SACCUSA welcomes the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) launch of its new online SA citizenship portal. This is Great news for South Africans in the USA as they can now use the new website for Confirmation of Reinstating Lost South African Citizenship
Use this link – https://myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za/
South Africans residing in the United States who previously believed they had forfeited their South African citizenship now have a clear path to verify and, where necessary, reinstate it. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has launched a new digital platform designed to simplify and accelerate this process for South Africans abroad.
The Citizenship Reinstatement Portal, announced by DHA Minister Leon Schreiber, provides an accessible and secure online solution enabling South Africans in the diaspora to confirm their current citizenship status and complete any required steps to restore it. This development is particularly significant for dual citizens who, for decades, risked losing their South African nationality through the acquisition of another citizenship.
Implementation of the Constitutional Court Ruling
The introduction of this system follows the Constitutional Court’s landmark ruling in May 2025, which struck down Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act. For nearly three decades, the provision resulted in the automatic loss of South African citizenship for individuals who acquired a second nationality without prior ministerial approval.
The Court found this provision unconstitutional and confirmed that all individuals who had lost their citizenship under this clause since 1995 must be recognised as South African citizens. This judgment brought long-awaited clarity and certainty to thousands of South Africans living abroad, many of whom had been concerned about the implications for their identity, rights and heritage.
To ensure effective implementation, the DHA developed a modernised verification and reinstatement portal, allowing affected individuals to complete the required administrative steps efficiently.
A Streamlined Digital Platform for Citizens Abroad
The newly launched portal offers a user-friendly interface designed to support South Africans around the world. Key features include:
- Secure digital authentication
- Biometric and document verification
- Direct integration with the National Population Register
- Real-time application tracking
South Africans can begin the process by visiting myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za, creating an online profile, and confirming their contact information. Once registered, users may verify their citizenship status by entering their South African ID number. Individuals whose citizenship remains valid will receive immediate confirmation, while those affected by the former legislation will be guided through a structured reinstatement procedure.
Minister Schreiber noted that the initiative demonstrates the Department’s commitment to providing accessible, efficient, and dignified digital services to South Africans globally. For the South African community in the United States, this represents an important advancement in ensuring the protection of citizenship rights and strengthening ties with the broader South African nation, regardless of geographic location.