I would like to apply for South Africa citizenship by naturalization. Travel records of the past 5 yrs are required. Unfortunately, i lost my port in April 2018 which means i don't have any records prior to that date. How can i successful convince Dept of Home Affairs that i never left South Africa for more than 90 days in the past 5 yrs? Can i use an affidavit, employer's letter or bank statement at least to prove that i was around.
SA Citizenship application
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About six months 👍🏼
My Mom applied for verification at Home Affairs office in Pretoria in August 2023. They just took her copies of PRP, ID, Zim and SA police clearance and said they need to documents before she can apply.
They did not require the letter of dual citizenship at that point. She also did not get proof of PRP at VFS which i heard speeds process im not sure. Up to now they aren't done ing anyone with an idea as to how long it takes?
They did not require the letter of dual citizenship at that point. She also did not get proof of PRP at VFS which i heard speeds process im not sure. Up to now they aren't done ing anyone with an idea as to how long it takes?
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125 Posts
it only takes a few months through VFS so if you mom wants to get it done sooner she should simply re-apply via VFS 9 my own proof of PRP took 5 months) applying via DHA directly takes years
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223 Posts
Citizenship applications that lacked POP from 2022 were declined (sort of). This guy who applied in 2019 and was made to reapply in 2022 (apparently the main application form was missing from his file) has had his application languishing in the long queue. When he talks to people at call centre, they say that the processing of his application will continue when he brings POP. He is still waiting for POP from vfs. But this time the application was not returned to the office of application.
Your mom has to wait for her POP. No DHA office will take her application without POP.
In 2019, l applied for verification of PR from DHA office. After 3 years of endless waiting, I applied for POP at vfs in 2022. At the time the official who took my finger prints didn't advise me of the vfs alternative. When I went back to that DHA office in 2024, I found him pleading with a lady to consider applying from vfs. That he couldn't put a time limit on the waiting period of their own 'verification of PR'. Adding that 'it can take 5, 10 years, ... I don't know'. And then he asked me to explain to her about my painful experience.
Dual citizenship letter will be required at the time of filling the citizenship application forms. There was no need to tell her that at the 'verification of PR' stage. If she doesn't get a positive outcome of that verification, then there's no need to have that dual citizenship letter by someone who has not qualified to apply for citizenship.
So My Mom should get verification of PR from VFS... then get new Police certificates from home country + South Africa so then she can go directly to Home Affairs to immediately apply for Naturalization?
once you got your Proof of PRP... you were able to directly apply for your Naturalization at Home Affairs office?
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223 Posts
That's right.
But apply for police clearances when POP is out. Police clearances expire after 6 months and there's no guarantee on the waiting period of POP.
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125 Posts
It was little more complicated for me as my PRP is spousal category (26B) and we had to have a spousal Interview to ensure we are still married and still living together and they made me wait 8 months for the 1st Interview and then another one 4 weeks later so my proof of PRP was issued in August 2022 but I was only able to submit my Naturalization in August 2023 - the decision is still pending ( yes I have followed up multiple times - been there in person 8x and send many emails to various people at DHA)
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91 Posts
Hi.do they call you for interview or you are the one who when to home affairs for the interview?
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125 Posts
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125 Posts
I went there with all my documents and they said they would phone me , then they said they won't phone but will just show up at our address ( to that myself and my spouse live together-no issue - we have been living together for 23 years now ) , they basically said they cannot tell me when and that they would just show up at our address unannounced , waited , waited waited , eventually after 6 months I emailed provincial KZN Manager asking why his staff are not doing their job - 2 months later they told me to come to Umgeni Road branch with our documents and my spouse and they did the interview ( separately ) 4 weeks later I had a second interview by Immigration Officers ( they looked at the same documents we provided previously ) and only after that I was able to submit my documents - they said they are strict and only spouses who are still married are able to naturalise after getting their PRP under section 26B
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223 Posts
Honestly smart ID is the last thing on my mind. I only need the certificate. Green ID book after that, I don't mind at all.
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91 Posts
I'd rather do what others are doing.
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125 Posts
I am getting mine , appointment booked for 25.05
DHA Ministerial email address finally responded to my query about pending naturalization ( pending since august 2023) without much of a to be honest - just said it's being attended to 🤦🏻♀️
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125 Posts
Just just need to take her ID Book and permanent residency certificate
I got off the phone with the lady at Home Affairs all is good. I can proceed to pay on the website and book a date. She brings her originals there
Hi. How did you get a date? All my dates were full. I am in Joburg.
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