Birth Registration for SA Citizens Born Abroad
South African citizens who have a child born outside South Africa must register the birth with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). This guide covers the requirements, documents needed, and process.
Who Is Eligible
A child born abroad to at least one South African citizen parent is entitled to South African citizenship by descent, provided the birth is registered with DHA. Both married and unmarried parents can register their child's birth.
Required Documents
- Original foreign birth certificate (must be apostilled or authenticated by the foreign country)
- Completed DHA-24 birth registration form
- Both parents' South African ID documents or passports (certified copies)
- Parents' unabridged birth certificates (if available)
- Marriage certificate (if parents are married)
- If parents are unmarried: acknowledgment of paternity signed by the father
- Proof of South African citizenship of the SA parent(s)
- Two passport-size photographs of the child
Process
1Obtain Documents
Get the foreign birth certificate and have it apostilled or authenticated in the country of birth.
2Visit Embassy
Submit all documents at the nearest South African embassy or high commission. The DHA-24 form is completed at the mission.
3DHA Processing
The mission forwards documents to DHA in Pretoria. Processing typically takes 6-12 weeks.
4Certificate Issued
DHA issues a South African birth certificate. You can then apply for the child's SA passport and ID number.
Important: 30-Day Rule
By law, births must be registered within 30 days. Late registration (after 30 days) requires additional documentation and is subject to a different process. Register as soon as possible after the birth. Late registrations can take significantly longer to process.