Citizenship

Naturalisation

Obtaining the German Citizenship

In general, German citizenship is not established through birth on German territory, but through descent from a legally German mother and/or a legally German father. German citizenship may have been obtained through the following:

Obtaining the German Citizenship

Emigrate

Reasons for losing the German citizenhip

How can I lose my German citizenship?

Loss of German Citizenship

Restored Citizenship

Information on obtaining/re-obtaining German citizenship for former German citizens and their descendants who were persecuted on political, racial or religious grounds between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945.

Restored Citizenship

Ausrufezeichen

Disclaimer

Please Note: 
Although the information on this website has been prepared with utmost care, we can not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies contained herein.

Citizenship

Opening hours and contact details of the German Missions

Visa Section Pretoria

Please take note that the collection times for visas at the German Embassy Pretoria will change from June 3!

Application submissions only after prior booking online or via phone
0861 00 22 45 (Mon-Fri, 8:00-17:00).

Online Appointments

Opening Hours Applications:

Monday-Friday

 07:30 - 12:00

Collections (Counter 1)

Monday-Friday

12:00 - 13:00

From June 3:

Monday-Thursday

13:30 - 15:30

Public Holidays 2013

Telephone and e-mail enquiries:

Monday-Thursday

09:00 - 15:00

Friday

09:00 - 13:00

Telephone

+27 (0)12 427 8974

Enquiries via e-mail

Further information on visas

Comment

Parking:

There are six customer parking bays available at the "Hadefields Office Park" (first come first serve basis). For visitors with disabilities we can book a parking bay. In this case, please contact us by telephone or e-mail.

Address

1267 Pretorius Street "Hadefields Office Park", Hatfield, Pretoria 0083

Directions

Fax:
+27 (0)12 427 8984 (please do not send any documents prior to application submission)

Visa Section Cape Town

Visa application only after prior booking 

by phone 

0861 00 22 45 (Mon-Fri, 8:00-17:00)

or

Online Appointments

.

Opening Hours for Applications:
Monday-Friday09:00 - 12:00

Telephone and e-mail enquiries:

Monday - Thursday only

14:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+27 (0)21 405 3052

Fax

+27 (0)21 405 3010

Enquiries via e-mail

Further information on visas

our Holidays 2013

Directions to our office

.

Address

Physical address:

19th floor Triangle House
22 Riebeek Street
Cape Town

Postal address:

P.O. Box 4273 

Cape Town, 8000

Consular/Passport Section Pretoria

Passport Section

Online appointments (no fee)

Opening hours for applicants (appointment required):           

Monday - Friday

08:00-12:00

Passport collection (no appointment required):

Monday - Thursday

11:00-12:00

Telephone enquiries:

Monday - Thursday

13:00-15:00

Telephone

+27 (0)12 427 8976

+27 (0)12 427 8978

Public Holidays 2013

Reception

Opening hours for consular matters (excluding passport and visa issues):

No appointment required for:

- Certification of signatures and copies
- Translation of drivers licenses
- "Lebensbescheinigung"

Please make an appointment for the following consular services:

- Registration of births
- Name declarations
- other civil status matters (e.g. adoption, divorce)
- Notarisation (e.g. certificate of inheritance, acknowledgement of paternity)

Monday - Friday

10:00-12:00

Enquiries via telephone and e-mail: 

Monday - Thursday

08:00-10:00 and 

13:00-16:00

Friday

08:00-10:00

Telephone

+27 (0)12 427 8977

Contact via e-mail

Comment

Parking:

There are six customer parking bays available at the "Hadefields Office Park" (first come first serve basis). For visitors with disabilities we can book a parking bay. In this case, please contact us by telephone or e-mail.

Address

1267 Pretorius Street "Hadefields Office Park", Hatfield, Pretoria 0083

Directions

Phone:
+27 (0)12 427 8977

Consular/Passport Section Cape Town

PASSPORT

Opening Hours for Applications:
Monday - Friday

09:00 - 12:00

Public Holidays 2013

Directions to our office

Telephone and e-mail enquiries:

Monday - Thursday only

14:00 - 16:00
Telephone
+27 (0)21 405 3052
Fax
+27 (0)21 405 3010

Enquiries via e-mail

Further information on passports

OTHER CONSULAR SERVICES

Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday

09:00 - 12:00

Public Holidays 2012

Directions to our office

Telephone and e-mail enquiries:

Monday - Thursday

08:00 - 16:00
Friday
08:00 - 13:00
Telephone
+27 (0)21 405 3000
Fax
+27 (0)21 421 0400

Enquiries via e-mail

Further information on consular services

Address

Physical address:

19th floor Triangle House
22 Riebeek Street
Cape Town, 8001

Postal address:

P.O. Box 4273

Cape Town, 8000

German Missions in South Africa

View the consular jurisdiction map

German Embassy

Consular jurisdiction: Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga, as well as the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland.

There are no public visiting hours at the Embassy. Please ensure you have an appointment with an Embassy official in order to access the premises. 

The Visa and Consular sections are not located at Blackwood Street.

Address

180 Blackwood Street, Arcadia, Pretoria

Telephone

+27 (0)12 427 8900

Fax

+27 (0)12 343 9401

Contact via e-mail

Consulate General Cape Town

Consular jurisdiction: Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, St Helena and neighbouring islands

Address

19th floor Triangle House
22 Riebeek Street
Cape Town, 8001

Telephone

+27 (0)21 405 3000

Fax

+27 (0)21 421 0400

Contact via e-mail

Honorary Consul in Durban

Address

9 Kensington Drive, Westville, Durban 3629

Postal address

P.O. Box 1166,Westville, Durban 3630

Telephone

+27 (0)31 266 3920
Fax

+27 (0)31 266 3925

Contact via e-mail

Honorary Consul in Port Elizabeth

Address

Maritime Motor Building, Circular Way; Walmer, Port Elizabeth, 6070

Postal address

P.O.Box 211100, The Fig Tree, Port Elizabeth, 6033

Telephone

+27 (0)41 397 4700
Fax

+27 (0)41 397 4730

Contact via e-mail

Emergency Contacts

In case of emergency, please contact us as follows:

Embassy Pretoria

Mon - Thu

07:30-16:30

Friday

07:30-13:30

Telephone

+27 (0)12 427 8900

After hours:

+27 (0)83 325 2694 (also via sms)

Please note that this number should only be used by German citizens in cases of emergency, not for visa enquiries.

Consulate General Cape Town

Mon - Thu 

07:30-16:45

Friday
07:30-13:30

Telephone

+27 (0)21 405 3000

After hours

+27 (0)83 325 6513 (also via sms)

Please note that this number should only be used by German citizens in cases of emergency, not for visa enquiries.

South African emergency numbers
Police
10111
Ambulance
10177