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Wrong Information on Smart ID — How To Correct It in

Last Updated: March 7, 2026|Reviewed By: Home Affairs Editorial Team|Fact-checked against official DHA and Other Official Sources|Not affiliated with the DHA

The First Question: Who Made the Error?

Whether you pay for a Smart ID correction depends entirely on who made the mistake.

Who made the errorCost
The DHA made the error during processingFree — the DHA will replace your Smart ID at no charge
You made the error on your application formR140 — treated as a new application

This distinction matters. Before you do anything else, compare your Smart ID carefully against your original supporting documents — especially your birth certificate and your Form BI-9 application — to determine whose error it is.

What Types of Errors Can Be Corrected?

The DHA can correct any personal information printed on your Smart ID card, including:

  • Full name (first name, middle name, surname)
  • Date of birth
  • ID number
  • Gender
  • Citizenship status
  • Any other particulars captured incorrectly

Errors that originate from the National Population Register (NPR) — for example, a name or date of birth that has been wrong since your original birth registration — require an NPR correction before the Smart ID correction can proceed. This adds time to the process. See the NPR correction section below.

Documents Required for a Smart ID Correction

Submit the following at any DHA live capture office:

  • Form BI-9 — application for identity document (completed in black ink, block letters, no Tipp-Ex)
  • Form BI-309 — application to correct personal particulars (completed with the correct information)
  • Both forms are available free of charge at any DHA office — they cannot be downloaded
  • Proof of the correct information — for example, your original unabridged birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order, depending on the type of error
  • Your existing Smart ID card (to be surrendered)

No physical ID photographs are required at live capture offices — your biometric photo is captured digitally at the appointment. Photos are only needed for Temporary ID Certificates.

If the error is on the DHA’s side: the correction and replacement are free. You still need to complete both forms and provide proof of the correct information — the DHA will not simply take your word for it.

If the error is on your side: pay R140 at the DHA office counter or via the eHomeAffairs portal before your appointment.

Not sure what documents to take to Home Affairs? Click Here To Use our free checklist and walk in fully prepared.

Step-by-Step Correction Process

  1. Gather your proof documents — your original birth certificate (unabridged preferred) and any other document showing the correct information (marriage certificate, deed poll, court order)
  2. Book an appointment at services.dha.gov.za or walk in to any DHA live capture office
  3. Collect Forms BI-9 and BI-309 at the DHA office — complete both in black ink and block letters before approaching the counter
  4. Submit at the counter with your existing Smart ID and all proof documents
  5. Pay R140 if the error was in your original application — no payment if the DHA made the error
  6. Have your biometrics recaptured — photo and fingerprints will be taken again as part of the reissue process
  7. Wait 10 to 14 working days for your corrected Smart ID to be ready
  8. Check status by sending ID [space] your 13-digit ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS)
  9. Collect your corrected Smart ID in person at the same office — bring your original documents for fingerprint verification

NPR Corrections — When the Error Goes Deeper

If the wrong information originates from the National Population Register (NPR), you need to correct the NPR record before your Smart ID can be corrected.

The NPR is the DHA’s central database of all South African citizens and residents. If your NPR record itself contains the error — for example, your name has been misspelled since your original birth registration in the 1980s or 1990s — simply correcting the Smart ID without fixing the NPR first will result in the same error appearing on any future ID document.

To correct an NPR record:

  1. Visit any DHA live capture office in person
  2. Complete Form BI-309 (correction of particulars)
  3. Submit your original birth certificate and any other supporting documents proving the correct information
  4. The DHA will investigate the NPR record — this can take several weeks
  5. Once the NPR record is corrected, submit your Smart ID correction application as above

According to Legal Aid South Africa, if the DHA introduced the error, the replacement is free. If your application contained the wrong information from the start, the R140 fee applies.

Correcting Information Changes (Not Errors)

Some changes to your Smart ID are not corrections of errors — they are legitimate updates to your personal particulars. These are treated differently.

ChangeDocuments RequiredCost
Surname change after marriageMarriage certificate (original + certified copy)R140
Surname reversion after divorceDivorce decree (original + certified copy)R140
Name change by deed poll or court orderCourt order (original + certified copy)R140
Citizenship status changeNaturalization certificate or PR certificateR140

All of the above require Form BI-9 completed with the updated information, submitted at a DHA live capture office with the relevant supporting documents.

What To Do While Waiting for Your Corrected Smart ID

If you urgently need proof of identity while your corrected Smart ID is being processed, apply for a Temporary ID Certificate (TIC).

A TIC costs R70 and is valid for a limited period while your Smart ID is being reissued. You will need two identical colour passport photographs for a TIC — the only Smart ID scenario where physical photos are still required. TICs can only be obtained at DHA offices, not at bank branches.

Full guide: Temporary ID Certificate — When and How To Get One

What You Cannot Do

  • You cannot correct your Smart ID by phone, email, or through the eHomeAffairs portal — corrections must be done in person at a DHA live capture office
  • You cannot keep your existing (incorrect) Smart ID while the corrected one is processed — it must be surrendered at the time of application
  • You cannot have a friend or family member submit the correction on your behalf — you must be present for biometric recapture
  • Naturalized citizens and permanent residents can now apply for Smart IDs at bank branches (Phase 1 rollout), but only if they are from certain visa-exempt countries. All others must still use a DHA live capture office

Official Contact Details

ChannelDetail
Status check SMSID + space + 13-digit ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS)
Toll-free hotline0800 60 11 90
Emailhacc@dha.gov.za
eHomeAffairs portalehome.dha.gov.za
Appointment bookingservices.dha.gov.za
DHA office locatordha.gov.za
Anti-corruption hotline0800 701 701

This website is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs. All contact details are sourced from www.dha.gov.za.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it free to correct wrong information on my Smart ID? It depends on who made the error. If the DHA introduced the error during processing, the correction and replacement are free. If the error was in your original application, a replacement costs R140. Either way, you must submit Forms BI-9 and BI-309 with proof of the correct information at a DHA live capture office.

What forms do I need to correct my Smart ID? Form BI-9 (application for identity document) and Form BI-309 (application to correct personal particulars). Both are available free at any DHA office — they are not available for download and must be collected in person.

What proof do I need to show the correct information? Your original unabridged birth certificate is the primary proof document for name and date of birth corrections. For name changes after marriage or divorce, bring your marriage certificate or divorce decree. For any other error, bring the original document that shows the correct information.

My name has been wrong on every ID document I’ve ever had. How do I fix it? This is an NPR error — the mistake originates from your original birth registration. You need to correct the NPR record first by submitting Form BI-309 with your birth certificate at a DHA live capture office. Once the NPR is corrected (which can take several weeks), your Smart ID correction application can proceed.

Do I need to hand in my current Smart ID when I apply for a correction? Yes. Your existing Smart ID must be surrendered at the DHA office when you submit your correction application. You will not be able to keep it while the corrected card is processed. If you urgently need ID during the wait, apply for a Temporary ID Certificate (R70).

Can I correct my Smart ID at a bank branch? No. Smart ID corrections must be done at a DHA live capture office. Bank branches are only set up for new applications and renewals, not for corrections or NPR updates.

How long does a Smart ID correction take? 10 to 14 working days from the date you submit your correction application and have your biometrics recaptured. If an NPR correction is also required, that process must be completed first and can take several additional weeks.

My ID number is wrong on my Smart ID. Is this a DHA error or my error? Your ID number is generated by the DHA from your NPR record — you do not supply it. If your ID number on the card is wrong, this is almost certainly a DHA or NPR error and the correction should be free. Bring your birth certificate and any previous ID documents to the DHA office to support this.

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