What is a passport
A passport is a legal document that confirms the identity and nationality of the holder and is issued by a national government for international travel.
The South African Passports and Travel Documents Act of 1994 and its associated Regulations govern the issuance of passports and other travel documents in South Africa. Only in Pretoria, where permanent South African passports and travel documents (also known as machine-readable documents) produced. Applications may be submitted to any Department of Home Affairs office within the borders of South Africa; those made outside the nation should be sent to the nearest South African embassy or mission.
To apply for the passport, you must submit the following documents:
- A duly completed passport application Form DHA-73
- Your original identity document and a copy, or a birth certificate and copy thereof if under 16
- If under 18 years, parental consent is for issuing the passport. Please see Tourist passports: persons under 16 for the requirements
- A completed determination of citizenship Form DHA-529 when applying from abroad
- Present any existing valid tourist passport if you have lost your passport or it has been stolen and you are applying for a new passport, you must provide a loss of passport report (DHA-335 ) and confirmation that you reported the loss to the police
- Two colour photographs that comply with the Passport and ID Photograph Specifications (NOT needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally)
- Pay the prescribed fee for the passport
How long does it take to make a Passport
The passport will be issued and processed in around 7 to 21 working days. At least 30 days must pass after the planned departure date for passports to be valid. Additionally, passports should have a minimum of two blank pages for entry stamps.
Banks where you can get your ID and Passport
The Department of Home Affairs has developed a number of strategies to attempt and shorten lengthy lines at its locations across the nation. The government has teamed with banks to provide e-Home Affairs services, which is no secret. However, not everyone is aware of the locations they can go to to obtain their passports and Smart ID cards. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi stated in May that they are committed to shortening the lines at their branches and that they are in consultation with five malls so that people can obtain their passports and Smart IDs there.
The application process starts online, then you can continue the process at your nearest bank. Here’s where you can apply:
WESTERN CAPE
- Standard Bank: Canal Walk, Cape Town
- FNB: Greenpoint, Cape Town
- Nedbank: St Georges Mall, Cape Town
- Standard Bank: Mitchell’s Plain Promenade, Mitchell’s Plain
- FNB: Portside, Cape Town
GAUTENG
- ABSA: Centurion
- FNB: Lynnwood, Pretoria
- FNB: Merchant Place, Sandton
- Nedbank: Arcadia, Pretoria
- Nedbank: Constantia Kloof, Roodepoort
- Nedbank: Rivonia, Sandton
- Standard Bank: Centurion
- Standard Bank: Killarney, Johannesburg
- Standard Bank: Simmonds Street, Johannesburg
- Investec Bank: Sandton
- Standard Bank: Jubilee Mall, Hammanskraal
- ABSA: Key West Mall, Krugersdorp
- ABSA: Sandton
- FNB: Glen Shoppign Centre, Oakdene
KWAZULU-NATAL
- FNB: Cornubia, Greyville
- Standard Bank: Kingsmead, Greyville
LIMPOPO
- FNB: Burgersfort, Limpopo
EASTERN CAPE
- ABSA: Gqerberha
- Standard Bank: Newtown, Gqerberha
Types of South African passports
Regular passport
Citizens who are 16 years old or older are eligible to apply for these passports, which are designed for infrequent travel like vacations and business visits. They are valid for 10 years and have 32 pages. Regular passports cannot be renewed instead, new passport applications must be submitted when they expire.
Maxi passport
They are similar to standard passports but have 48 pages to accommodate frequent travelers. They are issued to citizens who are 16 years of age or older, are valid for 10 years, and are not renewable. A new passport application must be submitted when a maxi passport expires, just like with a regular passport.
Child passport
Citizens who are 15 years old or younger can obtain these passports. They expire after five years and cannot be renewed.
Official passport
These passports are given to government employees who need to travel for work-related purposes. The Department of Home Affairs issues them free of charge to officials and extends their validity to five years.
Diplomatic passports
issued to ambassadors, consuls, and their accompanying dependents for official business travel.
ALSO READ:How to apply for r350 Grant
