Passport Renewal Requirements South Africa

If your South African passport has expired, you do not renew or extend the existing passport booklet. You must submit a new passport application to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). For an ordinary adult tourist passport, you will generally need your South African identity document, the prescribed passport application, your existing passport if you still have it, compliant photographs where digital image capture is not available, and payment of the applicable fee.

Before applying, check the current DHA process and make sure your circumstances do not require additional documents. This is especially important if you are applying from outside South Africa, replacing a passport that is still valid, applying after a lost or stolen passport, or applying for someone under 18.

For broader information about official documents, see Civic Documents South Africa. You can also check the main Passport Requirements South Africa guide before starting your application.

Quick Answer: Passport Renewal Requirements South Africa

South African passports are not renewable in the sense of extending their expiry date. DHA states that once a passport has expired, a new application must be submitted. Ordinary tourist passports are issued to South African citizens aged 16 or older and are normally valid for 10 years.

For a standard application in South Africa, prepare to:

• confirm that your identity details are correct with Home Affairs;
• complete the prescribed passport application;
• present your original South African identity document and a copy;
• present your current passport if it is still in your possession;
• provide passport photographs if you apply at an office where photographs are not captured digitally;
• complete any additional documents required for your circumstances; and
• pay the applicable passport fee.

If your passport is still valid, check how much validity remains before applying because DHA charges a higher tariff when an ordinary passport is replaced while it still has six months or more remaining.

Who This Requirement Applies To

Applicant type

This guide is primarily for South African citizens who need a new passport because their existing passport is expiring or has expired.

DHA states that ordinary tourist passports are issued to South African citizens aged 16 or older. A person aged 16 or older must first have applied for an identity document so that fingerprints can be registered before applying for a passport.

Different requirements apply to younger applicants. Minor tourist passports are issued to South African citizens aged 15 or younger and involve additional parental consent requirements. If you are preparing an application for a child, use the Child Passport Requirements South Africa guide rather than assuming the adult process applies.

Applicants outside South Africa also follow a different submission route. DHA states that overseas passport applications may be lodged at the nearest South African embassy or consulate and must be made in person.

Eligibility Requirements

For an ordinary South African tourist passport, the main eligibility requirement is South African citizenship. Applicants aged 16 or older must also have completed the identity-document process required for fingerprint registration.

Your details on the National Population Register should be correct before you apply. DHA states that passports are issued using the names recorded in the National Population Register at the time of application. If you need to change your name or other relevant particulars, the change should first be finalised and reflected on the register.

Applicants under 18 may need parental consent, while people applying from abroad have additional citizenship-verification requirements.

If your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged, do not treat the application as an ordinary expiry case. Additional reporting and documentary requirements can apply.

Documents You May Need

Required proof

For a standard passport application, DHA currently lists the following core documents and requirements:

• a completed passport application, Form DHA-73, supplied by Home Affairs;
• your original South African identity document and a copy;
• your existing valid tourist passport, if applicable;
• two compliant colour passport photographs where photographs are not captured digitally; and
• payment of the prescribed passport fee.

Applicants applying from abroad must also complete a determination of citizenship, Form DHA-529.

If your previous passport was lost or stolen, DHA requires a loss-of-passport report and confirmation that the loss was reported to the police. This is a different situation from an ordinary expired-passport application.

For a more focused checklist, see Documents Needed for Passport South Africa.

Document requirements can change or differ according to your circumstances, so confirm the checklist with Home Affairs before attending your appointment or submitting supporting documents.

Steps to Apply or Prepare

A practical passport renewal process looks like this:

1. Check your current passport. Confirm its expiry date and how much validity remains. This matters because the applicable tariff can differ when a passport is replaced well before it expires.
2. Check your personal details. Make sure your Home Affairs identity records and name are correct before submitting the passport application.
3. Prepare your documents. Gather your identity document, existing passport and any additional evidence required for your circumstances.
4. Choose an official application channel. DHA states that applications inside South Africa may be made at Home Affairs offices with live-capture capability, participating bank branches or through the eHomeAffairs process where available.
5. Complete the required in-person process. Even when using eHomeAffairs, DHA states that a branch visit is mandatory for capturing or verifying biometric information such as your photograph, fingerprints and signature.
6. Pay the applicable fee and retain your application information. Follow the official channel’s instructions for payment, submission and collection.

Do not rely solely on an old checklist or a previous passport application. Confirm the current requirements each time you apply.

Costs, Processing Times and Validity

DHA currently lists the tariff for an ordinary 32-page tourist passport as R600 when it is a first issue or when the previous passport has expired or has less than six months of validity remaining. If the previous ordinary passport still has six months or more remaining, DHA lists the tariff as R1 200.

An ordinary tourist passport for a South African citizen aged 16 or older is valid for 10 years. DHA currently gives a 13-working-day turnaround time for issuance for ordinary tourist passports processed through the applicable live-capture process. Its 2025/26 performance documentation also uses 13 working days as the service target for most adult passports processed through live capture. Actual completion can still be affected by operational or application-specific delays.

Applications lodged outside South Africa take substantially longer. DHA estimates that overseas applications may take at least six to eight months because of the logistics involved.

Do not book non-refundable travel based only on an estimated passport processing period. Confirm the current status of your application and make sure you have the required valid travel document before travelling.

Common Mistakes and Delays

Common mistake

One of the most common mistakes is treating passport renewal as an extension of the existing passport. An expired South African passport is replaced through a new passport application.

Other avoidable problems include:

• applying without checking whether your identity details are correct;
• forgetting to take the existing passport when it is still in your possession;
• using an outdated document checklist;
• assuming photographs are required at every branch when some offices capture images digitally;
• applying too early without checking the higher tariff that can apply to a passport with six months or more remaining;
• assuming an online application means no physical visit is required; and
• treating child, lost-passport or overseas applications as if they follow the standard adult process.

Also check the validity requirements for your planned journey. DHA advises that a passport should remain valid for at least 30 days after the intended departure date and contain at least two blank facing pages for entry stamps and, where required, visa processing.

Where to Confirm Official Requirements

Confirm passport renewal requirements directly with the South African Department of Home Affairs before applying. Its official travel-document guidance sets out passport types, application documents, tariffs, validity periods and application routes.

Where eligible, the official eHomeAffairs service can be used to capture passport applications online, make payments and arrange supported appointments. Remember that biometric verification still requires an in-person visit.

Requirements.co.za is an independent informational guide and is not the Department of Home Affairs. Official DHA instructions should take precedence where a requirement, tariff, form or application procedure has changed.

Related guide

For more passport guidance, visit Passports Requirements South Africa or review the main Passport Requirements South Africa page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for passport renewal in South Africa?

An expired South African passport is not extended. You submit a new passport application. For a standard adult tourist passport application, you will generally need the prescribed application, your South African identity document, your existing passport where applicable, photographs if they are not captured digitally, and the required fee. Additional documents can apply depending on your circumstances.

What documents are needed to renew a South African passport?

DHA lists Form DHA-73, your original identity document and a copy, your existing passport where applicable, compliant photographs where digital capture is unavailable, and payment of the prescribed fee. Applicants abroad and people replacing lost or stolen passports have additional requirements.

How long does a South African passport renewal take?

DHA currently lists 13 working days for issuance of an ordinary tourist passport through the applicable live-capture process. Applications made outside South Africa are estimated to take at least six to eight months. Treat these as official turnaround guidance rather than a guarantee for every application.

Can I apply for a new passport before my current one expires?

Yes, but check the tariff first. DHA currently charges a higher amount for an ordinary tourist passport where the existing passport still has six months or more of validity remaining.

Where can I confirm the latest passport renewal requirements?

Check the Department of Home Affairs’ official travel-document guidance and the official eHomeAffairs service where applicable. Confirm current documents, fees and application procedures before submitting your application.