Passport check
Do you have a European passport you don't know about?
Many South Africans have a parent or grandparent from the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Germany or Italy. Depending on the country and the generation, that can mean a citizenship or a visa without needing a job offer. Tick what applies to your family.
Tick a box if a relative in that generation was born in that country or held its citizenship.
| Country | Parent | Grandparent | Great-grandparent |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKUnited Kingdom | |||
| IEIreland | |||
| PTPortugal | |||
| DEGermany | |||
| ITItaly |
Nothing you tick is stored or sent.
What this could mean
Your family links
Before you apply
- You will need full documents for each generation: unabridged birth certificates, marriage certificates and any name changes, often apostilled or translated.
- Citizenship can be lost along the chain, for example if a parent naturalised in another country before you were born. Each country checks this.
- Since a May 2025 Constitutional Court ruling, South Africans no longer automatically lose their citizenship when they take another nationality. Confirm your own position with Home Affairs.
General information checked on 16 October 2026, not legal advice. Only the authorities of each country can confirm citizenship. Talk to Usabout where this fits in your plans.