Naturalisation is the granting of citizenship to someone who has come to South Africa from abroad and stayed in this county for some time.

If a person is a citizen of another country but wants South African citizenship she or he can apply to the Minister of Home Affairs for citizenship. According to the Eighth Amendment Act of the Regulations in terms of the South African Citizenship Act (1995) that came into operation on 1 April 2003, a fee may be applicable.

These are the conditions that the person must fulfill when applying for citizenship:

• Must be over the age of 21
• Must have a permanent residence permit to live in South Africa
• Must have lived in South Africa as a permanent resident for at least one year’s ordinary residence immediately prior to the application for naturalisation
• After acquiring permanent residency, have an additional 4 years of physical residence in the country during the 8 years prior to the naturalisation. This does not include the one year mentioned above
• Must be able to communicate in one of South Africa’s official languages
• Must be of good character
• Must be knowledgeable of responsibilities of being a South African citizen and
• If married to a South African spouse, must have two years of permanent residence and two years of marriage to the South African spouse before submitting the application

BUT this application for citizenship can be refused by the Minister even if the person seems to fulfill all the conditions. It is regarded as a privilege not a right.