Immigrating to the UK

Once you have a British Passport; does it really matter? Just enter SA on the British passport instead.

Busy waiting for my new passport - should be here by next month I think. At least DHA does that right, here.
That's illegal, don't get caught doing that.
 
Wait, it's illegal to enter SA on British Passport if you are SA citizen?
Yes. You have to leave and enter SA on your SA passport. They try to deprive you of citizenship otherwise (though that's also illegal)
 

Dual nationals​

If you hold South African citizenship, you must use your South African passport to enter and exit the country. It is illegal for a South African citizen aged 18 or over to enter or leave the country on a foreign passport. For more information about South African passports, see the South Africa Department of Home Affairs.

Well, look at that.
 
I have to get my kids passports updated in 4 years... I guess I'd better apply now it seems! :ROFL:
 
That's illegal, don't get caught doing that.

Just checked. So it is... bloody hell.

Well, I won't give up SA citizenship; so will just renew it in good time when we come out to SA for visits.
 
I have to get my kids passports updated in 4 years... I guess I'd better apply now it seems! :ROFL:

Since my son already has dual citizenship (Lucky bugger) we will have to keep his SA passport updated too. Ugh.
 
Just checked. So it is... bloody hell.

Well, I won't give up SA citizenship; so will just renew it in good time when we come out to SA for visits.

Just an FYI, you automatically lose SA citizenship if you become a citizen of another country.

Any South African citizen who is 18 years and above and intends to acquire foreign citizenship without losing his/her SA citizenship, must apply to be exempted from losing his/her SA citizenship (Retain SA citizenship) before acquiring the foreign citizenship.
 
I think chances are that the wife goes over first to help secure a place. I don't think we'll manage to get anything sorted from this side.

This is what I did, I came over and stayed with a friend for a bit and also did airbnb until I could secure a rental, and then got everyone over. It can be a difficult time with family included and trying to navigate
 
Just an FYI, you automatically lose SA citizenship if you become a citizen of another country.
Which is also illegal and has been challenged in the concourt.
You don't lose SA residence btw.
 
Just an FYI, you automatically lose SA citizenship if you become a citizen of another country.

Which is also illegal and has been challenged in the concourt.
You don't lose SA residence btw.

Not anymore, as of June of this year.

 
Which is also illegal and has been challenged in the concourt.
You don't lose SA residence btw.

Yeah, I'm also of the opinion that you can't lose citizenship automatically and it needs to be a voluntary and conscience thing.

I hear little to no news around it, is there an outcome to it or is it still being challenged?
EDIT: Ah, answered above
 
This is what I did, I came over and stayed with a friend for a bit and also did airbnb until I could secure a rental, and then got everyone over. It can be a difficult time with family included and trying to navigate

Yeah the wife is not up for that, understandably as it might be difficult.

I am seriously considering just paying the 500gbp for priority service and have the visa issued within 5 days (according to the UK gov website)
 
Re: entering SA on your SA passport. I think that puts you at the mercy of the local government in the event of a natural disaster or civil unrest, i.e. you’re ****ed. If you go in on your UK passport, you can just make your way to the UK embassy for swift repatriation.

Of course, you can’t legally enter SA on a foreign passport as an SA citizen, UNLESS your place of birth on the UK passport shows somewhere other than SA. Seen a few threads online from SA citizens having no issues entering SA with UK passports because their place of birth was somewhere like Swakopmund or Harare.
 
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Re: entering SA on your SA passport. I think that puts you at the mercy of the local government in the event of a natural disaster or civil unrest, i.e. you’re ****ed. If you go in on your UK passport, you can just make your way to the UK embassy for swift repatriation.

Of course, you can’t legally enter SA on a foreign passport as an SA citizen, UNLESS the your place of birth on the UK passport shows somewhere other than SA. Seen a few threads online from SA citizens having no issues entering SA with UK passports because their place of birth was somewhere like Swakopmund or Harare.

Interesting, surely the UK embassy would take you in because you are UK citizen? Or does the passport you entered in on matter that much?
 
Re: entering SA on your SA passport. I think that puts you at the mercy of the local government in the event of a natural disaster or civil unrest, i.e. you’re ****ed. If you go in on your UK passport, you can just make your way to the UK embassy for swift repatriation.
The UK government doesn't base the amount of assistance they provide on what passport you entered SA on. They base it on a) your being British, and b) what other nationalities you might also have.

As for a South African with dual SA/UK nationality being in SA this would seem to apply.
If you are a dual British national in the state of your other nationality (for example, a dual US-British national in the US), we would not normally offer you support or get involved in dealings between you and the authorities of that state.
Source

Interesting, surely the UK embassy would take you in because you are UK citizen? Or does the passport you entered in on matter that much?
Not in the slightest.
 
Sounds like having SA citizenship can be quite a liability if you want to visit SA on holiday really. Frustrating passport renewals and loss of UK protections when in SA.
 
Sounds like having SA citizenship can be quite a liability if you want to visit SA on holiday really. Frustrating passport renewals and loss of UK protections when in SA.
I'm trying to think of just how many times I've required "UK protections" in SA over the past 25 years as a non-South African...

Kidding - it's none. I haven't even had to go to an embassy since I got here, though I did use a consulate office once to renew my passport.
 
Sounds like having SA citizenship can be quite a liability if you want to visit SA on holiday really. Frustrating passport renewals and loss of UK protections when in SA.

Nah I honestly don’t think it’s a liability at all.

Just renew the passport in time when you visit. And if you don’t visit for a decade - then your ties here are very slim anyway.

I plan on renewing my SA passport when on holiday here close to expiry. But that’s over 10 years away. So anything can happen. SA will have 2 general elections in that time.
 
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