How Long Should a South African Passport Take?
A South African passport takes 10 to 14 working days from your biometric appointment date when applying inside South Africa.
If your passport has not arrived or been flagged as ready for collection after 30 working days, your application requires follow-up. Do not wait longer than 30 working days before escalating.
| Application Type | Expected Time | Escalate After |
|---|---|---|
| eHomeAffairs or bank branch (inside SA) | 10 to 14 working days | 30 working days |
| DHA office in person (inside SA) | 10 to 14 working days | 30 working days |
| VFS Global overseas centre | 5 weeks | 8 weeks |
| South African embassy or consulate | 6 to 8 months | Contact mission directly |
Note: Working days exclude weekends and South African public holidays. A 30-working-day period is approximately 6 calendar weeks.
Why Is Your Passport Taking So Long?
The most common reasons for passport delays are high application volumes, production backlogs at Government Printing Works, and documentation issues flagged after submission.
Specific causes include:
- High demand periods — December, school holidays, and post-public holiday surges
- Production backlogs at Government Printing Works in Pretoria, where all South African passports are physically printed
- A documentation issue or query flagged on your application after submission — your status may show “refer to office” without an SMS notification
- System downtime at the DHA’s online verification service
- Overseas applications routed through embassies or consulates with longer processing queues
Not sure what documents to take to Home Affairs? Click Here To Use our free checklist and walk in fully prepared.
Step 1 — Check Your Application Status First
Before escalating, check your passport status online at www.dha.gov.za/status using your South African ID number.
You can also check via SMS. Send the letter P followed by your ID number to 32552. For example: P8001015009087. Standard SMS rates apply.
| Status Message | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Application received | Your application is in the system and being processed |
| Ready for collection | Your passport is ready — collect it at your application branch |
| Refer to office | There is an issue requiring an in-person visit to a DHA office |
| No record found | Your application may not have been captured — escalate immediately |
If your status shows “refer to office” or “no record found” after 30 working days, move to Step 2 immediately.
Full status check walkthrough: SA Passport Status Check — Full Guide
Step 2 — Call the DHA Hotline
Call the DHA toll-free hotline on 0800 60 11 90 and request a specific update on your application.
This call is free from any South African phone. Before calling, have the following ready:
- Your full name
- Your 13-digit South African ID number
- Your application reference number from your receipt
- The date and location of your biometric appointment
- Your current status as shown on the DHA status check portal
Ask the consultant specifically: “My passport application was submitted on [date] at [location] and has not been ready for collection after 30 working days. Can you tell me the current status and what is causing the delay?”
Write down the name of the consultant and the date and time of your call. This is important if you need to escalate further.
DHA contact centre hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00
Step 3 — Send a Formal Written Complaint
If the hotline does not resolve your query within 5 working days, send a formal written complaint to hacc@dha.gov.za.
A written complaint creates a documented record and typically receives a faster response than repeat phone calls. Use the copy-paste template below.
Copy-Paste Complaint Email Template
Send to: hacc@dha.gov.za
Subject: Passport Application Delay — Formal Follow-Up Request
Dear Department of Home Affairs,
I am writing to formally follow up on a delayed South African passport application.
Full name: [Your full name] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] Application reference number: [Your reference number] Date of biometric appointment: [Date] Location where application was submitted: [DHA office or bank branch name] Current status on DHA status portal: [Status shown] Number of working days since application: [Number]
My passport has not been ready for collection after [number] working days, which exceeds the standard 10 to 14 working day processing period. I have called the DHA contact centre on [date] and was not provided with a resolution.
I request a written update on the specific reason for the delay and the expected date of completion.
Thank you. [Your name] [Your contact number]
Step 4 — Visit Your Nearest DHA Office In Person
If written correspondence does not produce a result within 10 working days, visit your nearest DHA office in person with all your original documents.
Bring the following:
- Your South African Smart ID card or green ID book
- Your original application receipt showing your reference number
- A copy of your complaint email and any DHA responses received
- Proof of urgent travel need if applicable — flight booking, medical referral, or work documentation
Ask to speak with the Branch Manager specifically. Request that your application be physically located and its status confirmed. Ask for the reason for the delay in writing.
If your status shows “refer to office”, this visit is not optional — it means the DHA requires you to appear in person and your application will not move forward until you do.
Overseas Applicants — Different Escalation Path
South Africans who applied at an embassy, consulate, or VFS Global centre abroad follow a different escalation process.
VFS Global centres in Australia, New Zealand, and Dubai (launched July 2025) target a 5-week turnaround. If 8 weeks have passed since your VFS Global appointment with no update, contact the centre directly through your VFS Global appointment booking account.
For applications submitted at South African embassies and consulates, processing times of 6 to 8 months are standard at most missions. Email hacc@dha.gov.za with your application details and the name of the mission where you applied.
Important: As of 1 March 2026, the South African Embassy in Washington DC no longer accepts mailed-in passport applications. All applications must be submitted in person or through a VFS Global centre.
If You Have Urgent Travel
If your delayed passport is preventing confirmed travel, you can apply for an emergency passport at your nearest DHA office in person.
An emergency passport requires proof of urgent travel need — a confirmed flight booking, medical referral letter, bereavement documentation, or work-related travel requirement. Emergency passports cannot be applied for online.
Full process: Emergency SA Passport Application — Urgent Travel Guide
Official Contact Details
| Channel | Detail |
|---|---|
| Toll-free hotline | 0800 60 11 90 |
| Head office | 012 406 2500 |
| hacc@dha.gov.za | |
| Status check | www.dha.gov.za/status |
| SMS status check | P + ID number to 32552 |
| eHomeAffairs portal | ehome.dha.gov.za |
| Anti-corruption hotline | 0800 701 701 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a South African passport take? 10 to 14 working days from your biometric appointment when applying inside South Africa. If 30 working days have passed with no update, escalate immediately using the steps above.
My passport status says “no record found.” What does this mean? This means your application was not captured in the DHA system. This can happen due to a system error at the time of submission. Visit your nearest DHA office in person immediately with your original receipt as proof of application.
My passport status has not changed in weeks. Is this normal? Status updates on the DHA portal can lag behind actual production progress. Check via SMS by sending P followed by your ID number to 32552 for a real-time update. If the SMS also shows no progress after 30 working days, call the hotline.
Can I pay to speed up my passport application? No. There is no official expedited service for a fee. Anyone offering to fast-track your passport application for payment outside official DHA channels is operating a scam. The only legitimate faster option is an emergency passport, which requires proof of genuine urgent travel need and is applied for in person at a DHA office.
I applied abroad and my passport has taken over 6 months. What do I do? Email hacc@dha.gov.za with your full name, ID number, application reference number, the date of your appointment, and the name of the mission or VFS Global centre where you applied. For VFS Global applications in Australia, New Zealand, or Dubai, contact the centre directly through your VFS Global account.
My passport was delayed and I missed my flight. Can I claim compensation from the DHA? The DHA does not offer compensation for travel costs incurred due to processing delays. This is stated in the DHA’s terms on the eHomeAffairs portal. Do not make confirmed travel bookings until you have received your SMS notification that your passport is ready for collection.
The DHA hotline keeps telling me to wait. What else can I do? Send a formal written complaint to hacc@dha.gov.za using the template above. Written complaints create a documented record and typically receive faster attention than repeat calls. If written correspondence also fails, visit your nearest DHA office in person and ask to speak with the Branch Manager.
Can someone else collect my passport on my behalf? No. As per DHA Circular No. 1 of 2022, third-party collection of passports and travel documents is strictly prohibited. You must collect your passport in person at the branch where you submitted your biometrics.