Cidadania por Descendência - criança adotada por cidadão SA (s3)
Cidadania em South Africa
- Elegibilidade
- Desde a Emenda 2010, a cidadania por descendência está limitada aos filhos adotados: uma pessoa que é adotada por um cidadão sul-africano ao abrigo do Act 38 of 2005 Infantil, e cujo nascimento está registado no Registo de Nascimentos e Óbitos Act 51 of 1992, é cidadão sul-africano por descendência (s3 da Cidadania Act 88 of 1995). Esta é a única via “por descendência” na lei atual; filhos biológicos nascidos no exterior de pais cidadãos adquirem a cidadania por nascimento sob s2(1)(b), não por descendência.
- Prazo
- Standard DHA application processing.
- Renúncia
- Não exigida
Visão geral
Since the 2010 Amendment, citizenship by descent is confined to adopted children: a person who is adopted by a South African citizen under the Children's Act 38 of 2005, and whose birth is registered under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992, is a South African citizen by descent (s3 of the Citizenship Act 88 of 1995). This is the sole 'by descent' route in the current Act; biological children born abroad to a citizen parent acquire citizenship by birth under s2(1)(b), not by descent.
Base jurídica
Primary statute: SA Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 s3 (subst. Act 17/2010). Operative 1995-10-06–present. Authority: Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Cenários de exemplo
Os cenários de exemplo são exibidos em inglês.
Eligible — South African citizen by descent.
Post-2010, s3 'by descent' is confined to a child adopted in terms of the Children's Act 38/2005 by an SA citizen whose birth is registered under the BDR Act 51/1992 — both cumulative conditions are met. Once satisfied, DHA recognition is a duty, not a discretion (Chisuse [88]; Jose [2020] ZASCA 152).
Eligible — but by BIRTH (s2(1)(b)), not descent.
A biological child born abroad to an SA-citizen parent is a citizen BY BIRTH under s2(1)(b), not by descent; the 2010 Amendment re-sorted the modes so that s3 'descent' now means adoption only (Chisuse [60], [66]). Daniel's correct route is ZA-BTH-01; the s3 descent route does not apply to biological children.
Eligible — citizen by descent (pre-2005 adoption carried forward).
Chisuse reads 'is adopted' generously, applying retrospectively and prospectively, and s314 of the Children's Act deems an act under the repealed Child Care Act to have been done under the current Act (Chisuse fn 78, [81]); a pre-2005 Child Care Act adoption therefore still qualifies under s3 with no adoption-date cut-off.
Conditional — descent claim incomplete pending birth registration.
s3 has two cumulative requirements; with the adoption satisfied but BDR-Act registration absent, the descent claim is incomplete. Whether a registration gap can be cured for an otherwise-qualifying adopted child is an open interpretive question — the constitutional lean (s28(1)(a)/(2) child-rights) favours recognition, but no primary authority makes registration curable (flagged, not asserted). The practical step is to effect registration.
Resumo informativo compilado a partir de fontes legais primárias — não é aconselhamento jurídico. A lei de cidadania muda; verifique com a autoridade competente antes de agir. Verificado pela última vez em 2026-07-01.
Acompanhe as mudanças desta rota
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