What To Do If Your SA Passport Has Wrong Information
If your South African passport contains incorrect personal information, the correction and reissue are free if the DHA made the error. If you made the error in your original application, a fee of R600 applies.
Do not travel on a passport with incorrect information. A name, date of birth, or ID number mismatch between your passport and other travel documents — airline tickets, visas, Smart ID — can result in being denied boarding or stopped at immigration.
Step 1 — Identify Who Made the Error
The cost and process depend entirely on whether the error was made by the DHA or by you.
| Error Source | Cost | Process |
|---|---|---|
| DHA made the error — wrong name, date of birth, or ID number printed incorrectly | Free | Visit DHA office with proof of correct information |
| You made the error — typo in application form, wrong details entered | R600 | Apply for a replacement passport |
| NPR validation error — DHA population register has incorrect information | Free to fix NPR, R600 for new passport | Fix NPR record first, then apply for replacement |
Step 2 — Gather Your Proof
Before visiting a DHA office, gather documents that prove what the correct information should be.
| Type of Error | Proof Required |
|---|---|
| Wrong name | Birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order showing correct name |
| Wrong date of birth | Birth certificate or official identity document showing correct date |
| Wrong ID number | Birth certificate and Smart ID card showing correct ID number |
| Wrong gender marker | Birth certificate or court order for gender reassignment |
| Printing error — smudged, misaligned, or unreadable | The passport itself is sufficient proof |
Bring originals and certified copies of all supporting documents.
Step 3 — Visit Your Nearest DHA Live Capture Office
Corrections to a South African passport cannot be done online. You must visit a DHA live capture office in person.
At the office:
- Inform the official that your passport contains incorrect information and that you need it corrected and reissued
- Submit completed Form DHA-73 in black ink and block letters
- Submit completed Form DHA-529 (Determination of Citizenship)
- Submit proof of the correct information — birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order
- Hand over your current passport with the incorrect information
- If the error was yours: pay the R600 replacement fee
- If the error was the DHA’s: no payment is required — request written confirmation that the replacement is being processed at no charge
- Have your biometrics recaptured — photograph and fingerprints taken digitally
Important: If the error is in the DHA’s National Population Register (NPR) rather than just on the passport, the NPR record must be corrected first before a new passport can be issued. Request that the official document the NPR correction in writing before you leave the office.
Not sure what documents to take to Home Affairs? Click Here To Use our free checklist and walk in fully prepared.
What Is an NPR Validation Error?
An NPR validation error means the information in the DHA’s National Population Register does not match your application — and the mismatch must be resolved before your passport can be reissued.
This occurs when your name, date of birth, or ID number in the population register differs from what appears on your supporting documents. Common causes include:
- An error made during your original birth registration
- A name change that was not updated in the NPR
- A clerical error introduced during a previous DHA transaction
To resolve an NPR error, visit your nearest DHA office with your birth certificate and all available identity documents. Request a formal NPR amendment. Once the NPR is corrected, apply for a replacement passport — the NPR fix is processed by the DHA at no charge but the replacement passport costs R600 unless the original NPR error was caused by the DHA.
How Long Does a Replacement Passport Take?
A replacement passport for incorrect information follows the same processing timeline as a standard passport — 10 to 14 working days from your biometric appointment.
| Stage | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| DHA visit and biometric capture | Day 1 |
| Replacement passport issued | 10 to 14 working days |
| SMS notification | Sent when ready for collection |
| Follow-up threshold | After 30 working days with no update |
If the NPR also requires correction, add additional time for the NPR amendment to be processed before the passport application proceeds.
Can I Travel While Waiting for My Corrected Passport?
Do not travel internationally on a passport with incorrect personal information.
A name or date of birth mismatch between your passport and your airline ticket, visa, or other travel documents can result in:
- Being denied boarding at check-in
- Being stopped at immigration on arrival or departure
- Your visa being invalidated if the passport number changes on reissue
If you have confirmed international travel and cannot wait for the replacement, apply for an emergency passport at your nearest DHA office with proof of your travel dates.
→ SA Emergency Passport Application — Urgent Travel Guide
Copy-Paste Complaint Email Template
If the DHA office refuses to correct an error at no charge when the error was clearly made by the DHA, send this email to hacc@dha.gov.za:
Subject: Passport Correction Request — DHA Error — Free Reissue Required
Dear Department of Home Affairs,
I am writing to request the correction and free reissue of my South African passport, which contains incorrect information as a result of a DHA error.
Full name: [Your full name] ID number: [Your 13-digit ID number] Passport number: [Your current passport number] Error on passport: [Describe the error — e.g. wrong date of birth printed] Correct information: [State what the correct information should be] Proof attached: [List documents attached — e.g. birth certificate]
As the error was made by the Department of Home Affairs and not by me, I request that the correction and reissue be processed free of charge in accordance with DHA policy.
Thank you. [Your name] [Your contact number]
Official Contact Details
| Channel | Detail |
|---|---|
| Toll-free hotline | 0800 60 11 90 |
| Head office | 012 406 2500 |
| hacc@dha.gov.za | |
| Appointment booking | services.dha.gov.za |
| eHomeAffairs portal | ehome.dha.gov.za |
| Anti-corruption hotline | 0800 701 701 |
This website is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs. All contact details are sourced from www.dha.gov.za.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to fix wrong information on my SA passport? It depends on who made the error. If the DHA printed incorrect information, the correction and reissue are free. If the error was in your original application, a replacement passport costs R600.
What is the most common error on South African passports? Name spelling errors and date of birth mistakes are the most frequently reported. These can originate from a typo in the application form, a data capture error at the DHA, or incorrect information in the National Population Register.
My name is spelled wrong on my passport but correct on my Smart ID. What do I do? Visit your nearest DHA live capture office with both documents. The Smart ID serves as proof of the correct spelling. If the DHA made the error, the correction is free. Submit Forms DHA-73 and DHA-529 with your Smart ID as supporting proof.
What is an NPR validation error and how do I fix it? An NPR validation error means the DHA’s National Population Register has incorrect information that conflicts with your application. Visit your nearest DHA office with your birth certificate and identity documents to request a formal NPR amendment. Once corrected, apply for a replacement passport.
Can I correct my passport information online? No. All passport corrections require an in-person visit to a DHA live capture office. You cannot correct passport information through the eHomeAffairs portal or at a bank branch.
My passport has a smudged or unreadable photo. Is this a DHA error? Yes. Any printing defect — smudging, misalignment, unreadable text or photo — is a DHA production error and must be corrected and reissued free of charge. Bring the passport to your nearest DHA office and request a free reissue due to a printing defect.
Will my passport number change after correction? Yes. A corrected passport is a newly issued document with a new passport number. Your old passport will be cancelled. Update all travel bookings, visa applications, and accounts that hold your passport number after collecting your corrected passport.
I noticed the error only after I started using the passport for travel. Does the correction still apply? Yes. There is no time limit on requesting a correction for a DHA error. However, the sooner you act the better — travelling on a passport with incorrect information creates risks at borders and during visa applications.
My passport was issued at a South African mission abroad and has wrong information. What do I do? Contact the mission where your passport was issued by email with your full name, ID number, passport number, and a description of the error. Email hacc@dha.gov.za at the same time with the same details to create a record with DHA head office.