How much does a Smart ID cost in South Africa?

R140 for most applicants. Free for first-time applicants aged 16 who have never held any SA identity document, and free for all South African citizens aged 60 and older. A Temporary ID Certificate costs R70.

How long does a Smart ID take to be ready?

10 to 14 working days from your biometric appointment. Allow up to 20 working days before escalating. Track your application by sending ID followed by your 13-digit ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS).

Can a permanent resident get a Smart ID in South Africa?

From 12 May 2025, permanent residents from visa-exempt countries are eligible. Phase 2 for visa-required countries has not been given a confirmed date. Monitor dha.gov.za for updates.

What do I do if my Smart ID is lost or stolen?

Report to SAPS first and get a case number and affidavit. Register with SAFPS at safps.org.za to alert banks. Then apply for a replacement Smart ID (R140) at a DHA office or bank branch with the SAPS affidavit.

Smart ID South Africa — Complete Guide for 2026

Last Updated: March 10, 2026|Reviewed By: Home Affairs Editorial Team|Fact-checked against official DHA and Other Official Sources|Not affiliated with the DHA

What Is the Smart ID Card?

The Smart ID card is South Africa’s official identity document. It is a credit-card-sized, hard-plastic card containing an embedded microchip that stores your biometric data — fingerprints, facial photograph, and personal information — in an encrypted format designed to prevent fraud and identity theft.

The DHA began issuing Smart ID cards in 2013 as a replacement for the old green barcoded ID book. As of 2026, approximately 28 million Smart ID cards have been issued. The green ID book is being actively phased out, with the DHA targeting discontinuation of green book production by approximately 2027 and universal Smart ID enrolment by the end of 2029.

Who Qualifies

Category	Eligible
South African citizen by birth, aged 16 or older	Yes
South African citizen by naturalization, from a visa-exempt country	Yes — Phase 1 rollout from May 2025
Permanent resident from a visa-exempt country, aged 16 or older	Yes — Phase 1 rollout from May 2025
Permanent resident from a visa-required country	Not yet — Phase 2 date not confirmed
Non-citizens without permanent residence	No

Fee Structure

Situation	Fee
First-time applicant, age 16, never held any SA ID	Free
South African citizen aged 60 or older	Free
All other Smart ID applications (renewal, replacement, correction)	R140
Temporary ID Certificate (TIC) — interim document while waiting	R70

Fees are payable in cash at DHA offices or via internet banking for online applications through ehome.dha.gov.za. No photographs are required — image and fingerprints are captured digitally at the office or bank branch. Physical photographs are only required for Temporary ID Certificates.

Where To Apply

Option A — DHA live capture office Any DHA office equipped with live capture technology can process Smart ID applications. Find your nearest office at dha.gov.za. Walk-ins are accepted. Pensioners over 60 receive priority service.

Option B — Participating bank branch FNB, Capitec, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Discovery Bank, Investec, African Bank, and TymeBank offer Smart ID services at selected branches. An appointment is required — book via ehome.dha.gov.za or through the bank’s app. Bank branches are often less crowded than DHA offices.

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.

Option C — DHA mobile units The DHA operates mobile “Home Affairs on Wheels” units that travel to rural areas and communities with limited office access. Contact 0800 60 11 90 to find out if a unit is scheduled near you.

Part 1: Applying for a Smart ID

Standard Application (Citizens, Green ID Book Holders)

Documents needed:

Completed Form BI-9 (available at DHA offices or online at ehome.dha.gov.za) — black ink, block letters
Existing green ID book — original plus a certified copy
Proof of residential address — utility bill, bank statement, or municipal account

Process:

Register or log in at ehome.dha.gov.za
Complete Form BI-9 online and upload documents
Pay R140 online (free if 16 first-time or 60+)
Book a biometric appointment at a DHA office or bank branch
Attend in person — fingerprints and photo captured digitally
Wait 10–14 working days
Track: SMS ID [space] your 13-digit ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS)
Collect in person at the same location

Full guide: Smart ID Application

First-Time Applicants (Turning 16)

Free for applicants who have never held any South African identity document. Parent or guardian must attend in person for applicants under 18.

Additional documents:

Original birth certificate plus a certified copy
Parent/guardian’s Smart ID or green ID book plus certified copy

Full guide: First-Time Smart ID

Applicants Aged 60 and Older

Free for all South African citizens aged 60 or older. No fee regardless of whether you are upgrading from a green ID book or applying for the first time. Priority queue service at all DHA offices.

Full guide: Smart ID for Over 60s

Naturalized Citizens and Permanent Residents

Effective 12 May 2025, naturalized citizens and permanent residents from visa-exempt countries can apply for a Smart ID. Phase 1 is limited to visa-exempt country applicants; Phase 2 (visa-required countries) has not yet been given a confirmed date.

Additional documents — naturalized citizens:

Naturalization certificate (original plus certified copy)
Form BI-1620 (collected at DHA office)

Additional documents — permanent residents:

Permanent residency certificate (original plus certified copy)
Form BI-1620 (collected at DHA office)

Confirm your NPR record is correct before applying — a mismatch causes rejection, and the R140 fee is not refunded.

Full guide: Smart ID for Naturalized Citizens and Permanent Residents

Part 2: Tracking Your Application

Three methods to check your Smart ID status:

Method	How
SMS	Send `ID [space] 13-digit ID number` to 32551 (R1 per SMS)
eHomeAffairs portal	Log in at ehome.dha.gov.za with your SA ID number
Phone	Call 0800 60 11 90 with your ID number ready

Status messages explained:

Application received — normal, biometrics captured, in processing
Being processed — normal, card being produced at Government Printing Works
At branch / ready for collection — go to the same office where you applied
Collected — if you have not yet collected, call immediately
No record found — check too early (wait at least 5 working days); or reference a possible data entry error
Rejected — call 0800 60 11 90 for the reason

Do not check before 5 working days after your biometric appointment. If there is no collection notification after 20 working days, begin escalation. Full guide: Smart ID Status Check

Part 3: If Your Application Is Taking Too Long

Standard processing time: 10–14 working days. Allow 20 before escalating.

Day	Action
Day 5+	Begin checking status by SMS to 32551
Day 20+	Call 0800 60 11 90, note reference number
Day 20+	Email hacc@dha.gov.za with full details
Day 30+	Visit branch in person, speak with Branch Manager, request formal trace
Day 45+	Written complaint to the Director-General of Home Affairs

Common delay causes: NPR record mismatch, biometric capture failure, Government Printing Works backlog, outstanding state debt, data entry errors. No expedited processing option exists for Smart IDs.

Full guide: Smart ID Taking Too Long

Part 4: If Your Application Is Rejected

The DHA’s SMS status will show “rejected” or the call centre will confirm the reason. Common rejection causes and their fixes:

Rejection reason	Fix
NPR mismatch	Correct NPR record first via Form BI-309 at DHA office, then reapply
Form BI-9 errors	Obtain a fresh form, complete correctly in black ink, pay R140 again
Biometric capture failure	Return for recapture (free if DHA technical failure)
Outstanding state debt	Call DHA for details, settle debt, reapply
Missing or insufficient documents	Resubmit complete, current document set, pay R140 again
Citizenship/eligibility issue	Naturalized citizens and PRs from visa-required countries not yet eligible
Duplicate application	Call to cancel duplicate, then reapply

You cannot reapply while a previous application is still active. The R140 fee is non-refundable. Full guide: Smart ID Application Rejected

Part 5: If Your Smart ID Has Wrong Information

Who pays for the correction depends on who made the error.

Error source	Fee
DHA made the error	Free replacement
Applicant made the error on the form	R140

Correctable information: name, date of birth, ID number, gender, citizenship. You cannot correct by phone or email — you must visit a DHA office in person, surrender the existing card, and apply for a correction. If the error originates in the National Population Register (NPR), you must correct the NPR first via Form BI-309 before applying for the card correction — this can take several weeks.

A Temporary ID Certificate (R70) is available while you wait for the corrected card.

Full guide: Smart ID Wrong Information

Part 6: If Your Smart ID Is Lost or Stolen

Act in this order — identity protection first, replacement second:

Report to SAPS — get a case number and sworn affidavit (free)
Register with SAFPS — free Protective Registration at safps.org.za or 011 867 2234, alerts all banks and credit providers
Alert your bank — use the fraud line for your bank, check your credit report
Apply for replacement — R140, requires SAPS affidavit, book at services.dha.gov.za, biometrics recaptured, 10–14 working days

You cannot apply for a replacement without the SAPS affidavit. Collection always in person. A TIC (R70) is available while you wait.

Full guide: Lost or Stolen Smart ID

Part 7: Temporary ID Certificate (TIC)

The TIC is a bridging document that proves your identity while your permanent Smart ID is being processed or replaced.

Detail	Information
Fee	R70
Where	DHA offices only — not bank branches
Photos	2 identical colour ID photographs required
Processing	Issued over the counter on the day (subject to queue)
Valid for	Voting, some banking, government services — not international travel

The TIC cannot be used as a travel document. It cannot be issued if your fingerprints have never been captured on the DHA system. Full guide: Temporary ID Certificate

Part 8: If Your Collection SMS Arrived But the Card Isn’t at the Branch

This is a known issue. The SMS is triggered when the card leaves Government Printing Works, not when it arrives at the branch. Transit time adds 2–3 working days.

Escalation steps:

Wait 2–3 working days, then check status by SMS (32551)
Return to the branch and ask for a formal trace
Call 0800 60 11 90 and log a complaint with a reference number
Email hacc@dha.gov.za with all details and the reference number
After 20 working days: return in person, escalate to Branch Manager, request GPW tracing

If the system shows “collected” but you never collected: report to SAPS immediately, register with SAFPS, and contact the DHA — this may be fraud.

Full guide: Smart ID Not at Branch

Part 9: After You Collect Your Smart ID

Before leaving the collection point: Check your name, date of birth, ID number, gender, and photo for errors. Report any error immediately — DHA errors are replaced free of charge.

After you leave:

Update your bank accounts (take your Smart ID to every bank where you hold an account, confirm FICA status)
Update SASSA if you receive a grant
Notify your employer’s HR department
Update SARS if your name or details changed
Update insurance, medical aid, loyalty programmes, and other service providers
Destroy your green ID book — cut it up including through the barcode and biographical page. Do not keep it as a backup

Keep your Smart ID safe: Do not bend, laminate, or expose to magnets. Store in a card holder. If lost, report immediately.

Full guide: Smart ID Received — What To Do Next

Official Contact Details

Channel	Detail
Status check SMS	ID + space + 13-digit ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS)
Toll-free hotline	0800 60 11 90
Email	hacc@dha.gov.za
eHomeAffairs portal	ehome.dha.gov.za
Appointment booking	services.dha.gov.za
DHA office locator	dha.gov.za
Visa-exempt countries list	dha.gov.za
SAFPS (identity fraud)	011 867 2234 \| safps.org.za
SASSA	0800 60 10 11 \| sassa.gov.za
Anti-corruption hotline	0800 701 701

This website is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs. All contact details are sourced from official government websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Smart ID cost? R140 for most applicants. Free for first-time applicants aged 16 who have never held any SA ID, and free for all South African citizens aged 60 or older. A Temporary ID Certificate costs R70.

How long does a Smart ID take? 10–14 working days from your biometric appointment. Allow up to 20 working days before escalating. Track by SMS to 32551.

Can I apply online? Yes, at ehome.dha.gov.za. You must still attend a DHA office or bank branch in person for biometric capture. You cannot complete the full process without attending in person.

Can I apply at a bank? Yes. FNB, Capitec, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Discovery Bank, Investec, African Bank, and TymeBank offer Smart ID services at selected branches. An appointment is required. Note that naturalized citizens and permanent residents can use bank branches only if from visa-exempt countries.

Do I need photographs? No physical photographs are required for Smart ID applications — your photo is captured digitally at the office or bank branch. Physical photographs are only needed for the Temporary ID Certificate (R70).

Can someone collect my Smart ID on my behalf? No. Collection always requires your in-person attendance for fingerprint verification. Third-party collection is not permitted under any circumstances.

I am a permanent resident. Can I get a Smart ID? From 12 May 2025, permanent residents from visa-exempt countries can apply. Permanent residents from visa-required countries must wait for Phase 2 — the DHA has not confirmed a date. Check dha.gov.za for updates.

Can I keep my green ID book after getting my Smart ID? You can, but you should not. The green ID book has a fraud rate of 34% and is a fraud risk if lost. Destroy it once you have updated your key accounts.

What do I do if there is an error on my Smart ID? If you notice it at the collection point, report it immediately. If it is the DHA’s error, the correction is free. If you notice it after leaving, see the Smart ID wrong information guide.

My Smart ID was lost or stolen. What now? Report to SAPS first, then register with SAFPS to protect your identity, then alert your bank, then apply for a replacement (R140). See the lost or stolen Smart ID guide.

Smart ID South Africa — Complete Guide