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First-Time Smart ID South Africa — Turning 16 Application Guide

Last Updated: March 9, 2026|Reviewed By: Home Affairs Editorial Team|Fact-checked against official DHA and Other Official Sources|Not affiliated with the DHA

The First Smart ID Is Free

If you are applying for a South African Smart ID card for the very first time — and you have never had any SA ID document before — the application is free.

This applies to all first-time applicants who have never previously held a green ID book or Smart ID card. The free application is most commonly associated with 16-year-olds applying for the first time, since 16 is the minimum eligible age. However, the waiver applies to the fact of it being your first application — not specifically to your age bracket.

Applicant typeFee
First-time applicant (never had any SA ID document)Free
Replacement, reissue, or renewalR140

Keep your Smart ID safe. If you lose it after collection, the replacement costs R140. The free waiver applies once only — to your first-ever application.

Who Is Eligible for a First-Time Smart ID?

You are eligible to apply for your first Smart ID if you:

  • Are a South African citizen (by birth, descent, or naturalization)
  • Are 16 years of age or older
  • Have never previously received a South African Smart ID card or green barcoded ID book

You cannot apply for a Smart ID if you are under 16 — even if your birthday is in a few weeks. The application can only be submitted on or after your 16th birthday.

Why You Need a Smart ID at 16

According to South African Government Services, your Smart ID is required for:

  • Registering for matric rewrite or upgrade exams — a birth certificate covers in-school matric registration, but an ID is needed for rewrite and upgrade registration
  • Applying for a learner’s or driver’s licence
  • Opening a bank account
  • Applying for jobs — most employers require a Smart ID, not a birth certificate
  • Registering to vote in elections (you must be 18 to vote, but can register earlier)
  • Applying for a South African passport — a Smart ID is required before a passport can be issued at a bank branch
  • Accessing SASSA grants and government services

Apply as soon as you turn 16. Processing takes 10 to 14 working days, so apply well before any deadline — especially matric exam registrations or job applications.

Documents Required

What the applicant (turning 16) must bring:

  • Completed Form BI-9 — available at any DHA office, completed in black ink and block letters
  • Original South African birth certificate (abridged or unabridged) plus a certified copy
  • Proof of residential address — a utility bill in the applicant’s name, or in a parent’s name with an accompanying affidavit confirming the applicant lives at that address

What the parent or legal guardian must bring:

  • Their original South African Smart ID card or green ID book plus a certified copy
  • If both parents are deceased: certified copies of both parents’ death certificates, plus a court order confirming legal guardianship
  • If adopted: original court order confirming adoption and guardianship
  • If the applicant’s birth certificate does not include the father’s details and the parents are not together, the present parent brings their own ID and, if available, the absent parent’s ID or a sworn affidavit from the present parent

A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment for all applicants under 18. The DHA requires in-person parental confirmation for minors. You cannot send a 16 or 17-year-old alone.

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

Step-by-Step Application Process

The eHomeAffairs route is fastest — it lets you skip the longest queues.

Online Route (Recommended)

  1. Go to ehome.dha.gov.za and register with the applicant’s ID number (from their birth certificate), personal details, and cellphone number
  2. Complete Form BI-9 online — enter the applicant’s details exactly as they appear on the birth certificate
  3. Upload scanned copies of supporting documents
  4. No payment required — the system will recognise first-time applicants and waive the fee
  5. Book a biometric appointment at a DHA live capture office or participating bank branch
  6. Attend the appointment with the parent or guardian — bring all original documents
  7. Have the applicant’s photo and fingerprints captured digitally
  8. Wait 10 to 14 working days for processing
  9. Track status by sending ID [space] 13-digit ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS)
  10. Collect the Smart ID in person at the location where biometrics were submitted

Walk-In Route (No internet required)

  1. Visit any DHA live capture office — walk-ins accepted, but queues are longer without an appointment
  2. Collect and complete Form BI-9 at the office — in black ink and block letters
  3. Submit with all original documents and certified copies
  4. No fee to pay for a first-time application
  5. Have biometrics captured and wait for processing

Where To Apply

DHA live capture offices — available in all provinces. Walk-ins accepted. Book an appointment at services.dha.gov.za to reduce waiting time. A parent or guardian must be present for applicants under 18.

Participating bank branches — FNB, Capitec, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Discovery Bank, Investec, and African Bank offer Smart ID services at selected branches. Book via ehome.dha.gov.za or through the bank’s app. Appointment is required. A parent or guardian must be present for applicants under 18.

Special Situations

My birth was never registered — I don’t have a birth certificate or ID number

You cannot apply for a Smart ID without a birth certificate and ID number. You must register the birth at a DHA office first. This requires completing Forms DHA-24, DHA-24/A (×2) and DHA-288 at a DHA office, with written reasons for why the birth was not registered on time. This process must be completed before any Smart ID application can begin. Contact 0800 60 11 90 or visit your nearest DHA office for guidance.

One parent is deceased

Bring the certified death certificate of the deceased parent. The surviving parent attends with their own ID and the death certificate. No court order is needed unless there is a specific guardianship dispute.

Both parents are deceased

You will need certified copies of both death certificates and a court order confirming legal guardianship, issued to whoever is now responsible for the applicant.

I am 16 and my parents are not South African

If the applicant is a South African citizen by birth, the parent’s nationality does not affect eligibility. The parent must bring a valid foreign government-issued identity document or passport from their country of birth. Documents from the old Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, or Ciskei homelands are also accepted.

I am over 18 and applying for my first-ever ID

The free waiver is for first-time applicants — not specifically 16-year-olds. If you are over 18 and have genuinely never held any SA identity document before, confirm with the DHA office that the fee will be waived before your appointment. In practice, first-time applications from older adults may sometimes be charged R140 depending on how the system categorises the application — confirm at the counter before paying.

What You Cannot Do

  • You cannot apply before your 16th birthday — even by one day
  • Applicants under 18 cannot attend without a parent or legal guardian in person — the DHA will not process the application without parental presence
  • You cannot receive a green ID book as a first-time applicant — all new applicants receive a Smart ID card only
  • 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 the first Smart ID really free? Yes. The Department of Home Affairs waives the R140 fee for first-time applicants who have never previously held a South African Smart ID card or green ID book. As confirmed by the South African Government and Vuk’uzenzele, first-time applicants receive their Smart ID free of charge.

Can my child apply without me? No — not if they are under 18. A parent or legal guardian must be physically present at the DHA office or bank branch during the application for any applicant under 18. The DHA will not process the application without parental presence.

Do I need a birth certificate to apply? Yes. The birth certificate is the primary document for a first-time application. If the birth was never registered and no birth certificate exists, the birth must be registered at a DHA office before a Smart ID can be applied for.

My child turns 16 next month — can I apply now? No. The application can only be submitted on or after the applicant’s 16th birthday. You can prepare all documents in advance, but cannot attend a biometric appointment before the birthday date.

What if the applicant’s details on their birth certificate are wrong? Do not apply until the error is corrected. If the birth certificate contains incorrect information, that error will carry through to the Smart ID and NPR record. Correct the birth certificate through the DHA first — this involves submitting Form BI-309 with proof of the correct information. See Wrong Information on Smart ID — How To Correct It for the correction process.

How long does a first-time Smart ID take? 10 to 14 working days from the date of the biometric appointment. Track the status by sending ID [13-digit ID number] to 32551 (R1 per SMS). Apply at least 3–4 weeks before any deadline to allow for the processing window plus a buffer.

My child is 16 and has never had any ID — can they write matric? If they are enrolled in a school, the school can register them for matric exams using their birth certificate. However, for matric rewrites, upgrades, or adult matric registration, a Smart ID is required. As confirmed by matric.co.za, apply for the Smart ID at least 3 months before the exam registration deadline.

Can a first-time applicant apply at a bank branch? Yes, if they are a South African citizen by birth and have completed the online eHomeAffairs registration. A parent or guardian must attend with them. Not all bank branches accommodate minors — confirm with your specific branch before travelling.

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