South African nationality law

South African nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of South Africa. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the South African Citizenship Act, 1995, which came into force on 6 October 1995.

Any person born to at least one South African parent receives citizenship at birth. Children born to a legal resident of the country are permitted to South African citizenship only when they reach the age of majority. Foreign nationals may be granted citizenship after meeting a residence requirement (usually five years).

South Africa is composed of several former British colonies conquered and settled during and very shortly after the 19th century whose residents were British subjects. After these colonies were combined into the Union of South Africa and elevated as a Dominion within the British Empire in 1910, South Africa was granted more autonomy over time and gradually became independent from the United Kingdom. While South African citizens are no longer British, they continue to hold favoured status when residing in the UK; as Commonwealth citizens, South Africans are eligible to vote in UK elections and serve in public office there.