This page explains how to apply for a Smart ID or passport at Absa, which works with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA): the walk-in and booked branch models, the Absa app, what to bring, fees including lost passports, and whether you need to be an Absa customer.
In summary
- Customer rule: Absa branches serve customers and non-customers. Only the Absa app is for Absa clients.
- Two branch models: original eHomeAffairs branches (booking required, Smart ID and passports) and new walk-in branches from 20 July 2026 (no booking, Smart ID only for now).
- Fees: Smart ID R140. Passport R600, or R1,200 if your current passport is still valid for six months or more. Absa adds no fee.
- Status: DHA’s automated SMS plus the Absa app. The 32552 SMS line is discontinued.
- Not at Absa: emergency passports, certificates, record corrections, and any branch in KwaZulu-Natal.
Can I get a Smart ID or passport at Absa?
Yes. Absa has offered Smart ID and passport services with Home Affairs since 2016, as one of the original pilot banks.
On 20 July 2026, Absa joined the newer walk-in model, launching 12 branches that take Smart ID applications without an eHomeAffairs booking, with about 60 more planned before the end of 2026. Absa has also announced Bank on the Move, a mobile Home Affairs unit; launch details are still to come.
Both Absa customers and non-customers can use the branch service. The Absa Banking App route is for Absa clients only.
What changed in July 2026
| Before July 2026 | From July 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Branches | 6 original eHomeAffairs branches | Original branches plus 12 walk-in branches |
| Booking | Required, on eHomeAffairs | Not needed at the new walk-in branches |
| Services at new branches | Smart ID and passport | Smart ID only (passports planned later) |
| Mobile unit | None | Bank on the Move, details pending |
Home Affairs reported 15 Absa branches live on 7 September 2026; branch counts change quickly, so check ehome.dha.gov.za or the Absa app for the current list.
Three ways to apply at Absa
Route 1: the Absa Banking App (Absa customers only)
Through the app you can start and submit your application, pay the DHA fee from your Absa account, book a branch appointment for your photo and fingerprints, and track your application. Home delivery is part of Home Affairs’ planned “Home Affairs @ Home” rollout; check the app for what is available when you apply.
Route 2: new walk-in branches (anyone, no booking)
At the walk-in branches launched on 20 July 2026, Absa staff capture your application and biometrics directly. No eHomeAffairs booking is needed. These branches handle Smart IDs only for now, and serve customers and non-customers. Confirm which model your nearest branch uses before you go.
Route 3: eHomeAffairs (anyone, original branches)
- Register at ehome.dha.gov.za/ehomeaffairsv3 with your ID number
- Complete your application and upload document copies
- Pay through Absa Online Banking, the Absa app, or internet banking at another supported bank
- Book an appointment at a participating Absa branch
- Attend in person for your photo and fingerprints
- Collect from the same branch when notified
If your banking app asks you to approve the payment, see how to authorise a Home Affairs payment.
Absa branches
Branch lists are growing fast, so confirm current branches on eHomeAffairs or in the Absa app before booking.
Original eHomeAffairs branches (since 2016, Smart ID and passports):
| Branch | Province |
|---|---|
| Absa Towers North | Gauteng |
| Absa Centurion Lifestyle Centre | Gauteng |
| Absa Gandhi Square | Gauteng |
| Absa Sandton | Gauteng |
| Absa Stellenbosch | Western Cape |
| Absa Cape Town CBD | Western Cape |
Walk-in branches (from 20 July 2026, Smart ID only): see eHomeAffairs or the Absa app for the list.
KwaZulu-Natal gap: Absa has no active branches in KwaZulu-Natal. Use FNB Cornubia, Standard Bank Kingsmead, Nedbank or a DHA office. See DHA bank branches for Smart ID and passports.
What to bring
- Your Smart ID card or green ID book (original)
- Your current passport, if you are renewing
- Payment confirmation from eHomeAffairs or the Absa app (original branches)
- For a lost or stolen passport: a SAPS affidavit and a loss of passport report on Form DHA-335. Form DHA-335 is issued at DHA offices, so check with the branch first; lost passport replacements are usually done at a DHA live capture office
Green ID book holders: The book will stop being valid as ID on 31 March 2028, so converting to a Smart ID now avoids the queues. See our green ID book deadline guide.
You do not need passport photos. Your photo is taken digitally.
Fees
| Document | Fee |
|---|---|
| Smart ID card | R140 |
| Smart ID, first-time applicant (usually at 16) | Free |
| Smart ID, citizens aged 60 and over | Free |
| Passport, current one expired or under 6 months left | R600 |
| Passport, current one still valid 6 months or more | R1,200 |
| Lost, stolen or damaged passport | Double the normal fee, or the normal fee if the loss was not your negligence |
Absa charges no convenience fee; you pay only the DHA fee.
Lost or stolen passports: Home Affairs’ tariff, updated July 2025, charges double the current fee for replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport, unless the loss was not your negligence, in which case the normal fee may apply. The office decides, based on your affidavit. A lost passport is often still valid for six months or more, which can put it in the R1,200 bracket either way. See lost or stolen passport.
For the full renewal process, see our passport renewal guide.
Processing and collection
Allow about 10 to 14 working days from your biometrics appointment. You may be notified through two separate channels: Home Affairs sends its own automated SMS, and if you applied through the Absa app, Absa may show or send its own update. The two are not linked, so you may receive one, both or neither.
The 32552 SMS status line has been discontinued. If you hear nothing after 14 working days, call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90. See passport application status check and Smart ID status check.
Collect in person at the same Absa branch where you applied. Nobody else can collect for you.
What you cannot do at an Absa branch
- Apply for an emergency passport. Use a DHA office.
- Correct population register details such as a wrong name, ID number or date of birth.
- Apply for birth, marriage or death certificates, citizenship or permanent residence.
- Apply for a passport at the new walk-in branches yet.
- Apply in KwaZulu-Natal. There are no active Absa branches there.
- Check your status by SMS. The 32552 line is discontinued.
Official contact and booking
| Channel | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| eHomeAffairs booking | Active | ehome.dha.gov.za/ehomeaffairsv3 |
| Absa Banking App | Active | iOS and Android |
| Absa website | Active | absa.co.za |
| DHA Contact Centre | Active | 0800 60 11 90 |
| DHA email | Active | hacc@dha.gov.za |
| Status check SMS (32552) | Discontinued | Shut down after phishing abuse |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be an Absa customer to apply at Absa?
No. Both the original eHomeAffairs branches and the new walk-in branches serve Absa customers and non-customers. Only the Absa Banking App route is limited to Absa clients.
Do I need to be an Absa client to renew my passport at Absa?
No. Passport renewals at Absa run through eHomeAffairs at the original branches, and the booking is with Home Affairs, not Absa. See our passport renewal guide.
Can I walk in without an appointment at Absa?
Yes, at the new walk-in branches launched on 20 July 2026, for Smart IDs. The original eHomeAffairs branches still require a booking.
Can I get a passport at Absa?
Yes, at the original eHomeAffairs branches, with a booking. The new walk-in branches offer Smart IDs only for now.
How much does a passport cost at Absa?
The same as at Home Affairs: R600 for a 32-page passport if your current one has expired or has under six months left, and R1,200 if it is still valid for six months or more. Absa charges no extra fee.
How much is a lost or stolen passport replacement?
Home Affairs’ tariff charges double the normal fee for a lost, stolen or damaged passport unless the loss was not your negligence, in which case the normal fee may apply. Bring a SAPS affidavit and Form DHA-335. The office decides which fee applies.
How much does a Smart ID cost at Absa?
R140. A first-ever Smart ID is free, and so is a Smart ID for citizens aged 60 and over.
How do I check my application status?
Wait for Home Affairs’ automated SMS, and check the Absa app if you applied through it; the two are separate. The 32552 SMS line has been discontinued, so call 0800 60 11 90 if you hear nothing after 14 working days.
Does Absa have branches in KwaZulu-Natal?
Not as of August 2026. KZN residents can use FNB Cornubia, Standard Bank Kingsmead, Nedbank or a DHA office.
What is Bank on the Move?
Absa’s planned mobile Home Affairs unit, which will take Smart ID services to communities. Launch details have not been confirmed.