Form BI-309 — Correction of Personal Details on Your ID
Not downloadable. Only available at a Home Affairs Branch
What Is Form BI-309?
Form BI-309 is the Department of Home Affairs application form for correcting personal details recorded incorrectly on a South African identity document. It is submitted alongside Form DHA-9 (fingerprints) when corrections require a new ID to be issued.
Common reasons people use BI-309 include a wrong surname spelling, incorrect date of birth, wrong gender marker (where it was recorded as an administrative error — not a gender transition, which uses Form DHA-526), or a name recorded in the wrong field.
When Do You Need Form BI-309?
Use Form BI-309 when:
- Your name is misspelled on your ID
- Your date of birth is recorded incorrectly
- Your gender marker was recorded incorrectly at time of registration (administrative error)
- Your ID number was assigned incorrectly
- Any personal detail on your ID does not match what appears on your birth certificate or other primary documents
Important distinction: If DHA made the error, the correction and re-issuance of the ID is free of charge. If you provided incorrect information when applying, a fee applies.
How to Complete Form BI-309
Complete in black ink, block letters.
Current details: Your personal details exactly as they appear on your existing ID — including the incorrect information.
Correct details: The correct information as it should appear — for example, the correct spelling of your name or your correct date of birth.
Reason for correction: Explain briefly what was recorded incorrectly and how the error occurred.
Supporting evidence: Confirm which documents you are attaching to prove the correct information.
Signature: Sign in the presence of the DHA official.
Documents to Bring With Your BI-309
- Completed Form BI-309
- Your existing South African ID (the one with the error)
- Certified copy of your existing ID
- Documentary evidence of the correct information — this is the most important part
What counts as evidence of the correct information:
- Unabridged birth certificate (showing the correct name and date of birth)
- Certified copy of birth certificate
- School records, matric certificate, or academic transcripts
- Medical birth records
- Marriage certificate (if the error relates to a name change)
- Court order (if relevant)
The stronger your documentary evidence, the faster the correction. An application with only an affidavit and no supporting records will take longer and may be investigated.
Fees (2026)
| Situation | Fee |
|---|---|
| Error made by DHA | Free |
| Error made by applicant when submitting | R140 |
Confirm with the DHA official which fee category applies to your correction before paying.
Processing Time
BI-309 corrections are processed at the branch level for straightforward cases. Expect 4 to 8 weeks for a new ID to be issued. More complex corrections involving date of birth or ID number changes may be referred to a regional office.
Frequently Asked Questions
My name is spelled differently on my ID and my birth certificate — which is correct? Your birth certificate is the primary document. Your ID should match your birth certificate exactly. If they differ and the birth certificate spelling is correct, submit BI-309 to have the ID corrected.
Can I correct my ID and get a new one on the same day? No. The correction is processed and a new ID is produced centrally before being sent to your chosen DHA branch for collection. There is no same-day ID issuance at any branch.
I also want to change my name, not just correct an error — is BI-309 the right form? No. BI-309 is for correcting errors — details that were recorded incorrectly. If you want to change your name to something different from what was correctly recorded at birth, use Form DHA-85 (forename change) or Form DHA-196 (surname change).
Related Forms
- Form DHA-9 — Fingerprint Form — submitted alongside BI-309 for most corrections
- Form DHA-85 — Alteration of Forename — for deliberately changing a name (not correcting an error)
- Form DHA-196 — Surname Change — for deliberately changing your surname
Related Guides
- Smart ID Application — Correction of Details
- How to Apply for a Smart ID
- All DHA Forms — Complete Hub