Answers to your questions
Have a question you would like answered? Email us and we may answer it. The questions here are based on ones from our readers, with identifying information removed.
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Topic: Home Affairs | Show questions and answers for all topics
What procedures do I need to take to get citizenship, as my mother is South African but my father is a Lesotho citizen and I was born in Lesotho, though I have been studying in South Africa?
As it is your mother that is South African, not your father, I don’t think they should require a DNA test from your father. However, they might want one from you and your mother.
What can I do if Home Affairs is taking long to process my son's citizenship application and my visa is expiring soon?
Your best option would be to urgently consult with an organisation experienced in dealing with Home Affairs.
How can I delink my cousin from my late mother's profile at Home Affairs if they refuse to help me?
You could provide sworn affidavits as to their own identities and relationship, and declare that your cousin is not your mother’s child.
Can I apply for a birth certificate with a duplicate clinic card if I lost the original?
Yes, you can apply for a duplicate clinic card from the hospital where you were born.
How do I renew my asylum seeker’s permit?
You can email the RRO where you got your most recent extension to make an appointment or try to renew it online.
Can my partner’s surname be changed to my surname when we get married as a same-sex couple?
Yes, both partners in a civil union can choose what surnames they will be known by.
Will the fact that my mother and I have different surnames cause some challenges in the future?
The fact that you use her maiden surname and she has changed hers does not make you any less her son.
How can I get an ID if I was born in Lesotho to South African father and mother from Lesotho?
If you were born outside South Africa and one of your parents was South African, and the birth was registered, you should be able to claim South African citizenship by descent.
How can my girlfriend can get a birth certificate so that we can get a birth certificate for our son?
Your girlfriend will have to apply for a Late Birth Registration (LBR).
Home Affairs refuses to give us permanent residency even though we were born in South Africa, and our parents and siblings have permanent residency. What can we do?
As you were both born in South Africa before 2014, you still automatically qualify for citizenship provided you have not lived anywhere else but South Africa.