If your South African passport has been lost or stolen, you generally need to report the loss to the police and apply for a new passport through the Department of Home Affairs. Home Affairs requires a loss-of-passport report (DHA-335) together with confirmation that the loss or theft was reported to the police. You will also need the normal identification and supporting documents required for your passport category.
This guide covers the immediate steps and documents to prepare. For the broader passport application checklist, see Passport Requirements South Africa, or browse the main Civic Documents South Africa section.
Quick Answer: Lost Passport Requirements South Africa
For a lost or stolen South African passport, prepare to:
- Report the loss or theft to the police and obtain confirmation, usually in the form of an affidavit.
- Complete the Home Affairs loss-of-passport report, DHA-335.
- Complete the applicable passport application.
- Provide your original South African identity document and a copy, or the required birth documentation for a child.
- Meet any parental-consent requirements if the applicant is under 18.
- Provide passport photographs where the application office does not capture photographs digitally.
- Attend the required Home Affairs, bank or South African mission appointment in person for identity and biometric processing.
- Pay the applicable passport fee.
Home Affairs states that passport applications must be made in person, even where parts of the process are started through an online channel.
Who This Requirement Applies To
Applicant type
These lost passport requirements primarily apply to South African citizens whose valid or expired South African passport has been lost or stolen and who need to apply for another passport.
The exact process depends on the applicant:
- Applicants aged 16 or older: ordinary tourist passports are issued to South African citizens aged 16 and above.
- Children aged 15 or younger: a child passport application follows additional birth-certificate, attendance and parental-consent requirements.
- Applicants under 18: parental consent requirements can apply.
- South Africans abroad: applications are submitted through the nearest South African embassy or consulate, with additional citizenship documentation potentially required.
Parents replacing a child’s passport should also check the separate Child Passport Requirements South Africa guide.
Eligibility Requirements
An ordinary South African tourist passport is issued to South African citizens. Applicants aged 16 or older must have an identity document so that their identity and fingerprints can be verified.
If your name or other personal details need to be changed on the National Population Register, Home Affairs advises that these changes should be finalised before submitting the passport application.
A lost passport is not simply “renewed”. Home Affairs issues a new passport application where a previous passport has expired, been lost or otherwise needs replacement. For the separate requirements that apply when replacing an expiring passport, see Passport Renewal Requirements South Africa.
Documents You May Need
Required proof
For a lost or stolen passport, Home Affairs currently lists the following core documents and requirements:
- Completed passport application form, DHA-73, supplied by Home Affairs.
- Original South African identity document and a copy for applicants who require an ID.
- Birth certificate and a copy for applicants under 16.
- Loss-of-passport report, DHA-335, obtainable from a Home Affairs office.
- Confirmation that the loss or theft was reported to the police, such as a police affidavit.
- Two compliant colour passport photographs where photographs are not captured digitally.
- Parental consent where required for an applicant under 18.
- DHA-529 determination of citizenship when applying from abroad.
- Payment of the prescribed passport fee.
Requirements for children can vary according to whether both parents are available, whether a parent is deceased, and whether there is a guardianship or consent dispute. Confirm the applicable documents before visiting Home Affairs.
Steps to Apply or Prepare
- Report the loss or theft to the police. Obtain written confirmation or the required affidavit.
- Prepare the Home Affairs loss report. DHA currently requires a DHA-335 loss-of-passport report when applying for a new passport after loss or theft.
- Gather your identification documents. Prepare your ID, child birth documentation and any parental-consent documents that apply.
- Choose the correct application channel. Within South Africa, passport services are available through Home Affairs offices with live-capture capability, participating banks and eHomeAffairs where applicable. Applications outside South Africa go through a South African embassy or consulate.
- Attend in person. Biometric identity checks form part of the passport process. An online application does not remove the requirement to attend where biometric capture or verification is required.
- Pay the applicable fee and follow the collection instructions given by Home Affairs or the mission processing your application.
Costs, Processing Times and Validity
Home Affairs currently lists an ordinary adult passport fee of R600. Its passport guidance also states that an ordinary passport application can cost R1,200 where the previous passport is still valid for six months or longer, so applicants replacing a recently issued lost passport should confirm the tariff that applies to their case before paying.
For applications outside South Africa, the published tariff schedule states that replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged passport can be charged at double the current tariff for the document concerned, unless the loss, theft or damage occurred without negligence by the holder.
Home Affairs currently gives a turnaround time of 13 working days for ordinary tourist passports and 18 working days for minor tourist passports. Applications lodged outside South Africa are estimated by Home Affairs to take at least six to eight months. These are published service estimates rather than guarantees, so allow additional time where possible.
Ordinary tourist passports are generally valid for 10 years, while passports for children aged 15 or younger are valid for five years.
Common Mistakes and Delays
Common mistake
Avoid these problems when replacing a lost passport:
- Arriving without proof that the loss or theft was reported to the police.
- Forgetting the DHA-335 loss-of-passport report.
- Assuming photographs are never required. They may still be needed where digital image capture is unavailable.
- Using adult passport requirements for a child application.
- Assuming an online application means you do not need to attend for biometrics.
- Relying on an old fee or processing-time estimate.
- Leaving replacement until shortly before international travel.
If you are outside South Africa and your passport is lost or stolen, report it to the local police and contact the nearest South African diplomatic mission. Home Affairs no longer issues temporary passports, but an Emergency Travel Certificate may be available in qualifying emergency circumstances for travel back to South Africa.
Where to Confirm Official Requirements
Always confirm change-sensitive requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs before applying. The official Passports & Travel Documents guidance sets out the current passport documentation, application channels and processing information, while the Home Affairs tariffs and fees page lists published charges.
Related guide
For the complete passport application pathway, continue to Passport Requirements South Africa. You can also use the Passports Requirements South Africa hub to find the correct passport guide for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for Lost Passport Requirements South Africa?
You generally need to report the lost or stolen passport to the police, complete the DHA-335 loss report, submit a new passport application and provide the identification and supporting documents required for your passport category.
What documents are needed?
The main documents include your ID or applicable birth documentation, the passport application, DHA-335, police confirmation of the loss or theft and any parental-consent documents that apply. Photographs may also be required where digital capture is not available.
How long does it take?
Home Affairs currently lists 13 working days for ordinary tourist passports and 18 working days for minor tourist passports. Applications submitted abroad are estimated to take substantially longer. Actual processing can vary.
Where can I confirm the latest official rules?
Confirm the requirements, application channel, fee and expected processing time directly with the Department of Home Affairs or, when applying outside South Africa, the relevant South African embassy or consulate.