south-african-citizenship/
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Thank you. I used your list and got the letter within about a week.
It would be nice if they answered their phone though :LOL: But at least there is a way!

I'm not sure how to emphasize how much I'm indebted to you. Yours seems to be the only resource on the internet that tells you how to get a new letter. Thank you again.
 
carl.bm said:
Thank you. I used your list and got the letter within about a week.
It would be nice if they answered their phone though :LOL: But at least there is a way!

I'm not sure how to emphasize how much I'm indebted to you. Yours seems to be the only resource on the internet that tells you how to get a new letter. Thank you again.
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What baffles me is that people lose their Citizenship if they don't get a Retention letter yet there is no record on their DHA database stating one has applied for one- how mind-blowing? Since it is such an important legal requirement DHA needs to be better for their own Citizens, we also struggled for 10 years and our son needed visas to live in RSA versus simple foreign birth registration as a child of an RSA Citizen Dad who did retain his nationality in 2005.... could probably write a book about DHA's antics
 
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Kas_KZN
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