Perda automática na aquisição voluntária de nacionalidade estrangeira (s6 (1) (a)) - STRUCK DOWN
Cidadania em South Africa
- Elegibilidade
- A Seção 6 (1) (a) da Cidadania Act 88 of 1995 previa anteriormente que um cidadão sul-africano adulto perdia automaticamente a cidadania ao adquirir voluntária e formalmente a nacionalidade de outro país (exceto por casamento) sem retenção ministerial prévia. O Tribunal Constitucional anulou esta disposição no caso Aliança Democrática v Ministro da Administração Interna [2025] ZACC 8, confirmando-a inválida a partir da sua promulgação em 6 de outubro 1995 e sustentando que todos os que perderam a cidadania ao abrigo dela são considerados como nunca a tendo perdido. A aquisição voluntária de uma nacionalidade estrangeira já não afecta mais a cidadania sul-africana.
- Prazo
- Provision struck down (ZACC 8/2025) — no longer operative.
- Renúncia
- Não exigida
Visão geral
Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 formerly provided that an adult South African citizen automatically lost citizenship on voluntarily and formally acquiring another country's nationality (otherwise than by marriage) without prior Ministerial retention. The Constitutional Court struck this provision down in Democratic Alliance v Minister of Home Affairs [2025] ZACC 8, confirming it invalid from its promulgation on 6 October 1995 and holding that everyone who lost citizenship under it is deemed never to have lost it. Voluntarily acquiring a foreign nationality therefore no longer affects South African citizenship.
Base jurídica
Primary statute: SA Citizenship Act 88 of 1995 s6(1)(a) — declared invalid from 1995-10-06 (ZACC 8/2025). Operative 1995-10-06–2025-05-06. Authority: Constitutional Court (ZACC 8/2025) / Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Cenários de exemplo
Os cenários de exemplo são exibidos em inglês.
Deemed never to have lost SA citizenship — restored automatically.
s6(1)(a) (automatic loss on voluntary foreign-nationality acquisition) was declared invalid retroactive to its promulgation on 6 October 1995 (ZASCA 97/2023, confirmed ZACC 8/2025 order para 3); affected persons are 'deemed not to have lost their citizenship' and regain it automatically with no fresh application. A s15 certificate of citizenship is a confirmatory administrative step only (see ZA-RST-02 for the DHA portal).
Never lost SA citizenship — minors were always exempt.
s6(1)(a) only ever caught a person who acquired foreign nationality 'whilst not being a minor'; because Sibusiso was 15 (a minor, per s1) at acquisition, the auto-loss never applied to him, independent of the later strike-down. He has remained an SA citizen throughout.
Never lost SA citizenship — marriage acquisition excluded.
s6(1)(a) expressly excluded nationality acquired 'other than by marriage'; nationality flowing from marriage never triggered loss (reinforced by s14). Priya's SA citizenship was unaffected even before the provision was struck down.
No loss — voluntarily taking a second nationality no longer affects SA citizenship.
With s6(1)(a) void, voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality triggers no loss of SA citizenship and no s6(2) retention letter is required (consistent with current DHA/DIRCO guidance). The surviving s6 loss grounds (s6(1)(b)/s6(3) war service) are unrelated to ordinary dual nationality.
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
As regras de descendência e naturalização mudam. Enviaremos um email em linguagem clara quando algo que afeta South Africa for atualizado — sem spam.