Good news for dual citizens: How to reinstate lost SA citizenship
South Africans living abroad who previously lost their SA citizenship now have a clear and simple way to verify or reclaim it.
This comes after the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officially rolled out its new online SA citizenship portal.
The user-friendly Citizenship Reinstatement Portal – announced on Monday by DHA Minister Leon Schreiber – allows SA expats and dual citizens to check the status of their South African citizenship and, if needed, complete the process to have it formally reinstated.
Home Affairs acts on Constitutional Court order
The launch comes after the Constitutional Court’s May 2025 ruling that struck down Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act.
For almost 30 years, this clause meant South Africans automatically lost their citizenship if they acquired another nationality without first getting ministerial approval.
The court declared the provision unconstitutional, and confirmed that any dual citizen who lost their SA citizenship since 1995 should be recognised as never having lost it in the first place.
The ruling finally resolved years of uncertainty for thousands of expats who feared they had forfeited their rights as South Africans.
To implement the judgment, the DHA created the portal to streamline verification and ensure affected citizens can quickly complete any remaining steps required for reinstatement.
“This platform marks another milestone in our mission to modernise Home Affairs services,” Schreiber said, noting that the digital system provides a secure and accessible way to restore dual citizens’ rights.
Features of the new SA citizenship portal
The online platform offers a user-friendly dashboard where applicants can track the progress of their applications.
Key features include:
- Secure digital authentication
- Biometric and document verification
- Integration with the National Population Register
Expats can begin by visiting myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za, creating a profile, and confirming their email address.
From there, they can verify their SA citizenship using their ID number. Those whose status remains intact will receive immediate confirmation, while individuals affected by the overturned law will be guided through the reinstatement process.
Schreiber added that the initiative reflects Home Affairs’ commitment to providing “dignified, efficient and accessible” digital services for a global South African community.