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

How Permanent Residents Can Apply for a South African ID

Permanent Residents Are Legally Entitled to a South African ID

If you hold a South African Permanent Residence Permit, you are legally entitled — and in fact legally required — to apply for a South African identity document once you turn 16.

This is not a privilege or a discretionary benefit. The Identification Act 68 of 1997 explicitly extends to all persons “lawfully and permanently resident in the Republic.” Section 15(1) of the Act makes it mandatory for every covered person aged 16 and older to apply for an identity document. The Immigration Act 13 of 2002 reinforces this, granting permanent residents all rights and obligations of a citizen except those explicitly reserved for citizenship alone.

As of 12 May 2025, eligible permanent residents can also apply for the modern Smart ID card — ending a 12-year exclusion from the digital system that affected approximately 1.4 million people.

Green ID Book vs Smart ID Card — Which Do You Apply For?

Until May 2025, permanent residents could only receive the old green bar-coded ID book. The Smart ID system had been available to South African citizens since 2013 but excluded PR holders due to IT system limitations between DHA’s citizen and non-citizen databases.

That changed on 12 May 2025 when Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the reform. The rollout is phased:

	Green ID Book	Smart ID Card
Available to PR holders?	Yes — always	Yes — from May 2025 (phased)
Where to apply	Any DHA branch	DHA Live Capture office or bank branch (Phase 1 only)
Processing time	~6 months	10–14 working days
Online booking	No	Yes — via eHomeAffairs
Bank branches	Not applicable	Phase 1 PR holders (visa-exempt countries) only
Fee	R140	R140

Phase 1 covers PR holders from visa-exempt countries — they can apply via eHomeAffairs, at DHA Live Capture offices, or at participating bank branches.

Phase 2, covering PR holders from visa-required countries, was announced for a later rollout date.

If you are unsure which phase you fall under, check whether your country of citizenship appears on South Africa’s visa-exempt country list, or contact the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90.

Forms Required

Two forms are required for a permanent resident ID application. Neither can be downloaded — both must be collected and completed at a DHA office.

Form DHA-9 (also called BI-9) — the standard ID application and fingerprint form. This is the same form used by South African citizens applying for an ID. It captures your personal details and a full set of fingerprints taken by a DHA official. It must be completed in black ink and must not be folded.

Form BI-1620 — an additional form completed at the DHA office specifically by permanent residents and naturalised citizens. This form captures information particular to non-citizen-born applicants.

Both forms are available at any DHA branch. Ask the official at the counter for both when you arrive.

Documents to Bring

Bring all of the following to your appointment. Originals are required — certified copies are submitted alongside them but DHA returns the originals to you.

All applicants:

Original passport and certified copy
Original permanent residence certificate and copy — DHA specifically requires the second page of the PR certificate, which carries a stamp confirming PR status for ID issuance purposes
Two identical colour ID photographs (40mm × 30mm, head and shoulders, name and ID number written on the reverse) — not required if applying at a Smart ID Live Capture office, which takes digital photos on site
R140 application fee

If married:

Original marriage certificate and certified copy
If married in South Africa: also bring the handwritten marriage register copy (Form DHA-30 / BI-30)

If documents are not in English:

Sworn English translation of any document in another language

If your PR certificate has been lost or damaged: You must first apply for a duplicate through VFS Global using Form BI-829 before you can proceed with the ID application. This adds significant time and must be completed first.

Where to Apply

For a green ID book: Visit any Department of Home Affairs branch in South Africa. No online booking is required — walk-ins are accepted at most offices. If applying from outside South Africa, contact your nearest South African embassy or consulate.

For a Smart ID card (Phase 1 PR holders): You can apply at a DHA Live Capture office or at a participating bank branch. Bank branch appointments must be booked in advance via eHomeAffairs — walk-ins are not permitted at bank branches for this service. You also need to be an existing customer of the bank where you book.

Bank branches currently participating in Smart ID services include Capitec, Standard Bank, FNB, and Absa. The network is expanding — Capitec alone is targeting 300 branches by end of 2026.

Fees

The application fee for a South African ID document is R140 for permanent residents — identical to the fee charged to citizens.

Document	Fee
First-time ID application (green book or Smart ID)	R140
Replacement — lost, stolen, or damaged ID	R140
Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC)	R70

There is no surcharge for permanent residents. The fee is the same regardless of your country of origin.

Processing Times

Green ID book: Approximately 6 months from submission to collection. This is significantly longer than for citizens because green ID book applications for PR holders go through a different processing pipeline at DHA. You will receive an SMS when your ID is ready for collection — though historically PR holders have not always received reliable SMS notifications. If you have not heard anything after 4 months, follow up with the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90.

Smart ID card (via Live Capture): 10 to 14 working days. This is the same timeframe as for citizens applying at Live Capture offices.

How to Read the ID Number — Citizen vs Permanent Resident

The South African ID number is 13 digits structured as YYMMDD SSSS C A Z. The 11th digit (C) indicates citizenship status:

Digit 11	Status
0	South African citizen
1	Permanent resident
2	Refugee

Example: An ID number reading 850314 5001 **1** 8 4 belongs to a male permanent resident born 14 March 1985. The 1 at position 11 is what distinguishes his document from a citizen’s.

This digit is embedded in every system that validates a South African ID — banks, SARS, employers, government agencies. The green ID book itself does not print “Permanent Resident” as a visible label separate from the number. The status is encoded within the ID number on every page.

The Smart ID card does show a visible “citizen’s status” field on the card face, making the distinction immediately apparent.

What Happens When You Naturalise as a Citizen

When a permanent resident becomes a South African citizen through naturalisation, the ID number changes:

Digit 11 changes from 1 to 0
The checksum digit (digit 13) is recalculated using the Luhn algorithm
All other digits remain the same

You must then apply for a new identity document reflecting your updated citizenship status. Since May 2025, naturalised citizens can apply for a Smart ID card rather than another green ID book. The application requires your original non-citizen ID document, your naturalisation certificate, two ID photographs, and the R140 re-issue fee.

What Happens If Permanent Residence Is Revoked

Under Section 28 of the Immigration Act, permanent residence can be withdrawn for several reasons, including:

Conviction of specified offences
Absence from South Africa for more than 3 consecutive years
Failure to enter South Africa within 12 months of permit issuance
Dissolution of a qualifying spousal relationship within 2 years
Submission of fraudulent documents at the time of application

If your permanent residence is revoked, you lose the legal basis for holding a South African ID. Your ID number is flagged in the National Population Register, rendering the document invalid. You revert to foreign national status and would require a valid visa to remain in South Africa.

Common Problems to Be Aware Of

Incorrect information from DHA officials. PR holders have historically been given wrong information at DHA counters about what documents are required and whether certain services are available to them. If an official refuses your application or tells you PR holders cannot access a specific service, ask for the refusal in writing and contact the DHA Contact Centre to confirm the correct position.

Lost PR certificate. Your original PR certificate is required for the ID application. If it has been lost or damaged, you must apply for a replacement through VFS Global using Form BI-829 before the ID process can begin. Budget additional time for this step.

No SMS notification. PR holders have historically not received consistent SMS alerts when their ID is ready for collection. If you are applying for a green ID book, plan to follow up proactively with the DHA Contact Centre after 4 months.

Phase access confusion. Only PR holders from visa-exempt countries have access to Smart IDs, eHomeAffairs, and bank branches under Phase 1. If you are from a visa-required country and attempt to book through eHomeAffairs, your booking may be rejected. You may still need to apply for a green ID book at a DHA branch and wait for Phase 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apply for a South African ID if I already have a foreign ID or passport? Yes. The Identification Act requires all permanent residents aged 16 and older to obtain a South African identity document. Your foreign passport or ID remains valid for international travel, but the South African ID is your primary identity document for use within the country.

Can I apply for a South African passport as a permanent resident? No. South African passports are issued to South African citizens only. As a permanent resident, you travel on your foreign passport. If you naturalise as a South African citizen, you can then apply for a South African passport.

Does the green ID book say “Permanent Resident” anywhere on it? Not as a visible printed label. The distinction is encoded in the 11th digit of your ID number printed on the document. The Smart ID card, however, does display a “citizen’s status” field on the card face.

Can I apply at a Capitec branch as a permanent resident? Yes, if you are a Phase 1 PR holder (from a visa-exempt country) and an existing Capitec client. Capitec’s DHA service is open to all South Africans and qualifying PR holders. You need to book in advance via eHomeAffairs.

What if a DHA official tells me permanent residents cannot get a Smart ID? This was true before May 2025 but is no longer correct for Phase 1 PR holders. Ask for the refusal in writing and escalate to the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90. You can also use the Home Affairs Complaint Letter Generator to draft a formal complaint.

My PR certificate is in another language — do I need a translation? Yes. Any document not in English must be accompanied by a sworn English translation before DHA will accept it.

Permanent Resident Green ID Book South Africa Guide