What Is the South African Smart ID Card?
The Smart ID card is South Africa’s official national identity document — a credit-card-sized document with an embedded microchip, biometric data, and digital security features that is replacing the old green barcoded ID book.
The Smart ID card is issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to South African citizens aged 16 and older, and to permanent residents from visa-exempt countries under Phase 1 of the DHA’s expanded rollout.
You need a Smart ID card for:
- Registering for matric exams
- Applying for a driver’s licence
- Opening a bank account
- Applying for employment
- Applying for social grants
- Voting in elections
- Applying for a South African passport at a bank branch
The green ID book remains legally valid for now, but the DHA is phasing it out and an increasing number of institutions require the Smart ID card specifically. First-time applicants turning 16 receive the Smart ID automatically — there is no option to receive a green ID book for new applicants.
Who Can Apply for a Smart ID?
You can apply for a South African Smart ID card if you are:
- A South African citizen by birth, aged 16 or older
- A South African citizen by naturalization, aged 16 or older
- A lawful permanent resident of South Africa from a visa-exempt country (Phase 1 rollout — see note below)
Naturalized citizens and permanent residents: The DHA launched a phased rollout of Smart IDs for these groups. Phase 1 covers applicants from visa-exempt countries only. Applicants from non-visa-exempt countries must wait for Phase 2, which has not yet been announced. Check the current visa-exempt country list at dha.gov.za before applying.
Fees
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| First-time applicant turning 16 | Free |
| South African citizen aged 60 and older | Free |
| All other applicants (renewal, replacement, reissue) | R140 |
The R140 fee is non-refundable. If your application is rejected, you do not receive a refund.
Documents Required
Documents differ slightly depending on whether you are a first-time applicant or applying for a replacement or renewal.
First-Time Applicants
- Completed Form BI-9 in black ink and block letters — available at DHA offices or the eHomeAffairs portal
- Original South African birth certificate (abridged or unabridged) or reference book
- Parent or legal guardian’s identity document — original and certified copy
- If both parents are deceased: death certificates and certified copy of court order confirming legal guardianship
Replacement or Renewal (Lost, Stolen, Damaged, or Personal Particulars Changed)
- Completed Form BI-9 in black ink and block letters
- Your existing Smart ID card or green ID book (if you still have it)
- If lost or stolen: SAPS affidavit or police report
- If personal particulars changed (name change, marriage, divorce): supporting documents — marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order
All Applicants
- At DHA live capture offices and participating bank branches, your photo and fingerprints are captured digitally at the appointment. Physical ID photographs are not required at smart capture offices.
- Physical photographs (2 identical colour photos) are only required if applying for a Temporary ID Certificate while waiting for your Smart ID.
Where To Apply
Smart ID cards can be applied for at three types of locations:
DHA live capture offices — available in all provinces. The full list of live capture offices is at dha.gov.za. Book an appointment at services.dha.gov.za or use the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS). Walk-ins are accepted but queues are longer without an appointment.
Participating bank branches — FNB, Capitec, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Discovery Bank, Investec, African Bank, and TymeBank all offer Smart ID services at selected branches. Appointment booking is through ehome.dha.gov.za or the bank’s own app (FNB and Capitec). The network is expanding rapidly in 2026.
eHomeAffairs portal (ehome.dha.gov.za) — you can start and complete your application online and pay the fee, but a branch visit for biometric capture (photo and fingerprints) is still required. The portal is available to South African citizens by birth only — not yet available to naturalized citizens or permanent residents for self-service.
How To Apply — Step by Step
The fastest route for most applicants is the eHomeAffairs portal combined with a bank branch appointment.
- Go to ehome.dha.gov.za and register with your ID number, personal details, and cellphone number
- Complete Form BI-9 online and upload copies of your supporting documents
- Pay R140 via internet or mobile banking through a supported bank (Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Investec, or Discovery) — or R0 if you qualify for a free application
- Select a participating DHA office or bank branch and book an appointment time slot
- Attend your appointment in person with your original documents
- Have your photograph and fingerprints captured digitally at the office or branch
- Wait for your SMS notification — processing takes 10 to 14 working days
- Collect your Smart ID in person at the location where you submitted your biometrics — third-party collection is not permitted
Alternatively: Walk into any DHA live capture office without an appointment. Complete Form BI-9 at the office, pay at the counter, and have your biometrics captured. This route takes longer due to queues but does not require internet banking access.
Processing Times
| Application Type | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Standard application (DHA office or bank branch) | 10 to 14 working days |
| First-time applications for 16-year-olds | 10 to 14 working days |
Check your Smart ID status at any time: SMS the word ID followed by your 13-digit SA ID number to 32551. You will be charged R1 per SMS. Alternatively, check status on the eHomeAffairs portal or call 0800 60 11 90.
Temporary ID Certificate
If you urgently need proof of identity while your Smart ID application is being processed, you can apply for a Temporary ID Certificate (TIC) at any DHA office.
A TIC costs R70 and is valid for a limited period while your Smart ID is being processed. You will need two identical colour passport photographs for the TIC — these are the only ID application scenario where physical photos are still required.
Full guide: Temporary ID Certificate — When and How To Get One
Common Reasons Applications Are Delayed or Rejected
| Problem | Cause |
|---|---|
| Form BI-9 errors | Tipp-Ex used, blank fields, not black ink, not block letters |
| Biometric capture failure | Fingerprints not captured clearly — system will flag for recapture |
| NPR mismatch | Your details on the National Population Register don’t match your application |
| Outstanding state debt | Unpaid court fines or state debt can block processing |
| Documents not certified | Certified copies required where specified — certifications must not be older than 3 months |
Full rejection guide: Smart ID Application Rejected — Reasons and Fixes
Official Contact Details
| Channel | Detail |
|---|---|
| Toll-free hotline | 0800 60 11 90 |
| Head office | 012 406 2500 |
| hacc@dha.gov.za | |
| Status check SMS | ID + 13-digit ID number to 32551 (R1 per SMS) |
| 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
How much does a Smart ID card cost in South Africa? R140 for most applicants. Free for first-time applicants turning 16 and for South African citizens aged 60 and older. The fee is paid online through the eHomeAffairs portal or at a DHA office counter.
How long does a Smart ID take? 10 to 14 working days from your biometric appointment. Check your status by SMS — send the word ID followed by your 13-digit ID number to 32551.
Can I apply for a Smart ID online? Partially. You can complete Form BI-9 and pay the fee online at ehome.dha.gov.za. However, you must still visit a DHA office or participating bank branch in person for biometric capture (photo and fingerprints). The entire process cannot be completed remotely.
Do I need an appointment? Recommended but not always required. Book at services.dha.gov.za or through your bank’s app to avoid long queues. Walk-ins are accepted at DHA live capture offices.
Can I apply at a bank branch? Yes. FNB, Capitec, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Discovery Bank, Investec, and African Bank all offer Smart ID services at selected branches. Processing times are the same as DHA offices. Full bank guide: Smart ID and Passport at South African Bank Branches
I still have a green ID book. Do I need to switch to a Smart ID? Not yet, but you should. The green ID book remains legally valid for now, but the DHA is actively phasing it out. An increasing number of institutions require the Smart ID card. It is strongly recommended to apply for a Smart ID if you have not already done so.
Can a permanent resident apply for a Smart ID? Yes, under Phase 1 of the DHA’s rollout — but only if you are from a visa-exempt country. Permanent residents from non-visa-exempt countries must wait for Phase 2, which has not yet been announced. Full guide: Smart ID for Naturalized Citizens and Permanent Residents
Can someone collect my Smart ID on my behalf? No. Third-party collection is strictly prohibited under DHA Circular No. 1 of 2022. You must collect your Smart ID in person at the location where you submitted your biometrics.
My Smart ID has wrong information on it. What do I do? If the DHA made the error, the correction and replacement are free. If the error was in your original application, a replacement costs R140. Full guide: Wrong Information on Smart ID — How To Correct It
What is the status check SMS number for Smart ID? Send the word ID followed by your 13-digit SA ID number to 32551. You will be charged R1 per SMS. Note: the passport status SMS number is different — 32552 with the letter P. Smart ID uses 32551 with the word ID.
All Smart ID Guides
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
| Smart ID Status Check | SMS, online and phone status check with all messages explained |
| Smart ID Taking Too Long | What to do after 14 working days with no update |
| Smart ID Application Rejected | All rejection reasons and how to fix each one |
| Wrong Information on Smart ID | Who pays, what proof is needed, correction process |
| Lost or Stolen Smart ID | SAPS reporting, replacement process, fees |
| First-Time Smart ID — Turning 16 | Documents, parental requirements, school registration |
| Smart ID for Over 60s | Free application, documents, DHA Fax2Email service |
| Smart ID for Naturalized Citizens and PRs | Phase 1 rollout, visa-exempt requirement, how to apply |
| Temporary ID Certificate | R70 TIC, when you need one, how to get one |
| Smart ID Not Delivered | What to do after SMS notification if document isn’t at branch |
| Smart ID Received — What To Do Next | Activate, update accounts, replace green ID book |
| Smart ID Complete Guide 2026 | Everything in one place |