A common request we get from clients is to verify their marital status on the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) system. While the process might seem simple, it can be difficult to determine whether you are listed as single, married, divorced, widowed, or deceased by Home Affairs. Let’s look at what it means to verify your status with the DHA and who might need to do it.

 

The simplest explanation of your DHA status is that it is the information about your current marital status stored by the Department of Home Affairs.

 

In most cases, South Africans living abroad have difficulty verifying their status because they cannot get to a local DHA branch. It is extremely difficult to verify your status outside of SA since the DHA’s online tool is out of order since March 2018.

 

Furthermore, South Africans living abroad cannot use Home Affairs’ SMS-based verification process, because SMSs cannot be sent from overseas.

 

Your status is a reflection of your marital status on the DHA. You are categorized into six different status types. These are:

 

  • Deceased
  • Single
  • Married
  • Divorced
  • Widow
  • Widower

How Can You Find out If Someone Is Married?

If you decide to verify your marital status on your own, you will need to visit your nearest Home Affairs office. The nearest SA consulate or embassy can verify your marital status if you live abroad. The process can, however, take a long time.

 

As part of our service, DocAssist performs status verifications directly with the Department of Home Affairs. If necessary, we can even assist in having your status corrected.

Looking to Verify Your Status at Home Affairs?

It can be helpful to verify your status on the Home Affairs system in a variety of situations. Some individuals might have unknowingly fallen victim to immigration scams and were registered as married without their knowledge.

 

When a divorce is finalised in court, many divorcees assume that their DHA status will automatically change. However, in some cases, this does not happen. In this instance, a status check could help identify a divorcee whose status never changed. It will also allow you to make any corrections as quickly as possible. If you are planning to apply for citizenship or residency abroad, a status verification will also be necessary.

 

To learn more about our turnaround times and status verification services, contact Doc Assist today.

 

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