SA citizen under 18 - also British Citizen - Advice needed

[kayanne80]

Hi All

Please can you shed some light.
My son was registered as a British Citizen about 5 years ago but moved back to South Africa about 4 years ago (born in South Africa & has dual nationality), he is now 17 and wants to return to the UK, his child British passport has expired.

I understand that he has to apply for his first adult passport now but how easy is it for him to get a passport, has anyone renewed their passports abroad? Did they have to attend an interview at the Embassy as I did when I first applied for mine in the UK....
If anyone can let me know I would really appreciate it so much!

Thanks

[alterhase58]

Have you looked at this gov.uk website?
https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

If he had a passport before even though expired it should be reasonably straightforward, though I am not familiar with the process applying from abroad. Presumably he has the originals of the expired passport and the registration document.

[kayanne80]

Hi there

Thanks for your reply - I have the registration certificate and he has the old child passport - seems I can apply online for him and send him the application to sign etc...an interview may be required.....that should be fun!

[kayanne80]

Hello everyone
Some advise please - My son was born in South Africa, moved to the UK when he was 3 months old - he has obtained British Citizenship by registration but moved back to SA when he was 11 - he now wants to come back to the UK to live with me (he is 17 now), I need to renew his UK passport which I will do however the questions are about exiting SA

~ Does he need to have a current SA passport upon exiting the Republic as he only has a SA ID card.
~ I know he needs to produce his unabridged birth certificate & parental consent (as he is classed a minor in RSA)
~ He has dual nationality as he acquired both under the age of 18 so he need not worry about permission etc. ( I am correct I assume)

All the above seems sooo much hassle, or do I wait till he is 18 (in 15 weeks) & he can depart without consent and birth certificate BUT does he still need to produce a SA passport upon exiting even though he entered the Republic with his British passport (which is now expired)?

Complicated I know but anyone that can shed some light I would be grateful to you

[CR001]

~ Does he need to have a current SA passport upon exiting the Republic as he only has a SA ID card.

Yes, he MUST depart the Republic on a South African passport. The law is very clear on this for SA citizens. Many leave on foreign passports but they are starting to clamp down on this and question you extensively if you try and could refuse you departure. I get questioned every time on entry and departure on my British passport even though I have a formal letter from the Embassy allowing me to travel on it.

~ I know he needs to produce his unabridged birth certificate & parental consent (as he is classed a minor in RSA)

Correct. Parental consent from both parents.

~ He has dual nationality as he acquired both under the age of 18 so he need not worry about permission etc. ( I am correct I assume)

Permission for what exactly??

All the above seems sooo much hassle, or do I wait till he is 18 (in 15 weeks) & he can depart without consent and birth certificate BUT does he still need to produce a SA passport upon exiting even though he entered the Republic with his British passport (which is now expired)?

Has his British passport expired? He needs to present valid proof of right to enter the UK when he leaves SA and this would be a valid passport. He won't be able to enter the UK with an expired passport. Passport renewals are done in the UK and can take up to 16 weeks and often many months. They are no longer processed at the British High Commission in Pretoria.

[kayanne80]

He has dual nationality as he acquired both under the age of 18 so he need not worry about permission etc. ( I am correct I assume)
- Consent to travel I meant as he will then be classed as an adult right as he will be 18, therefore all he will require is his SA passport & also permission to keep his dual nationality that is what I mean?

His British passport has expired, yes, he is a citizen of the UK, I spoke with the Home office this afternoon and he needs to renew online and send the application back to the IPS here in the UK.

Another question - How do they know he is a citizen of SA? I used to travel to SA on my British passport and no questions were asked upon departure or entry......but I hear you when you say they are clamping down now.

[CR001]

He was born in SA and has held a SA passport and his British passport will state born in xy Town in SA, so of course they will know he is a a South African citizen.

I did not retain my SA citizenship so only have my British passport. Children however retain both if registered as another additional citizen before the age of 18 and don't lose SA citizenship automatically.

Once he is 18 he is free to leave without parental consent as he will be a major/adult.

A South African passport takes a couple of weeks, not as long as it used to.

[kayanne80]

I did not retain my SA citizenship either!

Ok best plan is wait till he is 18! Do ypu know if both parents have to be physically with the minor when he renews his SA passport? As I am in the UK and his waste of a space father is in SA

[CR001]

My understanding is that both parents need to sign the form. Might be wise to wait till he is 18 and apply. He should hopefully have his British passport by then.

[kayanne80]

Yeah I read that signature is now not all they need they need physical representation from both parents.

They know how to make things difficult dont they?!?

Thanks for your advice

[CR001]

They sure do.

Fortunately I am my daughters only parent so never had the issue renewing her docs in SA or here in London.

[kayanne80]

I can thank my lucky stars he is 18 soon!!!

[CR001]

Yes, very fortunate indeed.