Emigration (also referred to as formal or financial emigration) does not affect your birth right, citizenship or the right to retain your South African passport. It is often believed that officially emigrating requires you to give up your citizenship and identity as a South African – a very emotive issue. This is incorrect.
Registering an official emigration with SARS and the SARB does not affect your South African citizenship. All that happens is that the SARB declares you a non-resident. Until such time as you actively decide to relinquish your citizenship, you will be classed as a South African citizen and will retain the right to return – and again become a resident – whenever you choose.
For clarity regarding this, or if you wish to financially emigrate, please complete the contact form below:
