This guide explains how to renew a South African passport with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA): where you can renew (a DHA office, a bank branch or a mission abroad), what it costs, the documents you need, how long it takes, and whether you have to bank with the bank whose branch you use.
In summary
- Fee: R600 for a 32-page passport if your current one has expired or has under six months left. R1,200 if it is still valid for six months or more. Maxi (48-page): R1,200 or R2,400.
- Where: a DHA office (walk-in or BABS booking), a bank branch that offers passports (eHomeAffairs booking required), or a mission abroad.
- Bank rule: eHomeAffairs bookings are with Home Affairs, so you do not need to bank there. Capitec does not do passports.
- Documents: your ID, your current passport and a completed Form DHA-73. No photos needed inside South Africa.
- Time: DHA targets 13 working days. Abroad: at least 6 to 8 months.
Can you renew your passport online?
Only partly. On eHomeAffairs you complete the application, pay and book a biometrics appointment online, but you must still attend in person so your photo and fingerprints can be captured. South Africa does not extend passports: every renewal is a brand-new passport with a new number.
eHomeAffairs is only available to South African citizens by birth. If you are a naturalised citizen, renew at a DHA office.
Renewing at a bank branch (and whether you must be a client)
Bank branches that offer passports use the eHomeAffairs model. You apply, pay and book online first, then attend your appointment at the branch. Walk-ins are not accepted.
You do not need to bank there. Your booking is with Home Affairs, not the bank, so any citizen by birth can use any participating branch.
| Bank | Passport renewal? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Absa | Yes, at selected branches | Book on eHomeAffairs or the Absa app. See Absa Smart ID and passport. |
| FNB | Yes, at selected branches | Book on eHomeAffairs. See FNB Smart ID and passport. |
| Standard Bank | Yes, at its eHomeAffairs branches | Its newer walk-in branches do Smart IDs only. See Standard Bank Smart ID and passport. |
| Nedbank, Investec, Discovery | Yes, at selected branches | Book on eHomeAffairs. |
| Capitec | No | Smart ID replacements only. See Capitec Smart ID. |
Emergency passports cannot be done at a bank. See which banks offer passport services and the list of bank branches that offer passports.
Renewing at a Home Affairs office
Any DHA live capture office can renew your passport. Booking on BABS at services.dha.gov.za is optional: walk-ins are accepted, but people with bookings are served first. You can pay at the office. See how to book a Home Affairs appointment.
Documents you need
- Your South African ID (Smart ID or green ID book)
- Your current or expired passport
- A completed Form DHA-73 (completed online if you use eHomeAffairs)
- Proof of payment, if you paid online through eHomeAffairs
- If your passport was lost or stolen: a loss of passport report on Form DHA-335 and an affidavit confirming you reported it to the police. See lost or stolen passport.
- For a child under 16: the child’s unabridged birth certificate and consent from both parents, with the child present
You do not need passport photos inside South Africa. Your photo is taken digitally.
How much passport renewal costs
The fee depends on how much time is left on the passport you already hold, not on whether you call it a renewal.
| Passport | Current passport expired or under 6 months left | Current passport valid 6 months or more |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 32-page | R600 | R1,200 |
| Maxi 48-page | R1,200 | R2,400 |
| Child under 16 | R600 | Confirm with DHA |
For a lost, stolen or damaged passport, Home Affairs’ tariff charges double the normal fee unless the loss was not your negligence, in which case the normal fee may apply; the office decides based on your SAPS affidavit. See lost or stolen passport. If your passport has run out of blank pages before expiry, ask which tariff applies: the tariff list includes a separate R600 fee for that case.
Timing tip: most countries want six months left on your passport. If you do not have travel coming up, applying once you are inside the six-month window keeps you on the R600 rate. If you do have travel coming up, renew in time and accept the higher fee.
How long renewal takes
| Where you apply | Time |
|---|---|
| DHA office or bank branch in South Africa | DHA target: 13 working days. Allow 2 to 4 weeks. |
| Mission or DHA service centre abroad | At least 6 to 8 months |
When your passport is ready, you may be notified through two separate channels: Home Affairs sends its own automated SMS, and if you applied at a bank, the bank may send its own message through its app, SMS, WhatsApp or email. They are not linked, so you may receive one, both or neither. The 32552 SMS status line has been discontinued. See passport application status check.
You collect your new passport in person at the same office or branch where you applied. If it is late, see passport taking too long.
Renewing an expired passport
There is no penalty for renewing late. An expired 32-page passport is renewed at the standard R600 fee. Bring the expired passport with you. You cannot travel on it while you wait.
Renewing from outside South Africa
You can renew at a South African embassy, high commission or consulate, and in some countries at a DHA service centre abroad. Expect:
- An in-person application, usually by appointment
- Form DHA-73 and, usually, Form DHA-529 (determination of citizenship)
- Higher fees than inside South Africa, plus the mission’s own charges in local currency
- At least 6 to 8 months, because applications are processed in Pretoria
If you are abroad and need to travel urgently without a valid passport, ask the mission about an Emergency Travel Certificate, which only gets you home. See passport application from abroad and emergency passport application.
What happens to your old passport
Your old passport is cancelled when the new one is issued, usually by clipping its corners, and it is handed back to you. If it holds a valid visa, keep it and travel with both passports until the visa expires or is transferred.
What you cannot do
- You cannot renew a passport at Capitec, or at any bank branch without an eHomeAffairs booking.
- You cannot get an emergency passport at a bank.
- You cannot use eHomeAffairs if you are a naturalised citizen.
- You cannot get a temporary passport. Home Affairs stopped issuing them in 2014.
- You cannot check your status by SMS. The 32552 line is discontinued.
- You cannot send someone else to collect your passport.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renew a South African passport?
R600 for a standard 32-page passport if your current one has expired or has less than six months left. If it is still valid for six months or more, the fee is R1,200. A 48-page maxi passport costs R1,200, or R2,400 if the current one still has six months or more. Applications abroad cost more.
Do I need to be an Absa client to renew my passport at Absa?
No. Absa’s passport service runs through eHomeAffairs, and your booking is with Home Affairs, not the bank. Any South African citizen by birth can book, apply and pay online, then attend the appointment at the Absa branch.
Can I renew my passport at Capitec?
No. Capitec’s Home Affairs service covers Smart ID replacements only. Use a bank branch that offers passports through eHomeAffairs, or a Home Affairs office.
Can I renew my passport online?
Partly. On eHomeAffairs you complete the application, pay and book an appointment online, but you still attend in person so your photo and fingerprints can be captured. There is no fully online renewal.
How long does passport renewal take?
Home Affairs targets 13 working days for a standard adult passport. In practice, allow 2 to 4 weeks inside South Africa. Applications made abroad take at least 6 to 8 months.
Can I renew an expired passport?
Yes. There is no penalty for renewing after expiry, and you pay the standard R600 fee for a 32-page passport. Bring the expired passport with you.
Do I need passport photos?
Not inside South Africa. Your photo is taken digitally at the Home Affairs office or bank branch. Applications at some missions abroad need printed photos, so check with the mission.
Can I renew my passport while I am overseas?
Yes, at a South African embassy, high commission, consulate or DHA service centre abroad. It takes at least 6 to 8 months, fees are higher, and you usually also need Form DHA-529.
When should I renew my passport?
Most countries want at least six months left on your passport, so plan well before that. But renewing while your passport still has six months or more doubles the fee, so if you are not travelling soon, applying once you are inside the six-month window is cheaper.
What happens to my old passport?
It is cancelled when your new passport is issued, usually by clipping the corners, and handed back to you. Keep it if it contains valid visas you still need.
My passport is full but not expired. What do I pay?
Home Affairs’ tariff lists a separate R600 fee for replacing a passport that has run out of blank pages before expiry, but its fee rules also mention the higher R1,200 rate for passports with six months or more left. Ask at the office or bank which fee applies before you pay.