2007-01-25 02:48:30 · 5 answers · asked by l'extra terrestre 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
There are two issues here, and neither has to do with skin colour: the Ancestral visa and British citizenship by descent.
Ancestral visas are available to South Africans (and all other Commonwealth citizens) who have a British born grandparent (both adoptive and blood grandparents). It allows someone who can support themself, to work in the UK for up to five years. If still supporting oneself at 5 years, one can apply for permanent status (which can eventually lead to citizenship).
As for citizenship, it's more tricky. A British man who was born in the UK can always pass on his citizenship to a legitimate child born abroad. A British man who was born abroad can only automatically pass on his citizenship to a child born in the UK. There might be ways of registering a child born in this way, but you'd need detailed advice.
For women it was never so simple. British women could only pass on their citizenship like a man after 1/1/83. (There is a registration system for people born between 7/2/61 and 31/12/82 to British women who are British "other than by descent". It's not automatic).
Finally, anyone can apply to register as British if their connections to the UK are strong enough -it's part of the Royal Prerogative. Just ask Zola Budd.
2007-01-25 07:05:42 · answer #1 · answered by J C 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Once a person becomes a citizen of another country, they lose the citizenship of their first country. When South Africa became an independent Republic all residents became citizens of that Republic (unless they chose otherwise), but by now, with the exception of recent emigres to South Africa, all white residents will be South African citizens.
It is also true to say that a significant number of white South Africans are of Dutch descent, not British (the Afrikaans).
2007-01-25 11:04:29 · answer #2 · answered by Timothy M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
firstly, not all white south africans have british ancestors and seondly, they all can choose whether to apply for ancestoral visa if and when they come into the uk?
2007-01-25 10:54:22 · answer #3 · answered by Chariddie 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I thought they were Dutch!! Isn't Afrikaans or whatever language they speak a form of Dutch??
So, NO, they don't get UK citizenship at all.
2007-01-25 10:58:42 · answer #4 · answered by Lotus Phoenix 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Arn't they mostly Dutch ancestry?
2007-01-25 10:58:53 · answer #5 · answered by Christine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋