BIRTH REGISTRATION OVERSEAS

OPENING HOURS ARE

The office dealing with South African passport holders will be opened from 08h45 to 12h45 Monday to Friday except on public holidays. Collections will be from 08h45 - 12h45.

Please note: Telephone Hours for the Home Affairs Section are between 15h00 - 17h00

Please note: no appointments necessary; this is a walk in service.

Children born from South African parent(s) must be registered with the South African High Commission within 30 days. If this application was not submitted within the 30 days, the reason should be indicated on Form DHA-24, PART A under the compulsory section. Birth registration includes the application for a RSA passport and birth certificate.

REQUIRED APPLICATION FORMS

Forms to complete:

DHA-154; Application for Birth Certificate.

DHA-24; Registration of birth. This form can not be downloaded and must be completed on an original form. Copies of this form will not be accepted. This form can be collected from our building or you can send a letter requesting the form with a prepaid A4 size self addressed envelope.

DHA-529; Determination of Citizenship Status. This form is compulsory and must be completed twice, once in the name of the child with the parent(s) full details and once in the South African parent's name with his/her parents.

DHA-9; Application for a South African Identity document – only for applicants 15 ½ and older. This form must be done in duplicate. This form can not be downloaded and can be requested in person at our building or you can send a letter requesting the forms with a prepaid A4 size envelope.

DHA-73; Application for South African passport.

Instructions for completing the above forms:

Application forms must be completed in black ink ONLY.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Form DHA-24 must be completed with the details as it is stated on the foreign birth certificate. Write in clear block letters.

Date of birth (see section A of form DHA 24) should be stated as YEAR, MONTH, DAY.

In case of a child born out of wedlock BOTH parents must be present when the application is submitted, unless the particulars of the father has been omitted on the foreign birth certificate. The surname on the DHA-24 must be recorded as either:

A	Under the surname of the mother (where the biological father’s details are omitted from the foreign birth certificate), OR
B	Under the surname of the biological father of the child IF the father's particulars is recorded on the foreign birth certificate.This must be a joint request of the mother and the father, made and signed in the presence of the Consular Staff member on the day of submission of the application. See section D of form DHA-24

Double-barrel surnames for children born out of wedlock will only be considered after birth registration. This will be regarded as an official change of surname (amendment application).

Should the parents be married and require a double –barrel surname for the child, both parents must acknowledge this on the sides (in the margin) of form DHA-24. If this is not specified and requested in writing, the child will be registered under the father's surname.

The informant is the child’s father or mother. See section E of form DHA-24

DHA-9 form – Fingerprints of all applicants (15 ½ and older) will be taken by Consular Staff for no additional fee.

DHA-529 form – Holders of foreign citizenship MUST provide proof of how they acquired the foreign citizenship. In cases of those applicants who acquired foreign citizenship through any of their parents, copy of your full birth certificate (unabridged) showing the birth places of your parent(s) or certificate of registration. Under circumstances where even the parents acquired such a citizenship through descent, a letter from the relevant authorities in the country concerned will suffice. Also refer to items 9, 10 and 11 of form DHA-529. Foreign Birth/ Foreign registration certificates/ Marriage/ Divorce Certificates/ Naturalisation certificates must be officially translated into English.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

6 passport sized photographs. Please check the photograph specifications before taking the photographs. Applicants who are 15½ years old and those who do not have identity numbers MUST provide 8 passport sized photographs. Only one of the photographs must be endorsed on the back if the child is not present on the day of submission of application.. See guidelines on Passport & ID Photograph Specifications.

APPLICANTS WHO WILL BE APPLYING IN PERSON AT THE HIGH COMMISSION SHOULD BRING THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS AND TWO COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS WHICH WILL BE CERTIFIED BY THE OFFICIAL DURING SUBMISSION. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED THROUGH THE POST MUST BE CERTIFIED. DON’T POST ANY ORIGNAL DOCUMENTS.

2 X copies of full (unabridged) foreign birth certificate. All documents must be officially translated to English.

2 X certified copies of parent's marriage certificate if married in South Africa or a legalized (Apostille) marriage certificate if the marriage was entered into outside of South Africa
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/legal-services/legalisation

2 X certified copies of the divorce decree if marriage was dissolved in South Africa or legalized (Apostille) divorce decree if the marriage was dissolved outside of South Africa. Click on the following link for legalization of documents, http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/legal-services/legalisation

2 X copies of Biological mothers’ current RSA passport and ID.

If the biological mother is not a South African citizen, submit 2X copies of mother’s foreign passport.
If mother is a dual citizen please provide 2X copies of both passports and proof of how you acquired the foreign citizenship. (See notes on DHA-529 above)

If mother of child retained her citizenship or if her citizenship has been re-instated, please provide two copies of both the naturalisation/registration certificate and retention/ reinstatement letter.

2 X copies of father's current RSA passport and ID.
If the father is not a South African citizen, submit 2X copies of fathers’ foreign passport.
If the father is a dual citizen please provide 2X copies of both passports and proof of how you acquired the foreign citizenship. (See notes on DHA-529 above)

If father of child retained his citizenship or if his citizenship has been re-instated, please provide two copies of both the naturalisation/registration certificate and retention/ reinstatement letter.

Payments must be in British Pounds and in the form of postal order, bank draft or cash. Please no personal cheques.

Postal orders and bank drafts must be made payable to SA High Commission

PREPAID SPECIAL DELIVERY ENVELOPE (SIZE A4) MUST BE PROVIDED FOR THE RETURN OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

An email address must be provided and will be used to inform you once the passport has been received and is ready for collection.

Arrangement for the collection of passports can only be made once the passport has been received and the abovementioned notification has been sent.

PRESCRIBED FEE

Full Birth Certificate	£7.00
Full RSA Passport	£35.00

TURN AROUND TIMES

6 Months - adult birth registrations will take considerably longer.

FORMS TO DOWNLOAD

dha-73

bi-529

dha-154

Page updated 10/04/2013

SA Passport HOLDERS