Capitec Howick: Smart ID Walk-In Service KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
This page explains how to replace your Smart ID or convert a green ID book at Capitec Howick, which serves the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, including Howick, Hilton and Nottingham Road. It covers the Capitec account rule, what to bring, the R150 fee, and what happens after you apply. The service runs in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and no booking is needed.
In summary
- What you can do: replace a Smart ID or convert a green ID book. First-time applications and passports are not available.
- Account rule: you need a Capitec account, because payment runs through it. Staff can open one on the same visit.
- What to bring: nothing for the application itself. Your fingerprints and photo confirm who you are.
- Fee: R150 (R140 DHA fee plus R10 Capitec fee). Citizens aged 60 and over pay R10.
- Time: about 5 minutes at the terminal, then usually 10 to 14 working days for Home Affairs to process your card.
- Help: DHA Contact Centre 0800 60 11 90, Capitec Client Care 0860 10 20 43.
Branch details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Branch | Capitec Howick |
| Address | Harvard Street, Howick, 3290 |
| Capitec Client Care | 0860 10 20 43 |
| Service | Smart ID replacement and green ID book conversion, walk-in |
| Booking | Not needed |
| Passports | Not available |
| Who can use it | Capitec clients (an account can be opened on the day) |
Capitec’s published list names two Smart ID branches in Howick: “Howick” and “Howick on Main”. Confirm with Capitec which one you are heading to before you travel.
Do you need a Capitec account?
Yes. Payment for your Smart ID application is processed through a Capitec bank account, so you need one to use this service. If you do not bank with Capitec, staff can open an account for you in branch on the same visit. Once the account has a positive balance, you can go ahead with your Smart ID application.
This is the main difference from a Home Affairs office, where you do not need any bank account at all. If you would rather not open a Capitec account, apply at the Home Affairs office in Howick (corner of Howick Falls Road and Main Street) or in Pietermaritzburg instead, or check the rules at another bank on our guide to which banks offer Smart ID services.
What you can and cannot do at Capitec Howick
You can:
- Replace a lost, stolen or damaged Smart ID card
- Convert your green ID book to a Smart ID card
- Collect your finished card from this branch once you are notified
You cannot:
- Apply for a first-time Smart ID, including a 16-year-old’s first ID
- Apply for a passport
- Handle birth certificates, marriage certificates, name changes or any other Home Affairs service
What to bring
For the Smart ID application itself, you do not need to bring any documents. The terminal captures your fingerprints and photo and checks them against the Home Affairs population register.
Bring your green ID book or current Smart ID only if you are opening a Capitec account during the same visit, because staff need it to verify your details for the account.
If you have lost your ID and have no other identity document, start at a Home Affairs office. You may need a Temporary Identity Certificate before a bank branch can process a replacement.
How it works at the terminal
Capitec runs the service on its own self-service terminal, connected directly to Home Affairs systems. No Home Affairs official is stationed at the branch.
- Confirm your identity with your fingerprints
- Check your personal details, pulled from the Home Affairs population register
- Have your photo and fingerprints captured for the new card
- Pay the fee from your Capitec account
- Receive confirmation that your application has been submitted
The whole process usually takes about 5 minutes.
Fees
| Applicant | DHA fee | Capitec fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart ID replacement or green ID book conversion | R140 | R10 | R150 |
| Citizens aged 60 and over | Free | R10 | R10 |
Capitec charges its R10 service fee on every application, including those where Home Affairs waives its own fee. First-time applications are not available at Capitec, so the free first Smart ID for 16-year-olds does not apply here.
After you apply: two separate notification channels
Home Affairs processes your Smart ID centrally, which usually takes 10 to 14 working days. You may hear about your application through two channels that do not talk to each other:
- Home Affairs’ own automated SMS. DHA sends updates from its own system at each stage, including when your card is ready for collection. This happens wherever you applied.
- Capitec’s own notification. Because you applied at a bank, Capitec may also send its own update through its app, SMS or email, separately from DHA.
You may receive one, both or neither. If you have heard nothing after 20 working days, call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90, and check the Capitec app in case its message did not reach you.
The old SMS status lines, 32551 and 32552, have been shut down after fraudsters used them for phishing. There is no replacement SMS number. See our Smart ID status check guide for the options that still work.
Collecting your card: return to Capitec Howick, the same branch where you applied. You must collect in person, because your fingerprints are checked again. There is no separate collection booking. See how ID collection works.
Other Capitec Smart ID branches nearby
Capitec had 56 Smart ID branches in KwaZulu-Natal on its published list in September 2026. Nearby options include:
- Howick on Main
- Pietermaritzburg Brookside Mall
- Pietermaritzburg Church 187
- Pietermaritzburg Midlands Mall
- Pietermaritzburg Scottsville
- Hillcrest
Our other Capitec branch guides: Capitec Pietermaritzburg, Capitec Tygervalley, Capitec V&A Waterfront, Capitec Sandton City.
The list changes often, so confirm on the official DHA partner branch locator before you travel.
Need a passport instead?
Capitec does not offer passports. Some other banks do, but their branches require you to apply and book on eHomeAffairs at ehome.dha.gov.za/ehomeaffairsv3 first. No walk-ins are accepted for bank passport services. See our guide to bank-based Smart ID and passport services for which banks currently offer passports.
What you cannot do
- You cannot use this service without a Capitec account, though one can be opened on the day.
- You cannot apply for a first-time Smart ID or a passport at Capitec Howick.
- You cannot collect your Smart ID at a different branch, or send someone else to collect it.
- You cannot check your status by SMS. Both SMS lines have been discontinued.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Capitec account to apply for a Smart ID at Capitec Howick?
Yes. Payment for the application runs through a Capitec account, so you need one. If you do not have one, staff at Capitec Howick can open one for you on the same visit, and you can apply once the account has a positive balance.
How much does a Smart ID cost at Capitec Howick?
R150: the R140 Home Affairs fee plus a R10 Capitec service fee. Citizens aged 60 and over pay only the R10 Capitec fee, because Home Affairs waives its own fee for them.
Do I need to book an appointment at Capitec Howick?
No. The Smart ID service at Capitec is walk-in only. There is no booking system, and the application itself takes about 5 minutes at the terminal.
What do I need to bring to Capitec Howick?
Nothing for the Smart ID application itself, because your fingerprints and photo confirm who you are. Bring your green ID book or current Smart ID only if you are opening a Capitec account on the same visit.
Can I apply for my first Smart ID at Capitec Howick?
No. Capitec only handles Smart ID replacements and green ID book conversions. First-time applications, including a 16-year-old’s first Smart ID, must be made at the Home Affairs office in Howick (corner of Howick Falls Road and Main Street) or in Pietermaritzburg.
Can I apply for a passport at Capitec Howick?
No. Capitec does not offer passport applications. Bank branches that do offer passports require you to apply and book on eHomeAffairs first.
How long does it take to get my Smart ID?
Home Affairs usually finishes processing within 10 to 14 working days. If you have heard nothing after 20 working days, call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90.
How will I know my Smart ID is ready to collect?
Home Affairs sends its own automated SMS when your card is ready. Separately, Capitec may send its own notification through its app, SMS or email. The two are not linked, so you may receive one, both or neither.
Can someone else collect my Smart ID for me?
No. You must collect it yourself at Capitec Howick, the same branch where you applied, because your fingerprints are checked at collection.
What if the terminal at Capitec Howick is out of order?
Ask branch staff on the day. If the terminal is down, try another Capitec Smart ID branch nearby, such as Howick on Main or Pietermaritzburg Brookside Mall, or visit the Home Affairs office in Howick (corner of Howick Falls Road and Main Street) or in Pietermaritzburg.
Can I still check my Smart ID status by SMS to 32551 or 32552?
No. Home Affairs shut down both SMS status lines after fraudsters used them for phishing. Wait for the automated SMS, check Capitec’s app, or call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90.
Contact details
| Channel | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Capitec Client Care | Active | 0860 10 20 43 |
| DHA Contact Centre | Active | 0800 60 11 90 |
| DHA automated SMS | Active | Sent by Home Affairs at each stage |
| Capitec notification | Active | Capitec app, SMS or email |
| Smart ID status SMS (32551 and 32552) | Discontinued | Shut down after phishing abuse |
| DHA partner branch locator | Active | myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za/partner-branch |
Can I convert my green ID book to a Smart ID at Capitec Howick?
Yes. Capitec Howick handles Smart ID replacements and green ID book conversions, walk-in, with a Capitec account. The total is R150 (R140 plus Capitec’s R10 service fee). On the announced timeline the green ID book stops being valid on 31 March 2028, so converting now avoids the queues. See our green ID book deadline guide.