Non-Acquisition Form and Retention for Dual Citizenship

Hi there

Please can you assist with the following query.

I have already applied for naturalisation with my biometrics submitted on 15 Feb 2023.
I have now learnt that I need the Non-Acquisition Letter and Retention Letters before becoming a UK citizen otherwise I will loose my South African citizenship.

I have not yet received anything back regarding the naturalisation.
Can I still apply for the Non-Acquisition and Retention letters or is it too late?

If I can still go ahead, is the Form NQ correct for the Non-Acquisition?

Many thanks in advance

Can I still apply for the Non-Acquisition and Retention letters or is it too late?

Think too late now. The process at both places takes a while. The two step process (UKVI and Home Affairs) should have been done BEFORE you apply for British citizenship.

You will however still have to right to permanent residence in SA if you were born there and can get a letter, free of charge, from Home Affairs stating this and allowing you to travel in and out of SA on a British passport. Additionally, you can then also apply for a non-SA Citizen ID book etc.

I have done the above for the sole purpose of if I am in SA visiting my parents and the civil/political poo hits the fan, I can get British Consular assistance and evacuation, which a dual SA/British citizen cannot get.

If you return to SA for 12 months, you can apply to resume your citizenship.

Thanks for the quick response... much appreciated!

Does this now mean I am in "limbo" or stateless? Can I still travel on my SA passport whilst the naturalisation application is in process?

Also, for clarity. This is from the SA High Commission website.
"Any South African citizen who is 18 years and above and intends to acquire foreign citizenship without
losing his/her SA citizenship, must apply to be exempted from losing his/her SA citizenship (Retain SA
citizenship) before acquiring the foreign citizenship"

Before acquiring foreign citizenship - is this the ceremony? As there might still be time.

You are only British from the date you attend your ceremony. You are not stateless. You are free to travel.

Worth a try. Once you have the letter from UKVI, you need to do a postal application to Embassy/Home Affairs and there can be delays.

https://southafricahouse.uk/wp-content/ ... enship.pdf

Thanks for that and apologies for my slight panic attack

Your reasons for permanent residence make a lot of sense. I will give the application a go in the meantime but its good to know that there is a permanent residence option.

Thanks again for your help!