DA Abroad supports clarity on entry and exit rules for South African citizens

The Democratic Alliance Abroad (DA Abroad) notes the circulation of a misleading message on social media claiming that, as of May 2025, all persons born in South Africa must enter and exit the country solely using a South African passport, and that non-compliance would result in fines, arrests, or criminal records.

This claim is false and misleading.

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the Border Management Authority (BMA) have confirmed that there has been no change to the law governing the entry or exit of South African citizens. The requirements remain as set out in the South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act No. 88 of 1995):

• South African citizens are required to enter and depart South Africa using their valid South African passport, even if they hold dual citizenship.

• There has been no new fine structure, arrest directive, or enforcement policy introduced in 2025.

If a South African citizen’s passport expires while abroad, they may apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) through their nearest South African mission. In the rare event that an ETC cannot be obtained in time, South African citizens will not be denied entry into the country. They can then go ahead and apply for a new passport whilst in South Africa.

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DA Abroad’s Position

The DA Abroad welcomes the DHA and BMA’s clarification and urges South Africans abroad to:

• Ignore viral misinformation, which only creates unnecessary panic.

• Rely on official government platforms, including

  • www.dha.gov.za

  • www.bma.gov.za

We also call on the DHA and BMA to continue their proactive approach in communicating accurate, accessible information to citizens abroad – especially as new digital services, including the planned online passport and Emergency Travel Certificate application platform, are rolled out.

“The DA Abroad helps South Africans abroad to have access to clear and accurate information. This is a crucial step in restoring trust in government services and eliminating confusion caused by unverified viral messages.”

– Mary Paccard
DA Abroad Capable Home Affairs Project