The BI-24 OR DHA24 is the birth registration document, also known as the Vault certificate. Home Affairs will not issue an unabridged birth certificate unless this document is on file in Archives. The fact that it is not there does not mean that you were not registered, it means that your documents are not in order at the Department. When your birth was registered it was supposed to be sent to the Regional Office who sends it on to Head Office who then uploads it and sends it on to Archives. Can you see how many places this could go wrong? To create a replacement Vault original forms need to be completed and submitted to any regional office.

We might still be able to assist you in the absence of a 13 digit ID number as long as you have a Register (aka Vault) for the document you need. The Birth Vault is called BI-24/DHA-24 and the Marriage Vault BI-30.DHA-30 We can also search for the ID number you are looking for - See our Search Function under Info & Options

If the Marriage register (vault) is not on file in Archives, they are not permitted to print the Marriage Certificate until this document is replaced. This register was supposed to have been sent to Head Office by the Regional Office where the Pastor/Marriage Official handed it in. If you do have it, please send us a legible scanned copy. If you were married before 2000 there should not be any issues, however if this is required and you can’t provide it then you will most probably not be issued with an unabridged version. You can apply for the abridged version which will not have your marital status i.e. Bachelor/Spinster/Divorced/Widowed. Some Countries accepts alternative documents in lieu of the Unabridged Marriage Certificate i.e. Letter of no Impediment/Abridged Certificate plus Affidavit. The original forms need to be completed and submitted to any regional office, unfortunately we have no control of how long it will take to have these documents captured in Archives.

An Abridged birth certificate is a printed certificate with only the applicants' details and is not acceptable for immigration purposes or for use abroad. An Unabridged birth certificate is a printed certificate with the applicants' as well as both parents' details. Please bear in mind that the word “unabridged” is no longer in use.

An Abridged marriage certificate is a computer generated certificate with both parties details. The Unabridged marriage certificate is a computer generated certificate with both parties' details, the marital status of both parties before the current marriage as well as the marriage officer's details. Please bear in mind that the word “unabridged” is no longer in use.

A Vault Birth is a photocopy of the registration document completed by both parents the day the child was born. Stamped with a pink stamp and signed by a Home Affairs official. The original Vault copy will always stay in the Vault at Home Affairs.

A Vault marriage is a photocopy of the register which was signed by the marriage officer, your witnesses and yourself on the day you were married.

A letter dated and signed indicating your marital status and if married, who you are married to. This document is normally used if you're planning on getting married abroad.

Determination of Citizenship Status for South Africa is the process of verifying whether an individual's South African citizenship has been revoked or not. Should your citizenship status be revoked, you may apply, in certain circumstances, for the resumption thereof. Retention of South African citizenship is a process that allows you to keep your South African citizenship when acquiring citizenship in a foreign country. South Africans that live abroad need permission to keep their SA citizenship intact before they are granted dual citizenship or citizenship in another country. Without a Letter of Retention of South African Citizenship, SA citizens could automatically lose their citizenship upon voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship. All South Africans considering citizenship abroad need to apply for the retention of their SA citizenship. Citizens younger than 18 are exempt from this process if they are granted foreign citizenship before their 18th birthday. SA citizens under the age of 18 automatically retain their citizenship for life, unless they wish to acquire further foreign citizenship after they turn 18, they do not need to apply. Keep in mind that SA citizens by birth who lost their SA citizenship always retain the right to Permanent Residence. Should your new citizenship in another country allow you to keep your SA citizenship (dual citizenship), you can apply for a certificate of Retention of South African Citizenship.