Several South African banks offer Smart ID and passport services with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), but they work differently. This page compares them: how many branches each has, which need a booking, which require you to bank there, what they charge on top, and where each operates.
In summary
- Branches: 515 on 1 October 2026, up from 457 on 7 September. On 7 September: Capitec 242, Standard Bank 118, FNB 20, Absa 15. Target: 750 by the end of 2026.
- Walk-in (Smart ID only): Capitec, Standard Bank’s walk-in branches and Absa’s newer branches.
- Booking required (Smart ID and passports): eHomeAffairs branches at Absa, FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Investec and Discovery.
- Account needed: Capitec (account can be opened on the day) and Standard Bank’s walk-in branches. eHomeAffairs branches serve everyone.
- Extra fee: only Capitec, R10 on each Smart ID.
The banks at a glance
| Bank | Branches (7 Sep 2026) | Model | Passports | Must you bank there? | Bank fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitec | 242 | Walk-in terminal | No | Yes (open an account on the day) | R10 |
| Standard Bank | 118 | Walk-in and eHomeAffairs | eHomeAffairs branches only | Walk-in: yes. eHomeAffairs: no | None |
| FNB | 20 | eHomeAffairs, FNB app | Yes | No (app route is for FNB customers) | None |
| Absa | 15 | eHomeAffairs, walk-in, Absa app | eHomeAffairs branches only | No (app route is for Absa customers) | None |
| Nedbank | Selected branches | eHomeAffairs | Yes | No | None |
| Discovery Bank | Selected branches | eHomeAffairs | Yes | No | None |
| Investec | Selected branches | eHomeAffairs | Yes | No | None |
| African Bank | Rolling out | Check before you go | Check before you go | Check before you go | Check |
| TymeBank | Not live yet | Planned for the app-based phase | No | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Home Affairs’ 7 September figures cover Capitec, Standard Bank, FNB and Absa. Branch lists change every few weeks, so check eHomeAffairs or the official branch finder before you go.
Key differences
1. Do you need to bank there?
| Bank | Customer only? |
|---|---|
| Capitec | Yes. Payment runs through a Capitec account; staff can open one on the day. |
| Standard Bank walk-in branches | Yes, Standard Bank clients only for now. |
| Standard Bank eHomeAffairs branches | No, open to all. |
| FNB, Absa, Nedbank, Discovery, Investec (eHomeAffairs) | No, open to all. The FNB and Absa app routes are for their own customers. |
| Absa walk-in branches | Absa says customers and non-customers. |
2. Can you walk in?
| Bank | Walk-ins? |
|---|---|
| Capitec | Yes, walk-in only. No booking system. |
| Standard Bank walk-in branches | Yes, for Standard Bank clients. |
| Absa walk-in branches | Yes. |
| All eHomeAffairs branches | No. Apply, pay and book on eHomeAffairs first. |
3. Can you apply through a banking app?
| Bank | App route |
|---|---|
| FNB | Live for FNB customers, with home delivery and in-app tracking |
| Absa | Live for Absa customers; home delivery being rolled out |
| Capitec | No app booking; you apply at the branch terminal |
| Standard Bank, Nedbank, Discovery | Not confirmed |
Which bank is best for you?
- You want a Smart ID with no booking and you bank with Capitec, or don’t mind opening an account: Capitec, the largest network. Expect to pay R150 in total.
- You bank with Standard Bank: its walk-in branches, with no booking and no extra fee.
- You need a passport: an eHomeAffairs branch (Absa, FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Investec or Discovery), with a booking. See passport renewal.
- You want to apply from your phone with home delivery: FNB or Absa, if you bank with them.
- You don’t want to deal with a bank at all: a DHA office, which needs no bank account.
Two models running side by side
| eHomeAffairs model | Walk-in model | |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | FNB, Absa (original branches), Nedbank, Discovery, Investec, Standard Bank (eHomeAffairs branches) | Capitec, Standard Bank walk-in branches, Absa walk-in branches |
| How it works | Apply and pay on eHomeAffairs, then attend the branch | Apply and pay at the bank, no eHomeAffairs login |
| Appointments | Required | Walk-in |
| Services | Smart ID and passports | Smart ID only |
| Who can use it | Citizens by birth, any bank | Depends on the bank (see above) |
See DHA bank branches for Smart ID and passports for the full comparison and provincial counts.
Coverage by province
Every province now has at least one bank option. Capitec’s walk-in branches alone, as of September 2026:
| Province | Capitec branches | Other banks (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| KwaZulu-Natal | 56 | FNB Cornubia, Standard Bank Kingsmead, Nedbank Durban North |
| Gauteng | 53 | All banks |
| Western Cape | 36 | FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank |
| Eastern Cape | 30 | Standard Bank, Absa |
| Mpumalanga | 20 | Nedbank Mbombela |
| Limpopo | 19 | FNB Burgersfort |
| Free State | 13 | Check the locator |
| North West | 9 | Check the locator |
| Northern Cape | 6 | Standard Bank Postmasburg (Village Walk) |
Absa has no active branch in KwaZulu-Natal.
What no bank can do
These always need a DHA office:
- Emergency passports
- Population register corrections
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Name changes
- Citizenship and permanent residence applications
Naturalised citizens and permanent residents can use bank branches only if they are originally from a visa-exempt country (Phase 1). Everyone else uses a DHA office. See Smart ID for naturalised citizens and permanent residents.
Fees
| Document | Home Affairs fee | Bank fee |
|---|---|---|
| Smart ID card | R140 | R10 at Capitec; none elsewhere |
| Smart ID, first-time applicant (usually at 16) | Free | Not available at Capitec |
| Smart ID, citizens aged 60 and over | Free | R10 at Capitec |
| Passport, current one expired or under 6 months left | R600 | None |
| Passport, current one still valid 6 months or more | R1,200 | None |
| Lost, stolen or damaged passport | Double, or the normal fee if not your negligence | None |
Not sure what to take? Use our free Home Affairs checklist.
After you apply
You may hear through two separate channels: Home Affairs sends its own automated SMS, and the bank may send its own update through its app, SMS, WhatsApp or email. They are not linked. The 32551 and 32552 SMS status lines have been discontinued. See the Smart ID status check.
Official contact and booking
| Channel | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| eHomeAffairs | Active | ehome.dha.gov.za/ehomeaffairsv3 |
| DHA partner branch locator | Active | myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za/partner-branch |
| 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
Which bank has the most Smart ID branches?
Capitec, with 242 on 7 September 2026, followed by Standard Bank with 118. Across all banks, Home Affairs reported 515 branches on 1 October 2026, up from 457 on 7 September.
Can I use any bank’s branch even if I don’t bank there?
At eHomeAffairs branches, yes: the booking is with Home Affairs. Capitec is the main exception: its walk-in service requires a Capitec account, which can be opened on the day. Standard Bank’s walk-in branches are also limited to Standard Bank clients for now.
Which banks let me walk in without an appointment?
Capitec, Standard Bank’s walk-in branches (for Standard Bank clients) and Absa’s newer walk-in branches. These handle Smart IDs only. eHomeAffairs branches, which also do passports, need a booking.
Which banks offer passports?
Banks on the eHomeAffairs model, including Absa, FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Investec and Discovery, at selected branches with a booking. Capitec and the walk-in branches do not offer passports.
Are fees the same at every bank?
The Home Affairs fees are: R140 for a Smart ID and R600 for a passport (R1,200 if your current passport is still valid for six months or more). Capitec adds its own R10 fee on Smart IDs; the other banks we list add none.
Which banks have app-based applications with home delivery?
FNB (live for FNB customers) and Absa (for Absa customers, with home delivery being rolled out).
Is TymeBank offering Smart IDs yet?
No. TymeBank has joined the partnership but plans to take part in the later app-based phase. Its services are not live.
I am a naturalised citizen or permanent resident. Can I use a bank?
Only if you are originally from a visa-exempt country, under the Phase 1 rollout, and eHomeAffairs is not available to naturalised citizens. Otherwise use a DHA office.
Can I get my first Smart ID at a bank?
Not at Capitec, which does replacements and conversions only. Citizens by birth can apply for a first Smart ID through eHomeAffairs with a bank appointment. If you have never held any identity document, a DHA office is the safest route.