To apply for an ID in South Africa you must be at least 16 years old and apply in person, with your photo and fingerprints taken. A first smart ID card is free for youth aged 16 and over and for pensioners aged 60 and over; other citizens pay R140. For a first ID you bring your birth certificate and a certified copy of a parent’s or guardian’s ID. For a replacement you bring your green ID book or an affidavit if it is lost.
IDs are issued by the Department of Home Affairs under the Identification Act 68 of 1997. What you bring and where you go depends on whether this is your first ID, a replacement, or a switch from the green bar-coded ID book to a smart ID card.
Business Requirements at a Glance
Although this page sits in our business and compliance section, an ID is a personal document, and later business registrations, bank accounts and licence applications rely on it. The core ID application requirements are:
- Age: 16 years or older.
- Proof of identity: birth certificate for a first ID; green bar-coded ID book (or an affidavit if it is lost) for a replacement.
- Biometrics: photo and fingerprints captured in person, at a Home Affairs office or a participating bank branch for eligible services.
- Fee: free for a first smart ID for youth aged 16 and over and for pensioners aged 60 and over; R140 for other citizens replacing a green ID book.
Registration and Legal Requirements
An ID is based on your birth being registered, which is why the birth certificate is the key document for a first application.
Who can get a South African ID
- South African citizens aged 16 and over.
- Naturalised citizens and permanent residents. Home Affairs says its bank service covers naturalised citizens and permanent residents from visa-exempt countries in an initial phase, so confirm your own case with Home Affairs before you apply.
- Visitors and people on temporary visas do not qualify for a South African ID. Your passport and visa remain your identity documents while you are in the country.
If your birth was never registered
Start with Home Affairs and ask what is needed to register your birth before you apply for an ID. Confirm the steps at your nearest Department of Home Affairs office.
Documents and Ownership Information Required
The documents below come from the Home Affairs smart ID requirements brochure. Bring originals and certified copies where the brochure asks for them.
First smart ID (16 years and older)
- Your birth certificate.
- A certified copy of the ID of one parent, legal guardian or informant.
- A death certificate if your parents have died.
- Proof of residence where you have it, or your residential address.
Pensioners (60+) and other citizens replacing a green ID book
- Your green bar-coded ID book, or an affidavit if it has been lost.
- Proof of residence where you have it, or your residential address.
- A marriage certificate if you are married, or a divorce decree if you are divorced.
Naturalised citizens and permanent residents
Documents for naturalised citizens and permanent residents are not set out in the brochure above. Ask Home Affairs which documents to bring for your situation before you go.
Tax, Licence and Compliance Requirements
There is no tax or licensing step for an ID. The points that matter are fees and keeping your record accurate.
- First smart ID card: free for youth aged 16 and over and for pensioners aged 60 and over.
- Other citizens (smart ID card replacing a green ID book): R140.
- At a participating bank, Home Affairs charges R140 for a smart ID card, and the bank may add a convenience fee. For the fee at a Home Affairs office when you replace a lost, stolen or damaged card, confirm with Home Affairs.
- Errors in personal information on a new ID are corrected free of charge.
You may also apply for a new ID if you marry and take your spouse’s surname, if a woman reverts to a previous surname, or if your ID book is lost, stolen or damaged.
Process, Deadlines and Ongoing Obligations
First ID application: Home Affairs office only
Bank branches do not process first-time ID applications, and children cannot apply at a bank. A first ID must be applied for at a Home Affairs office. Some offices have an online booking system, so check before you travel.
- Take your birth certificate and your parent or guardian’s certified ID copy to the Home Affairs office.
- Complete the application and have your photo and fingerprints taken.
- Pay nothing if it is your first smart ID as a youth aged 16 and over or a pensioner.
Bank ID application: re-issues and green book replacements
Capitec, Standard Bank, FNB and Absa offer smart ID services at selected branches. According to Home Affairs these cover smart ID re-issues (lost, stolen or damaged cards) and green ID book to smart ID replacements. No documents are needed at the bank, the application is in person for biometrics, and it takes about 15 minutes. Capitec and Standard Bank take walk-ins without an appointment at participating branches; for FNB and Absa, check your bank before you go. Branch details are on the DHA bank branch page.
Checking your application status
Ask the Home Affairs office or bank branch where you applied. Home Affairs does not publish a turnaround time for every case, so do not book travel or exams that depend on your card before it is in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are required for an ID document application?
For a first ID: your birth certificate, a certified copy of a parent or guardian’s ID, a death certificate if your parents have died, and proof of residence or your address. For a replacement of a green ID book: the green ID book or an affidavit if it is lost, plus your marriage certificate or divorce decree if applicable.
What are the bank ID application requirements?
At a participating bank branch no documents are needed, but you must apply in person for biometrics and pay the R140 Home Affairs fee for a smart ID card, plus any convenience fee the bank charges. Banks handle re-issues and green ID book replacements only.
What documents are required for a first ID and adult passport application in South Africa?
The ID documents are listed above. A passport is a separate application, so ask the Department of Home Affairs what to bring before you apply.
Is a first ID application free?
The first smart ID card is free for youth aged 16 and over and for pensioners aged 60 and over. Other citizens pay R140.
Can I apply for my first ID at a bank?
No. Banks do not handle first-time ID applications, for example when you turn 16. Apply at a Home Affairs office.
Can a visitor get a South African ID?
No. Visitors and people on temporary visas use their passport and visa. Confirm any special case with Home Affairs.
What is a temporary ID application and what do I need?
A temporary identity certificate is meant for people whose ID will not be ready in time to vote. The government’s service page lists a cost of R70 and asks for your ID number and two ID photos. Confirm the current fee and who qualifies with Home Affairs before you apply.
Fees, bank participation and document rules change. Confirm your case with the Department of Home Affairs before you apply. See business and compliance requirements and company registration requirements.