To obtain a South African passport, applicants must meet specific requirements and submit the necessary documentation. South African passports are issued only in Pretoria, South Africa. However, applications must still be submitted or forwarded to the applicable South African representative office.
It's important to note that South African passports are not renewable. When they expire, a new application must be filed. Pages cannot be added to existing passports either, necessitating a new application.
Here's a detailed guide to the application process and requirements for different types of South African passports:
Travellers to South Africa need to have a passport that is valid for at least 30 days longer than the length of their intended stay. There should be no less than two blank pages in your passport.
General Requirements
Several forms are essential for all passport applications:
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- DHA-73: Passport Application form, including signature and left thumb print.
- DHA-529: Determination of citizenship. This form must be completed by all applicants.
- DHA-9: Full set of fingerprints on DHA-9 form. This form is not downloadable and must be completed by applicants 16 years old and above. Fingerprints can be taken at the South African Consulate/Embassy.
Applications take six (6) months or more to be finalized.
Application forms plus supporting documentation must be submitted in duplicate.
All South African citizens abroad have to fill up the BI-529 form. (a) means when did you leave South Africa to stay abroad. (b) is why. Fill in as much information as possible.
First time passport applicants, especially children who left South Africa as minors, must have identity documents. Applicants are required to appear at the nearest South African Consulate/Embassy to have their fingerprints taken.
Four (4) passport size photos (2" x 2") Please note that color photos which comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for passports photo images are required for South African passport applications.
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[The holder's signature (persons 16 years old and above) is laser engraved into the passport. To ensure good quality scanned signature for laser engraving into the passport, the signature in the signature box on the passport application form should be in the middle of the box and must not touch the sides of the box. A medium point ballpoint pen should be used to sign the box].
Please ensure your mouth is closed and that your teeth are not showing on the photo.
Passport applications in which the photo and signature images do not meet quality standards will be rejected causing delays in the issuance of passports.
Additional Notes on Forms:
- BI-73: If you recently got married and need to change your name, you can do so through your application for a South African passport.
- BI-9: This is not an application for an ID book or ID card. You still need to fill it up. Home Affairs will not accept fingerprints which are not on the BI-9 form.
Attention New York applicants - Please note that with effect from 01 April 2023, passport applications will be done in-person.
Issuance of Temporary Passports has been discontinued from 1 September 2014.
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Regular Passports (16 years and older)
Regular South African passports are issued to South African applicants who are 16 years old and older. They are valid for 10 years and are not renewable.
Requirements:
- DHA-73 - Passport Application form; with signature and left thumb print.
- DHA-529 Determination of citizenship.
- DHA-9 Form - Full set of fingerprints on DHA-9 form.
Child Passports (Under 16 years)
Child passports are issued to children who are fifteen years and below. These passports are not renewable.
Home Affairs will not accept a minor’s application for a passport without both parents’ signatures unless there is a legal document provided. If you are divorced, you have to show proof in your divorce decree that you have both sole custody and guardianship of the child. (Sole custody is not enough).
If either parent cannot be in attendance, a letter of consent in a form of affidavit and certified/notarized copy of ID will be accepted.
If divorced and sole parental rights and responsibilities in regard to guardianship have not been granted to one parent, the child and both parents should sign the application form when the application is submitted.
If a parent is deceased, his or her death certificate and a copy thereof must accompany the application for passport.In the case of minors born out of wedlock, the biological father’s consent will also be required, the child and both parents should be in attendance when the application is submitted.
If the applicant is in the care of a guardian other than the parents, proof of High Court’s appointment must accompany the application.
If a parent cannot be located or refuses to consent, or a dispute concerning consent arises, the matter should be referred to the Children’s Court. The Court’s decision must be submitted with the application for the passport.
Visitors to South Africa as well as South African citizens leaving or entering South Africa with children under the age of 18 need original or certified copies of documents that prove the children are either travelling with their parents, or with the consent of their parents.
Requirements:
- DHA-529 Determination of Citizenship.
- DHA-73 Passport Application Form.
- Notarized Copy of South African Birth Certificate.
- Notarized Copy of South African Passport.
- Letter of Permission to Issue a Passport. To be submitted in cases when parents of the child concerned are divorced and only one has physical custody. The parent not having custody but allowed by the court to have access to the child can provide the requested letter of permission.
Infographic: Child Passport Requirements
Emergency Travel Certificates
Emergency Travel Certificates are issued to South Africans who have to travel back home urgently for reasons of death, sickness, or any other emergency. It is in a page form and may be issued with validity ranging from a month to a year.
Requirements:
- DHA-73 - Passport Application form; with signature and left thumb print.
- DHA-9 form - Full set of Fingerprints. This form is not downloadable. This form must be submitted by applicants 16 years old and above. Fingerprints can be taken at the South African Consulate/Embassy.
- Written motivation for the issuing of the Emergency Travel Certificate, along with any proof of the urgency of the trip (e.g., confirmation of funeral arrangements, doctor’s letter confirming sickness, police report, etc.)
- A schedule of your travel arrangements (flight itinerary)
- Proof of your South African citizenship in the form of your South African identity book, birth certificate, or old passport and a copy thereof
- DHA-529 - Determination of citizenship.
Maxi Passports
Maxi passports are 48-page documents meant for frequent travelers. They are the same as regular passports (valid for 10 years) except that they have extra pages to provide for more visa pages. If you travel frequently, you may opt for a maxi passport.
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Requirements
- DHA-73 Passport Application form; with signature and left thumb print.
- DHA-529 - Determination of citizenship. This form must be completed by applicants who are 16 years old and above.
- DHA-9 form - Full set of fingerprints. This form is not downloadable.
Additional Documents
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide additional documents:
- Divorce decree
- Notarized Marriage Certificate
- Written Request to Change "Surname"
- Notarized certificate of Naturalization (To be submitted by applicants who are naturalized South Africans)
- Loss of Passport Report and Police Report for Loss of Passport
Here's a summary table of the required forms for each type of passport application:
| Passport Type | DHA-73 | DHA-529 | DHA-9 | Additional Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Passport (16+) | Yes | Yes | Yes | As applicable (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree) |
| Child Passport (Under 16) | Yes | Yes | No | Birth Certificate, Parental Consent Letters (if applicable) |
| Emergency Travel Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Proof of Emergency, Travel Itinerary |
| Maxi Passport | Yes | Yes | Yes | As applicable |
Important Considerations
- Dual Citizenship: Section D on the application form refers to whether you have citizenship of another country besides your South African citizenship.
- Lost Passports: Provide a Loss of Passport Report and Police Report if your previous passport was lost.
- Fingerprints: In the United States, police stations do not manually take fingerprints but take them electronically on cards. Home Affairs will not accept fingerprints which are not on the BI-9 form.
- Section B of BI-73: Section B is only applicable if you are applying for a passport while in South Africa. Outside the country, apart from a South African Consulate or Embassy, any police officer/notary public in your area can also fill, sign, and stamp Section B.
- Yellow Fever certificates are required on entry to South Africa if you have previously visited a Yellow Fever risk country.
The requirements for access to South Africa differ from country to country. You may also consult this list of Countries exempt from South African Visas but it is better to double check with your local authority in the wake of recent changes.
It is best to consult with the high commission of the country being travelled to in the country being travelled from as requirements vary and change constantly.
