The Honorary Consuls are tasked with the promotion of the South African export trade, serve as contact persons for visiting South African business people, distribute general information on South Africa and represent South Africa at functions and receptions.
IMPORTANT: Honorary Consuls are not mandated to deal with ANY Consular-related matters, e.g., certifying documents, processing of visa applications or travel restrictions. ONLY the South African Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General in Munich are charged with this. You can find a list of honorary consuls here
The embassy in Berlin and the consulate in Munich offer a range of Citizen Services, such as applications for South African passports and ID documents. They can also issue an emergency travel document if you do not have a valid passport, allowing you to make a one-off trip back to South Africa.
For a complete list of consular services, visit the South African Embassy in Germany’s citizen services page here.
In partnership with VFS Global, some routine services can now be handled through VFS. By using the VFS Global platform, you can:
Birth Registration through VFS Global There is a new, more convenient way to register the birth of a Child born to South African parents in Germany. In addition to the traditional route through the Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, you can submit your application through the company VFS
Passport Application through VFS Global There is a new, more convenient way to apply for your South African passport in Germany. In addition to the traditional route through the Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, you can submit your application through the company VFS Global. For an additional service fee,
The DHA Citizenship Reinstatement portal is now open.
The Constitutional Court of South Africa has declared that Section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act (Act 88 of 1995) is unconstitutional and invalid from its inception on 6 October 1995. This section previously stated that South African citizens would automatically lose their citizenship upon acquiring citizenship of another country, unless they had received prior permission from the Minister of Home Affairs.
As a result of this ruling, individuals who lost their South African citizenship under this provision are now deemed not to have lost their citizenship.
If you believe you may be affected, please use this platform to verify your citizenship status and, if applicable, initiate the process of restoring your citizenship.
– The Constitutional Court’s ruling does not apply to individuals who voluntarily renounced their South African citizenship — a common requirement when obtaining citizenship in another country. Furthermore, those who lost their citizenship through conversion before 6 October 1995 are not eligible for reinstatement under this judgment.
All South African citizens/applicants requiring civic services, and who reside in Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thüringen, shall approach the South African Embassy in Berlin: Tiergartenstr. 18, 10785 Berlin
All South African citizens/applicants requiring civic services, and who reside in Bayern and Baden-Wuerttemberg, shall approach the South African Consulate-General in Munich: Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5, 80336 Munich
To schedule an appointment at the Consular in Munich, please send an email to Munich.CivicApp@dirco.gov.za, and for the embassy in Berlin, use berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za
All requests for appointments must contain the following information:
📂 Check Your Spam Folder: Some responses may end up in spam, so be sure to check there before resending your request..
⏳ Processing Delays: The embassy/consulate is currently understaffed, so processing emails is taking longer than usual. Please be patient.
🚫 Avoid Sending Multiple Emails: If you don’t receive a response right away, resist the urge to send follow-ups. Sending multiple emails only adds to the backlog and slows things down for everyone.
📄 Required Documentation: Before booking, check the list of required documents on the embassy website under SA Citizen Services to ensure you have everything needed.
Documentation may be certified or signed before a Commissioner of Oaths, either at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin or at the Consulate General in Munich.
The relevant documentation to be certified and photo identification, e.g. passport or identity document, must be submitted in person, and an appointment must be made for this purpose by contacting:
Legalising Documents Living, working, or studying in Germany often requires the submission of official documents that must be recognised as legally valid by German authorities.Depending on the context, this may involve notarisation, legalisation, or the presentation of certified copies. On this page Document Authentication South Africa and Germany are both
To ensure a smooth and secure experience for everyone, all visitors to the South African Embassy are kindly asked to observe the following protocols:
Check-In Procedure
Upon arrival, all visitors must present a valid form of identification at the reception desk. In exchange, a visitor’s card will be issued. This card must be worn or carried visibly throughout your time on the premises. Upon departure, please return the visitor’s card to reception in order to retrieve your ID.
House Rules – What’s Not Allowed:
For the safety, security, and comfort of all guests and staff, the following items and behaviours are not permitted on Embassy grounds:
The emergency number – 00491728676194 is for South Africans in distress during any emergency which includes but is not limited to natural disasters, national security emergencies, etc. You may call this number only if you are in an emergency during non-working hours (i.e. between 4:30 pm and 8:00 am).
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, commonly known as DIRCO, is dedicated to providing comprehensive consular services to South African citizens who find themselves outside the country’s borders. Through its diplomatic missions and embassies across the globe, DIRCO is committed to advocating the country’s interests on the international stage. As a responsible and accountable government agency, DIRCO strives to ensure that South Africa’s foreign policy objectives are met through collaboration with stakeholders both within and outside the country. Part of their mission is to provide consular services to South African nationals abroad.
Certain documentation for example unabridged birth certificates, marriage certificates and confirmation of marital status can be obtained via 3rd party companies. The following companies are listed on our website.
Applying for a South African ID in Germany If you’re a South African citizen aged 16 or older and currently living in Germany, you can apply for your ID through the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate-General in Munich. This includes first-time applicants, those replacing lost or damaged IDs, citizens updating personal details, or women changing surnames after marriage. Green ID BOok When you apply at the South African Embassy or Consulate, you
My SA Passport is stolen or lost One of the worst things that can happen to you while in a foreign country is having your passport stolen or lost. If your passport is stolen in Germany, immediately report the theft to the local police and obtain a police report. Germany has a “Passpflicht” law, which means Foreigners may only enter or stay in the federal territory if they have a recognised and valid passport or
passport Application through the Embassy/Consulate When you apply for your new South African passport in Germany, via the Embassy or Consulate, you have to apply at either the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, depending on where you live. Official information can be found on the South African Embassy website. The Embassy has taken great care to document all the relevant information, which can be downloaded from their website. Apply for your new
It is important to apply for your new passport well in advance, at least a year before the expiry date.Germany has a “Passpflicht” law. (1) Foreigners may enter or stay in the federal territory only if they possess a recognised and valid passport or passport substitute unless they are exempt from the passport requirement by virtue of a statutory instrument. For the purpose of residence in the federal territory, possession of a substitute identity document
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