Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts

3 Steps to Become South African citizen

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Getting South African citizenship means being a rightful citizen of one of the most beautiful and dynamic countries in the world. It’s no surprise that so many people from across the world are settling in South Africa permanently.

If you want to follow in their footsteps, you’ve come to the right place. The next couple of paragraphs explain how to progress from ‘foreign immigrant’ to ‘South African citizen’.

The 3-step process

In most cases, obtaining citizenship in South Africa is a process involving three steps:
  • Temporary residence 
  • Permanent residence 
  • Citizenship 
One instance where the process is different is in the case of a financially independent visa. Here, the applicant is automatically granted permanent residency status. This is based on the fact that the applicant has provided sufficient evidence of the fact that they can sustain their lifestyle financially.

The financially independent visa are in few people’s reaches, so let’s concentrate on permits that follow the standard process of temporary and permanent residence:

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Spousal and Life Partner visas

If your marriage to or relationship with a South African citizen or lifelong resident has been shorter than five years, you may be eligible for a temporary permit.

Once you can prove a marriage or relationship of five years or longer, or if you can prove this fact at the time of wanting to move to South Africa, you can apply for permanent residency.

Relatives visa

Both first kin and other kinds of a South African resident are eligible for temporary South African residence, but only first kin relatives can apply for permanent residency.

First kin family members are spouses, children and parents. Second kin is grandparents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters.

Retirement visa

The temporary South African retirement visa is valid for four years. Once you have temporary residency, you are welcome to apply for permanent residency.

Permanent residency does come with its own financial requirements through – you must be able to prove a guaranteed life-long income of ZAR37 000 a month.

Like most other governments around the world, the South African government prefers to welcome foreigners who can support themselves financially.

General work visa

General work visas are valid for between two and five years, but never longer than the duration of the employment contract. If you’ve had temporary residency for 5 years, and were employed throughout this time, you could be eligible for permanent South African residency.

Critical skills visa

Temporary critical skills visas are valid for up to five years. Once you’ve been working in the country for five years, you can go ahead and apply for permanent residency.

However, if you have five years of experience in your field at the time that you decide to apply for a visa to South Africa, you can make a permanent application immediately.

Business visa

The temporary business visa is usually valid for two years, but it could be granted for more extended periods in specific instances. Once the temporary residency has been obtained, an application for permanent residency can be made.

Please keep in mind that no matter which visa you apply for, specific criteria must be met to be eligible for temporary or permanent residency. Being able to meet these criteria already gives the South African government a fair idea of your desirability as a South African citizen. Please have a look at the visa options on our website for more information.

Now that we’ve covered temporary and permanent residency. Let ’s look at how to take the final steps to get South African citizenship.
Making your South African status official

By now it should be clear that you must have a permit for permanent residency in your pocket before you can apply for South African citizenship.
In addition to this, you must have had spent five years usually residing in South Africa at the time of your application. One of these years must be the year immediately before submitting your request for citizenship.

Spouses have slightly different requirements, so please just check these with the Department of Home Affairs or us.


Other requirements that are asked of all applicants for South African citizenship are:
  • You must be of sound and sound character. 
  • You are proficient in one of South Africa’s 11 official languages. 
  • You have adequate knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of a South African citizen. 
If you can prove all of this and you have stayed in South Africa for the required five years, then you are well on your way to becoming a South African citizen.

6 Steps To become a citizen of Norway

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How to become a citizen of Norway.

It is feasible for residents of different nations to become nationals of Norway. 

The principles fluctuate depending upon your conditions, yet any individual who has been legitimately resident in Norway for at least seven years will have earned the chance to apply.

Table Of Content 


Norwegian citizens can vote in national elections and get a Norwegian travel permit. As indicated by the Henley visa limitations list, Norwegian residents appreciate visa-free or clear visa-on-landing access to 173 nations and territories, making the Norwegian international passport one of the most important in the world.

That is something worth having! So, how about we investigate how to do only that?

Double citizenship

Currently, dual citizenship isn't permitted, so you must renounce your previous citizenship to become Norwegian.

There are a few exemptions to this rule, and the present Norwegian government has declared plans to permit double citizenship soon.

Diverse standards apply to individuals who have held living residences in Norway, those who have maintained a residence card for family members of EU/EEA nationals, and those who have already been Norwegian citizens.

Residency period

For the most part, you are more likely than not to have lived in Norway for all of seven of the previous ten years and have held suitable living residence grants (for example, a work permit) that cover that period.

The standards for such residency depend, among other things, on whether you reside in an EU/EEA nation.
If you are married to or are the registered partner or cohabitant of a Norwegian national, the time you have lived in Norway, you more likely than not lived in Norway for a total of no less than three years amid the previous ten years. You should likewise meet the necessities of a permanent living residence.

Usually, time spent far from Norway for more than two consecutive months in a scheduled year expands the measure of the time required for residency by the same amount.

So, the required time would be eight years if you lived abroad for a year during your seven-year term. You should likewise expect to continue living in Norway once granted citizenship.

Language ability

Familiarity with Norwegian is basic while applying for citizenship. Candidates are more likely than not to finish 250-300 hours (contingent upon your conditions) of affirmed educational cost in the Norwegian language or have the capacity to report adequate aptitudes in Norwegian or Sami languages.


This, for the most part, implies you have passed the Norskprøve composed and oral tests (levels 2 or 3), the Bergenstest, or another oral and written Norwegian test at any rate level of A2. Since 2014, candidates for Norwegian citizenship should likewise pass an exam about Norwegian culture, laws, and history.

Nordic citizens

The most significant exemption from citizenship rules is for nationals of the other Nordic nations. The Norwegian Nationality Act of 1950 permits any Nordic resident who has been lawfully living in Norway for at least two years and can comprehend Norwegian to become a citizen on an application.

Family Immigration

Citizenship is only consequently given to people conceived in Norway if they have Norwegian countries. This implies that children of a foreign-born couple don't become Norwegian residents. On the off chance that you were born in Norway or moved here as a kid, there is a prerequisite for a shorter habitation period.

There is additionally no residence for individuals with a Norwegian legacy (for instance, a grandparent) to become citizens without meeting the criteria for citizenship recorded previously.


Citizenship by legacy is uncommon but conceivable in Ireland, Italy, and several other nations under certain conditions.

Step by step instructions to apply

If you hold a legal residence permit in Norway and live here consistently, you can apply for Norwegian citizenship. Your residence permit must be legitimate both when you use it and when your application is being handled.

Applying for Norwegian citizenship does not imply that you have a substantial allowance to remain in the nation, so you should recharge if allowed.

To start your application, finish the application frame on the UDI site. You will be given a residence to introduce your papers face to face.

There is an application expense, which at the time of writing is 4,200 kroner. During the underlying application process, you must pay by charge or with a Visa. Those younger than 18 don't pay.

Things you will require rely upon your own conditions. However, will incorporate the accompanying:
  1. Birth testament 
  2. Certificate of marriage/partnership
  3. Here is a full rundown of sections and takeoffs to Norway, including a duplicate of the considerable number of pages in the present and past visas.
  4. Tax returns covering the capability time frame 
  5. A police declaration demonstrating proper conduct
  6. Evidence of language competency (exam results) 

In the wake of becoming a Norwegian citizen, you will be welcome to participate in a voluntary citizenship ceremony.

Related article 

7 Steps to Become an American Citizen
3 Steps to Become a South African Citizen

7 Steps to Become an American Citizen

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Gaining U.S. citizenship can afford many opportunities for a resident of the United States. Among these are an entrance to a U.S. passport, the right to vote in public elections, and protection from deportation. However, becoming an American citizen requires a few steps, from establishing your eligibility to filing, fingerprinting, attending an interview, passing tests of your knowledge of English and U.S. civics, and attending an oath ceremony.

Step 1: Find Out if You Are Eligible.

The primary question is whether you have a U.S. green card (lawful permanent residence). With very few limitations, you must obtain a green card before you become eligible to apply for citizenship. So, if you haven't yet approached this point, learn about your eligibility by reading "Eligibility for a U.S. Green Card."

 As a legitimate permanent resident, you must meet additional requirements to be eligible for U.S. citizenship. This consideration includes the length of time you've spent in the U.S. as a green card holder, your good moral character, your ability to pass a test in English, U.S. history and government, and more. To check on whether you are eligible.

Step 2: Overcome Limitations to Your Ineligibility:

You may now determine that you are not eligible to become a citizen. Perhaps you can't show good moral character because you committed a minor crime (though not a major enough one to make you deportable). Or you broke the continuity of your residence by spending too long outside the United States. It may be that merely waiting longer will make you eligible for citizenship, or you may require taking other steps to make you suitable. Consult an immigration attorney for a complete analysis.

Step 3: File USCIS Form N-400

Once you have discovered your eligibility, you must file some paperwork with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The N-400 is the form to initiate the process. As of 2015, the application for naturalization cost $595, plus an $85 biometrics fee. You will need to attach a copy of your green card.

 Once your application has been accepted, you will be mailed a fingerprint and biometrics date.

Step 4: Get Fingerprinted

A background check will be required to process your application. You will be given a date and address to a local office where you will be fingerprinted. Your fingerprints will be run through the FBI for a background check.

Step 5: Attend a Citizenship Interview

After your fingerprinting, you should receive an appointment date and address for an interview with a UCSIC officer. During this interview, the officer will review your N-400 and confirm your answers to all the questions. The officer will also test your awareness of English and U.S. civics.

Step 6: Attend the Oath Ceremony

Congratulations if you are signed at (or soon after) your interview, but you still need to become a citizen. You will be called in for a massive public ceremony, at which you and others will be given the oath, swearing commitment to the United States. Then, you will be given a naturalization certificate showing you are a U.S. citizen.

Step 7: Do You Qualify?

You only need to hire a lawyer to apply for U.S. citizenship if you have some dangerous items in your background.