South African Birth Registration
Please note that with effect from 01 April 2023, birth registration applications will only be done in-person in New York.
Persons born abroad to South African parents may avail of South African citizenship by descent through birth registration.
Checklist of Documents to be Submitted:
- Form DHA 24, Notice of Birth
Section F: To be completed and signed by the South African parent of child being registered. If both parents are South African citizens, the father must complete and sign this part.
DHA 24 is a barcoded form. If application is to be mailed into this office please request for this form ahead of time by sending in a request with a prepaid self addressed stamp envelope. - Form BI 529, Determination of Citizenship Applicant and South African parent must complete this form. If both parents are South African citizens, each must complete this form.
- The form BI-529/DHA-529 must be fully completed by the applicant;
- The purpose of this form is to locate records at the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria; therefore, all applicants must complete this form and ensure that the information furnished is correct and complete.
- Questions that are not applicable should be marked as ‘n/a’; if answers to certain questions are not known, they should be marked as ‘Do not know
- Questions 9, 10, 11 of Part A are of particular importance.
- An original or notarized copy of the child's foreign birth certificate.
- An original or notarized copy of the parent's marriage certificate.
- An original or notarized copies of the South African parent's proof of South African citizenship e.g. birth certificate, identity document or valid passport.
- Notarized letter from the non-South African parent or South African mother of child being registered, confirming his/her consent for the child’s birth to be registered in South Africa.
- Certified copy of non-South African parent's passport or government-issued ID.
Birth registrations are processed and finalized in South Africa therefore requires a processing period of 4 months.
As soon as the application is finalized an abridged birth certificate will be mailed to the applicant. Upon receipt of the abridged birth certificate, the applicant may apply for his/her passport and full birth certificate.
Please note that children born abroad and whose births have been registered in South Africa are automatically allowed to maintain dual citizenship.