Passport Application South Africa: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

A South African passport is the official travel document that confirms your identity and citizenship abroad. Whether you have never held one before or your last passport expired years ago, the application process at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is the same: complete a BI-73 form, submit biometrics, pay the prescribed fee, and wait for collection. This guide walks through the full first-time application — eligibility, document checklist, online versus branch flows, fees, processing times, and how to track an application that has gone quiet. If you already hold a valid SA passport and just need a new one with fresh blank pages, see our companion guide on passport renewal in South Africa. To verify the SA ID number you will use throughout the application, the free tool on our homepage performs the structural Luhn check used by DHA and the banks.

Who Can Apply for a South African Passport

You may apply for a South African passport if you are:

• A South African citizen by birth, descent, naturalisation, or registration.
• A holder of a valid 13-digit SA ID number with the 11th digit set to 0 (citizen). For a refresher on what the 11th digit means, see our SA ID number format guide.
• A minor child travelling abroad — both parents (or legal guardians) must consent in person at the DHA office.

Permanent residents and refugees do not qualify for a South African passport. PRs travel on the passport of their country of origin; recognised refugees may apply for a Refugee Travel Document under the 1951 UN Convention. We cover residency status in detail in our non-citizen ID guide and the refugee status guide.

Types of South African Passports

The Department of Home Affairs issues several travel documents. Most applicants need only the first of these:

• Tourist passport (32 pages) — the standard adult passport, valid for 10 years (5 years for minors under 16). Used for leisure and most business travel.
• Maxi tourist passport (48 pages) — extra pages for frequent travellers who fill a 32-page passport before it expires.
• Official passport — issued to civil servants on government business; not available to private applicants.
• Diplomatic passport — issued to diplomats and senior government officials.
• Crew member certificate — for airline and shipping crew.
• Emergency travel certificate — single-use document issued in genuine emergencies abroad through SA missions.

For day-to-day travel planning, the choice is between the standard tourist passport and the maxi version. The maxi passport costs more but saves a renewal cycle if you stamp out 32 pages quickly.

Documents You Need for Your Passport Application

Bring the following to your appointment, originals plus one photocopy of each:

• Your green ID book or Smart ID card. If you have not yet been issued an ID, apply for one first using our complete Home Affairs ID guide. The passport application cannot proceed without an SA ID number.
• Form BI-73 (passport application). The DHA branch issues the form on the day, or you can complete the digital version inside the eHome Affairs portal.
• Form DHA-9 for minors plus the unabridged birth certificate of the child. See our unabridged birth certificate guide if you do not have one yet.
• Two recent colour passport photographs meeting ICAO standards (45 x 35 mm, plain white background, no glasses or head coverings other than for religious reasons). At branches with live capture, photographs are taken on site at no extra cost.
• Proof of payment for the application fee, or a card to pay at the DHA cashier.
• Old passport if you are renewing or replacing.
• Affidavit and SAPS case number if your previous passport was lost or stolen.

How to Apply Online via eHome Affairs

The DHA online portal — eHome Affairs — is the fastest route for applicants who already hold a Smart ID card and bank with one of the partner banks (Absa, Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank, Investec, Discovery Bank). For a full walkthrough of registration, login, and supported features, see our eHome Affairs guide.

1. Sign in to ehome.dha.gov.za with your SA ID number and the password you registered.
2. Open the Passport service and select New Application.
3. Confirm your personal details and pay the fee using your bank's online payment integration.
4. Book a 15-minute appointment at one of the partner bank branches that hosts a Home Affairs counter. The list is in our Home Affairs branches guide.
5. Attend the appointment for live photo capture, fingerprint scan, and signature capture. Bring your ID.

The online flow does not remove the in-person visit — biometric capture has to happen face to face. What it removes is the queue: 15-minute appointment slots in air-conditioned bank lobbies versus open-ended waits at busy DHA offices.

How to Apply at a Home Affairs Branch

If you cannot use eHome Affairs — for example because you still have a green ID book and not a Smart ID card, or because your bank is not on the partner list — apply at a regular Home Affairs office. Use our branch directory to find your nearest office, and check our working hours guide before you go (most offices close at 15:30 on weekdays and do not accept new arrivals after that cut-off).

1. Take a queue ticket on arrival. Ask the marshal for the passport application queue specifically — DHA offices run separate streams for ID, passports, and civil records.
2. Collect and complete a BI-73 form at the help desk, or print one before you arrive.
3. Submit your form, ID, and fee receipt at the passports counter. The clerk captures fingerprints, signature, and photograph at the same desk.
4. Receive a barcoded acknowledgement slip with your reference number — keep this safe. You will need it to track the application and to collect the passport.

Walk-ins are accepted, but the larger metro offices (Pretoria, Sandton, Cape Town, Durban) often see all-day queues. If you must apply at a branch, arrive at least 30 minutes before opening.

How to Apply at a Bank Branch

Selected branches of Absa, Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank, Investec, and Discovery Bank host Home Affairs counters that issue Smart IDs and passports under the eHome Affairs partnership. The pre-booking is done online; the biometrics happen at the bank. The list of participating bank branches and DHA-staffed counters changes frequently — check the up-to-date list inside your eHome Affairs account before booking.

Bank-branch service is the smoothest experience available for SA passport applicants today. The trade-off is that you must already hold a Smart ID card and bank with a partner bank to qualify.

Step-by-Step: First-Time Passport Application

1. Verify your SA ID number. Confirm the 13-digit number is structurally valid using our free ID checker. A typo on the BI-73 form will halt the application.
2. Choose your channel. eHome Affairs + bank branch if you have a Smart ID and bank with a partner bank; DHA branch otherwise.
3. Pay the fee. Online via eHome Affairs payment gateway, at the DHA cashier on the day, or at the bank teller counter. Keep the receipt.
4. Attend the biometrics appointment. Live photograph, four-finger fingerprint scan, signature capture. Bring originals of your ID and proof of payment.
5. Track the application. Use the SMS service or the eHome Affairs dashboard. We cover the full set of tracking options below.
6. Collect the passport. When your status reads "ready for collection", return to the same office or bank branch with your acknowledgement slip and original ID.

2026 Passport Application Fees

Home Affairs reviews fees annually. The schedule below reflects rates from 1 November 2022, which remain in force for 2026 until any new gazette notice. For a full breakdown of passport pricing — adult, child, maxi, and replacement — see our guide to how much a South African passport costs, and for a side-by-side comparison with the costs of other DHA documents, see our Smart ID and Home Affairs fee guide.

The replacement fee is doubled deliberately to discourage repeat losses. If your passport is lost or stolen, you must report the case to the police, obtain an affidavit and SAPS case number, and submit them with the new application.

Processing Times

The DHA target processing time for a first-time tourist passport in 2026 is:

• 13 working days for applications captured at a Smart-ID-enabled office (modernised DHA branch or partner bank).
• 24 working days for applications captured at a non-Smart-ID office or a foreign mission.
• 5 working days for an emergency travel certificate.

Targets slip during peak holiday seasons (December and Easter) and after public-sector strikes. If your application has not advanced after 25 working days, contact the DHA call centre on 0800 60 11 90 or visit the office where you applied with your acknowledgement slip.

Tracking Your Passport Application

Three options are available for tracking a SA passport application:

1. SMS: SMS your 13-digit ID number to 32551. The reply confirms the current status. Each SMS costs R1.
2. eHome Affairs dashboard: log in and open the My Applications tab. Online applicants see live status changes.
3. Branch enquiry: visit the office where you applied with your acknowledgement slip.

For the same flow applied to ID applications, our check ID status guide covers the codes returned by the DHA tracking service.

First-Time Application vs Passport Renewal

The form, the fee, and the supporting documents are the same whether you are applying for the first time or renewing an expired passport. The differences are operational:

• Renewal applicants must hand in their old passport at the time of collection (not at the time of application — keep it for any travel before the new one is issued).
• First-time applicants must produce their ID document and, for minors, both parents in person.
• Replacement after loss or theft adds the SAPS affidavit and the doubled R1,200 fee.

Our passport renewal guide covers the renewal-specific steps in detail.

What If My Passport Application Is Rejected

Rejections are uncommon but happen. The most frequent causes are:

• Photograph quality — wrong dimensions, glasses worn, shadow on background. Live capture at the branch eliminates this risk.
• ID number mismatch — the BI-73 form does not match the National Population Register. Verify your ID number first.
• Outstanding fines — old SAPS or court matters flagged against your ID can pause the application.
• Insufficient documents — missing parental consent for a minor, missing affidavit for a replacement.

If your application is rejected, you receive a written notice with the reason. Correct the cause and resubmit; the original fee is normally retained, not refunded.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a South African passport take to be issued in 2026?

The DHA target is 13 working days for applications captured at a Smart-ID-enabled office (most metro DHA branches and partner bank counters) and 24 working days at non-modernised offices. Emergency travel certificates issue in 5 working days. Holiday peaks (December and Easter) slow throughput by 5–10 working days.

Can I apply for a passport without a Smart ID card?

Yes. A green ID book is still accepted at any Home Affairs branch for passport applications. You cannot use the eHome Affairs portal without a Smart ID, however — the online flow requires the chip-card biometric anchor. If you still hold a green ID book and intend to travel often, applying for a Smart ID first speeds up every future passport, banking, and FICA interaction.

How much is a South African passport in 2026?

A standard 32-page tourist passport costs R600 for adults and R600 for children under 16. The 48-page maxi passport is R1,200. Replacement of a lost or stolen passport is R1,200 (a penalty rate). Emergency travel certificates are R140.

Can I apply for a South African passport from abroad?

Yes. South African missions abroad — embassies, high commissions, and consulates — accept passport applications from SA citizens resident overseas. Processing takes longer because biometrics are couriered to Pretoria for capture. Contact the nearest mission for the local fee schedule and appointment booking.

What happens if I lose my passport?

Report the loss to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and obtain a case number and affidavit. Apply for a replacement with the affidavit and pay the R1,200 penalty fee. If you are abroad, report to the local police and the nearest SA mission, which can issue an emergency travel certificate to bring you home.

Do I need both parents present to apply for a child's passport?

Yes. Both parents (or legal guardians) must attend the appointment in person and consent to the passport application for any child under 18. If one parent is deceased, bring the death certificate. If only one parent has full parental responsibilities by court order, bring the court order. For unabridged-birth-certificate proof of guardianship, see our unabridged birth certificate guide.

Where to Go Next

If you already hold a valid SA passport and just need new blank pages, our passport renewal guide covers the streamlined renewal route. For broader DHA service coverage, the Home Affairs online services hub indexes every DHA workflow we have written about. To verify any 13-digit SA ID number — yours or someone else's — use the free Luhn-checked validator on our homepage.

Sources: Department of Home Affairs (dha.gov.za travel documents), Government of South Africa (gov.za passport services).

Related: Most in-country visa, PR and passport-renewal applications are lodged through a VFS Visa Application Centre. See our VFS Global South Africa: visa application guide for the appointment, tracking and fees walkthrough.