Your Complete Guide to Applying for a South African Passport

Last updated: March 2026 | Source: Department of Home Affairs (dha.gov.za) | Not affiliated with the DHA

What Is a South African Passport?

A South African passport is an official travel document issued by the Department of Home Affairs to South African citizens for international travel.

It serves as proof of identity and citizenship at international borders. South African passports are valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 16. Your passport is linked to your South African ID number in the National Population Register.

Following system upgrades in 2025, the DHA cut passport turnaround times by 66.7%. Standard applications now take significantly less time than two years ago.

Who Can Apply for a South African Passport?

South African citizens can apply for a passport — by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation.

Permanent residents are not eligible for a South African passport. Permanent residents must travel on their home country passport.

Children of any age can receive a South African passport. Applications for minors require additional documentation including parental consent from both parents, unless one parent is deceased or a court order limits parental rights.

How Much Does a South African Passport Cost?

Applicant Type	Cost
Standard adult passport	R400
Child passport (under 18)	R400
Emergency passport	R400
Correction of DHA error	Free

How To Apply for a South African Passport

Option 1 — Online via eHomeAffairs (Recommended)

Citizens inside South Africa should apply via the eHomeAffairs portal at ehome.dha.gov.za.

Go to ehome.dha.gov.za and register or log in using your South African ID number
Verify your phone number with the one-time PIN sent to your cellphone
Complete the passport application form — enter details exactly as they appear on your Smart ID or birth certificate
Upload scans of your required documents
Pay R400 via EFT or bank deposit to the DHA account
Book a biometric appointment at your nearest DHA office or participating bank branch
Attend your appointment — your photo and fingerprints are captured digitally. No physical photos needed.
Wait for your SMS notification that your passport is ready for collection at the same branch

Option 2 — At a Participating Bank Branch

FNB, Capitec, Standard Bank, Absa, and African Bank offer passport services at selected branches.

FNB and Capitec allow you to begin the application through their banking apps before your branch visit. Bank branches operate on appointment systems and typically have shorter queues than DHA offices.

Full list of branches and booking steps: Which Banks Offer Passport Services

Option 3 — In Person at a DHA Office

Apply in person at any DHA live capture office without pre-applying online.

Book an appointment first at services.dha.gov.za to avoid long queues. Walk-ins are accepted but are increasingly limited at busier offices.

Option 4 — From Abroad at a South African Mission

South Africans overseas apply at their nearest South African embassy, high commission, or consulate.

In 2025, the DHA launched new overseas facilities starting in Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE — targeting a 5-week turnaround time. France, Germany, the Netherlands, and North America are being added in 2026. Historic overseas processing times exceeded one year at some missions. The new facilities aim to end this backlog.

What Documents Do You Need?

Adult First-Time Applicants

South African Smart ID card or green ID book
Completed Form DHA-73 (available at the DHA office)

Children Under 18

Child’s unabridged birth certificate — the full version listing both parents
Both parents’ Smart ID cards or ID documents
If one parent cannot attend: a sworn consent affidavit from the absent parent
If parental rights are limited by court order: a certified copy of the court order
If a parent is deceased: the death certificate of the deceased parent

Important: The unabridged birth certificate is the most common reason child passport applications are delayed or rejected. This is not the shortened birth certificate — it is the full version listing both parents. If you do not have one, apply for it at the DHA before starting the passport application.

How to get an unabridged birth certificate for a child passport

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Passport

Affidavit from the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirming the loss or theft
Smart ID card as proof of identity
R400 payment

How Long Does a South African Passport Take?

A South African passport takes 10 to 14 working days from your biometric appointment date.

Application Type	Expected Timeframe
eHomeAffairs or bank branch	10 to 14 working days
In person at DHA office	10 to 14 working days
At overseas mission (new facilities)	5 weeks
Follow-up threshold	After 30 working days with no update

Processing times vary by province. See current wait times: Home Affairs Processing Times by Province

How To Check Your Passport Status

Check your passport application status at www.dha.gov.za/status using your South African ID number.

You can also call the DHA toll-free hotline on 0800 60 11 90. Have your application reference number ready.

Full status check walkthrough including all status message explanations: Passport Status Check — Full Guide

Common Passport Problems — What To Do

Application Rejected

Rejections occur due to missing documentation, discrepancies with your population register record, outstanding state debt, or an active court-ordered travel restriction. Identify the specific reason before reapplying.
→ Passport Application Rejected — Reasons and Solutions

Taking Too Long

If 30 working days have passed with no SMS or status update, a specific escalation path applies — from the DHA hotline through to formal written complaint with copy-paste templates.
→ Passport Taking Too Long — Escalation Process

Urgent Travel — Emergency Passport

Emergency passports cannot be applied for online. You must appear in person at a DHA office with proof of urgent travel — a confirmed flight booking, medical referral, or bereavement documentation. Emergency passports are processed on a case-by-case basis.
→ Emergency Passport Application — Urgent Travel Guide

Wrong Information on Passport

If the DHA made the error, correction and reissue are free. If the error was in your original application, R400 applies. Both require a return visit to a DHA live capture office.
→ Wrong Information on South African Passport

Lost or Stolen Passport

Report to SAPS first, then to the DHA. If lost or stolen abroad, additional steps apply including reporting to your nearest South African mission.
→ Lost or Stolen Passport — What To Do First

Child Passport Application

Child passport applications have additional requirements that cause most delays — particularly the unabridged birth certificate and dual parental consent rules. The full guide covers single parents, deceased parents, and divorced parents with custody agreements.
→ Child Passport Application — Requirements and Common Mistakes

Passport Scams — What To Watch Out For

No third party can legitimately fast-track a South African passport application for a fee.

Common scams include:

Paid WhatsApp appointment booking services — the official system at services.dha.gov.za is free
Individuals offering to process passport applications outside official DHA or bank channels
Fake eHomeAffairs websites — always verify the URL begins with ehome.dha.gov.za before entering any personal details
Requests for EFT payment to private accounts — all official DHA payments go through the eHomeAffairs portal only

Report corruption and fraud: 0800 701 701 or hacc@dha.gov.za

Official Contact Details

Channel	Detail
Toll-free hotline	0800 60 11 90
Head office	012 406 2500
Email	hacc@dha.gov.za
Status check	www.dha.gov.za/status
Appointment booking	services.dha.gov.za
eHomeAffairs portal	ehome.dha.gov.za
Anti-corruption hotline	0800 701 701
Physical address	Hallmark Building, 230 Johannes Ramokhoase Street, Pretoria, 0001

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a South African passport take?
10 to 14 working days from your biometric appointment. If 30 working days pass with no update, call 0800 60 11 90 or follow the escalation steps in the full guide.

How much does a South African passport cost?
R400 for adults and children. The same fee applies for emergency passports. Corrections caused by a DHA error are free.

Can I travel on my Smart ID card or green ID book internationally?
No. A South African passport is required for all international travel. Your Smart ID card and green ID book are domestic identity documents only and are not accepted at international borders.

Can a permanent resident get a South African passport?
No. South African passports are issued to citizens only. Permanent residents must travel on their home country passport. Once naturalisation is approved, a South African passport can be applied for.

Do I need an unabridged birth certificate for my own adult passport?
No. Adult applicants need their Smart ID card or green ID book only. The unabridged birth certificate requirement applies specifically to child passport applications.

My child was born abroad. Can they get a South African passport?
Yes, if at least one parent is a South African citizen and the child has been registered as a citizen by descent. Citizenship by descent registration must be completed before applying for a passport.
→ Child Citizenship Registration — Born Abroad

I need to travel in 48 hours and my passport has expired. What do I do?
Go to your nearest DHA office in person first thing in the morning with proof of urgent travel. Request an emergency passport application. Do not attempt to book this online. Emergency passports are processed case by case and cannot be guaranteed within any specific timeframe.
→ Emergency Passport Application — Urgent Travel Guide

My passport status says “refer to office.” What does this mean?
This means there is an issue with your application that cannot be resolved remotely. Visit a DHA office in person with all original documents and your application reference number. The full status guide explains all status messages and required next steps.
→ Passport Status Check — Full Guide

Can I apply for a South African passport while outside South Africa?
Yes, at your nearest South African embassy, high commission, or consulate. New overseas facilities launched in 2025 target a 5-week turnaround. Historic overseas processing times were significantly longer.

What is the difference between a regular and an emergency passport?
Both are identical South African passports. The difference is processing priority. An emergency passport is applied for in person with proof of urgent travel need. There is no separate document design — the urgency affects processing speed only.
→ Emergency Passport Application — Urgent Travel Guide

Related guides:

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South African Passport – Complete Guide