SA Passport Application Rejected And What To Do

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

Why Was Your SA Passport Application Rejected?

A South African passport application is rejected when required documents are missing, personal information does not match the National Population Register, or eligibility conditions are not met.

The DHA does not automatically notify you of the specific rejection reason. You must request this information directly. Do not reapply before identifying the exact reason — reapplying with the same error results in a second rejection.

The 7 most common rejection reasons are:

Missing or incomplete documents
Personal information mismatch between your application and the National Population Register
Photo does not meet DHA specifications
Form completed incorrectly — use of correction fluid (Tipp-Ex), pencil, or leaving fields blank
Outstanding state debt or a court-ordered travel restriction
Citizenship status not confirmed — Form DHA-529 not completed or disputed
Dual citizenship without a valid Retention or Exemption Letter

Step 1 — Find Out the Exact Rejection Reason

Contact the DHA directly to get the specific reason for your rejection before taking any other action.

Channel	Detail
Toll-free hotline	0800 60 11 90
Email	hacc@dha.gov.za
In person	Nearest DHA live capture office

When contacting the DHA, provide your full name, South African ID number, and your application reference number. Ask specifically: “What is the reason my passport application was rejected and what is required to reapply?

Write down the reason given. This determines every step that follows.

Step 2 — Fix the Specific Problem

Missing or Incomplete Documents

Return to your nearest DHA office with the missing documents and a completed Form DHA-73.

Required documents for a standard adult passport application:

South African Smart ID card or green ID book
Completed Form DHA-73 in black ink, block letters, no Tipp-Ex
Completed Form DHA-529 (Determination of Citizenship) — required for all applicants
Full set of fingerprints on Form DHA-9 — completed at the DHA office

Do not leave any fields blank on Form DHA-73. Write “N/A” in any field that does not apply to you.

Photo Does Not Meet DHA Specifications

Your passport photo must meet the following DHA requirements exactly.

Requirement	Specification
Size	35mm x 45mm
Colour	Full colour, no filters or editing
Background	Plain white or off-white
Expression	Neutral, mouth closed, teeth not showing
Face	Full face visible, no hair covering eyes
Glasses	Not permitted
Alterations	Not permitted — no editing software

Four identical passport photos are required for applications at overseas missions. At DHA offices and bank branches inside South Africa, photos are captured digitally — physical photos are not needed.

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

Personal Information Mismatch

A mismatch between your application and the National Population Register (NPR) must be corrected at the NPR before reapplying.

This occurs when the name, date of birth, or ID number on your application differs from what is recorded in the NPR. Visit your nearest DHA office with your birth certificate and current ID document to request a NPR amendment. This must be resolved before your passport application can proceed.

Form Completed Incorrectly

Form DHA-73 completed with Tipp-Ex, pencil, or missing fields will be rejected automatically.

Obtain a new Form DHA-73 from your nearest DHA office or download it at www.dha.gov.za. Complete it in black ink and block letters only. Do not use correction fluid. Do not leave fields blank — write “N/A” where not applicable.

Outstanding State Debt or Court-Ordered Travel Restriction

A court-ordered travel ban or outstanding state debt prevents the DHA from issuing a passport.

Outstanding state debt includes unpaid maintenance orders, SARS tax debt, and certain criminal fines. Contact the relevant authority — SARS, the maintenance court, or the relevant magistrate’s court — to resolve the outstanding amount. Once resolved, obtain a clearance letter and present it to the DHA when reapplying.

A court-ordered travel restriction must be lifted by the court that issued it. The DHA cannot override a court order. Consult a legal practitioner if you believe the restriction was issued in error.

Citizenship Not Confirmed — Form DHA-529

Form DHA-529 (Determination of Citizenship) is compulsory for all passport applicants aged 16 and older.

This form must be completed at a DHA office — it is not downloadable. If your citizenship status is disputed or unconfirmed in the NPR, the DHA will require additional documentation before processing your application. Visit your nearest DHA office with your birth certificate and any available citizenship documentation.

Dual Citizenship — Missing Retention or Exemption Letter

South Africans who acquired a second citizenship must hold a valid Retention or Exemption Letter from the DHA before applying for a South African passport.

In May 2025, the Constitutional Court struck down Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship Act — meaning thousands of South Africans who previously lost citizenship by acquiring foreign nationality now have legal protection. However, DHA administrative systems are still being updated. Until the DHA’s digital citizenship portal is fully operational, applying for a Retention Letter remains the safest route to avoid passport rejection.

Contact the DHA for Retention Letter applications: hacc@dha.gov.za or 0800 60 11 90.

Step 3 — Reapply Correctly

Once the rejection reason is resolved, reapply through the eHomeAffairs portal at ehome.dha.gov.za or in person at your nearest DHA live capture office.

Before reapplying, confirm:

All documents are present and correctly certified
Form DHA-73 is completed in black ink, block letters, no Tipp-Ex, no blank fields
Form DHA-529 is completed
Your details match the National Population Register exactly
Any outstanding state debt or court order is resolved with written proof

Pay the R600 application fee again — the original fee is not refunded on rejected applications.

Copy-Paste Complaint Email Template

If you cannot get a clear rejection reason from the hotline, send this email to hacc@dha.gov.za:

Subject: Passport Application Rejection — Request for Written Reason

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

I am writing to request the specific reason for the rejection of my South African passport application.

Full name: [Your full name] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] Application reference number: [Your reference number] Date of application: [Date] DHA office or bank branch where application was submitted: [Location]

Please provide the specific rejection reason in writing so that I can address it and reapply correctly.

Thank you. [Your name] [Your contact number]

Official Contact Details

Channel	Detail
Toll-free hotline	0800 60 11 90
Head office	012 406 2500
Email	hacc@dha.gov.za
eHomeAffairs portal	ehome.dha.gov.za
Anti-corruption hotline	0800 701 701

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was my SA passport application rejected? The most common reasons are missing documents, a photo that does not meet DHA specifications, incorrect form completion, a personal information mismatch with the National Population Register, or an outstanding court order or state debt. Contact the DHA on 0800 60 11 90 to get the specific reason before reapplying.

Will I get a refund if my passport application is rejected? No. The R600 application fee is non-refundable regardless of the reason for rejection. You will need to pay the fee again when reapplying.

Can I appeal a passport rejection? Yes. You can appeal a rejection within 10 days of receiving the outcome if you believe the decision materially and unfairly affects your rights. Submit your appeal to the DHA in writing at hacc@dha.gov.za with your full name, ID number, application reference number, and the grounds for your appeal.

How long does it take to resolve a passport rejection? This depends on the reason. A photo or form error can be resolved and reapplied within days. A National Population Register mismatch or citizenship dispute can take several weeks to resolve. An outstanding court order requires a court process which has no fixed timeline.

Can I reapply at a different DHA office or bank branch after rejection? Yes. You are not required to reapply at the same office where the original application was submitted. Choose any DHA live capture office or participating bank branch.

My passport was rejected because of a DHA error in the NPR. Who pays the reapplication fee? If the error is confirmed to be in the DHA’s National Population Register, the correction and reapplication should be processed free of charge. Bring written evidence of the error to your nearest DHA office and request that it be documented as a DHA error.

I applied at a bank branch and my application was rejected. Do I follow up with the bank or the DHA? Follow up directly with the DHA on 0800 60 11 90 or hacc@dha.gov.za. Bank branches process biometrics on behalf of the DHA but do not have authority to resolve application rejections. All follow-up goes through official DHA channels.

Can a travel restriction prevent my passport application from being approved? Yes. An active court-ordered travel restriction will prevent the DHA from issuing a passport. The restriction must be lifted by the court that issued it before the DHA can proceed. The DHA has no authority to override a court order.

SA Passport Application Rejected