How to Apply For Your South Africa Passport Online
Hate home affairs?
Welcome.
The long lines. The 5 am wake-up calls. The hours of standing, waiting, and slowly going insane for a process that should take 30 minutes max.
Well, that fresh hell is becoming a thing of the past, my friends.
You can use the South Africa online passport application to skip the lines and only go straight to booking an APPOINTMENT for your biometrics.
The best part?
You can go to one of the authorised banks to get your fingerprints and photo taken.
Thus, eliminating any reason to go anywhere near Home Affairs.
Sound good?
Here’s a quick and easy guide for applying or renewing your passport online in South Africa.
Psst…Want more South Africa travel tips? Check out these other posts:
- The Ultimate South Africa Travel Guide
- The Complete List of Visa-Free Countries for South Africans
- The Cheapest Visa-Free Destinations for South Africans
- Digital Nomad Visas: 15+ Destinations That Let You Work Remotely
- How to Get Your Visa on Arrival for Vietnam in 3 Easy Steps
- How to Apply for Your Schengen Visa as a South African
Table of Contents
How to Apply for Your South Africa Passport Online
Got 5 to 10 minutes?
That’s all you need to skip those long a** Home Affairs queues and save yourself from waking up at 5 am.
Step 1: Create a Profile on the Home Affairs Website
Go to the eHomeAffairs website and create a profile. You’ll need to fill in some personal information, answer a few security questions and create a password for your account.
Make sure you have your phone nearby. The eHomeAffairs website will send you a one-time pin (OTP). You’ll need to enter it to access your portal.
Once officially signed up, you can log in and apply for your South Africa passport online.
Step 2: Create a New Online Passport Application
On the Homepage, click on the orange “Create New Application” button on the top left-hand side of the page.
Next, follow the prompts to fill out your South Africa passport application form.
What I like about the portal is that you can save your progress and return to your application later.
Once you complete the form, upload a picture of your South African ID, and make your payment.
That’s it.
You’re done with the first part of your South Africa passport application!
There’s only one final step: Select and visit a bank for your biometrics.
Step 3: Book an Appointment and Visit a Bank for Your Biometrics
No walk-ins are allowed for passport or Smart ID applications. You can only visit a branch after submitting your application, making payment and booking an appointment.
All done?
Choose a branch and use the calendar tool to see which days still have slots available.
What happens if there is nothing available?
Come back tomorrow to check if there are any cancellations or if new days are open for bookings.
Once you’re happy with your date and timeslot, select it, and complete your branch visit booking.
You’ll receive a confirmation letter from eHome Affairs in your inbox, which you’ll need to have with you on the day of your appointment.
P.S. You don’t need to print it out. Showing it on your phone is allowed.
P.S. You need to have an account at the bank you visit. If you’re with FNB, you cannot go to ABSA for your passport application.
Step 4: Go to Your Biometrics Appointment
I went for my biometrics appointment at the FNB in Greenpoint and had the best time.
On arrival, a staff member took me to the passport application waiting area. Two people were ahead of me in the queue, and I was given access to the free customer WiFi.
(If you’re a remote worker, bring your laptop to catch up on a few emails while you wait.)
30-minutes later, I had my biometrics and photo taken and finalised my passport application. In about a week, I had my new travel document and was ready to hop onto a plane to Bali.
Bank Branches for Online Passport Applications
ABSA Passport Applications
- ABSA Centurion Lifestyle Centre (Gauteng)
- ABSA Key West Mall (Gauteng)
- ABSA Sandton (Gauteng)
- ABSA Port Elizabeth (Western Cape)
FNB Passport Applications
- FNB Portside (Western Cape)
- FNB Burgersfort (Limpopo)
- FNB Glen Shopping Centre (Gauteng)
- FNB Centurion Lifestyle Centre (Gauteng)
- FNB Lynnwood (Gauteng)
- FNB Merchant Place Sandton Gauteng)
- FNB Greenpoint (Western Cape)
- FNB Cornubia (Kwa-Zulu Natal)
Nedbank Passport Applications
- Nedbank Arcadia (Gauteng)
- Nedbank Constantia Kloof (Western Cape)
- Nedbank Rivonia (Gauteng)
- Nedbank St. Georges Mall (Western Cape)
Standard Bank Passport Applications
- Standard Bank Newtown (Eastern Cape)
- Standard Bank Canal Walk (Western Cape)
- Standard Bank Centurion Lifestyle Centre (Gauteng)
- Standard Bank Killarney Mall (Gauteng)
- Standard Bank Johannesburg Simmonds St (Gauteng)
- Standard Bank Mitchell’s Plain Promenade (Western Cape)
- Standard Bank Kingsmead (Kwa-Zulu Natal)
- Standard Bank Jubilee Mall (Gauteng)
Investec Passport Applications
- Investec Sandton (Gauteng)
How to Skip The Line at Home Affairs Without Going to a Bank
As you can see, only a handful of banks can process passport applications.
While most of them are in the major cities, it’s still not an option for most people in the country.
The solution?
You can book a timeslot to visit Home Affairs for your South African passport application.
Yup.
You read that right.
Home Affairs is rolling out the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS). It’s ideal for travellers who don’t live near the banks or can’t get an appointment in time for a trip.
How do you book an appointment at your nearest Home Affairs office?
It’s simple.
Visit the DHA BABS services page, enter your ID number and follow the prompts.
South Africa Passport Applications FAQ
You should apply for a new South African passport when you have three blank pages left or if your document will expire within the next six months.
A normal passport for an adult or child (32 pages) costs R600, while the maxi tourist passport (48 pages) is R1,200.
It takes between 7 to 21 working days for Home Affairs to process your application and issue your new passport.
You need the DHA-73 application form, your original identity document, and a copy.
Yes, you can. Visit the Home Affairs website to see the status of your application or send an sms with the letter P followed by your ID number to 32551.
Your South African passport is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
No. Currently, only South African citizens born in South Africa have access to the service. If you’re a naturalised citizen, you’ll need to go into a Home Affairs branch.
Yes. You’ll need an affidavit from the police to submit with your application if your South African passport has been lost or stolen.
Got any questions about the online passport application process in South Africa? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below!
Hello
I have an appointment (made online with BABS) at the Dept Home Affairs in Stellenbosch for a new passport. Besides my ID book and copy of ID must I take anything else with like photos, proof of address, etc?