You apply for a South African passport in person with Form DHA-73, your identity document and the fee. Adults pay R600 for an ordinary passport inside South Africa; there is no fully remote application, because DHA says every application must be made in person. You can start online on eHomeAffairs, but a branch visit for biometrics is mandatory according to the eHomeAffairs page. Confirm the current steps on the site.
Everything below follows the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) travel documents page and fee table (updated August 2026).
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
- South African citizenship
- An identity document: anyone aged 16 or older must first apply for an ID to register fingerprints before applying for a passport
- Your name finalised and recorded in the National Population Register before you apply
- Form DHA-73, provided by a Home Affairs office
- In-person application, with photo and fingerprints captured
- The prescribed fee
- Your existing passport, or for a lost or stolen one, a DHA-335 loss report and a police affidavit
- For a child under 16, the birth certificate and both parents present
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
Fix the identity record first. The passport carries the name on the population register. If your ID has never been issued or a name change is not yet recorded, sort that out before applying.
Children need more. Each child needs a separate form. The child and both parents must attend with their IDs and the child’s original or certified copy of the birth certificate. DHA says a consent letter with an ID copy is no longer accepted: a parent who cannot attend must give consent in person at a Home Affairs office. A death certificate is needed if a parent has died, and a Children’s Court decision if a parent cannot be located or refuses. A divorced parent applying alone needs proof of full custody, and a guardian who is not a parent needs proof of High Court appointment.
A lost or stolen passport needs a loss of passport report (Form DHA-335, from a Home Affairs office) and confirmation that you reported the loss to the police.
Types: the ordinary tourist passport has 32 pages and the maxi passport 48 pages, both valid for 10 years for applicants aged 16 and older. Minor passports (age 15 and younger) are valid for five years.
Travel checks: DHA says a passport must be valid for at least 30 days after your intended departure and have at least two blank pages for entry stamps.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
What to take to your application:
- Form DHA-73
- Your original ID and a copy (or the original birth certificate and a copy if the applicant is under 16)
- Your existing passport, or the DHA-335 report and police affidavit if it was lost or stolen
- Two colour photographs meeting the DHA specifications, unless you apply at a Smart ID card office where images are captured digitally. See passport photo requirements.
- Form DHA-529 (determination of citizenship), if you apply from abroad
- The fee
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
Inside South Africa the DHA tariff is R600 for an adult or child passport and R1 200 for a maxi passport. If the previous passport still has six months or more of validity, the tariff is double: R1 200 for an ordinary or child passport and R2 400 for a maxi passport. Applications at missions abroad cost R1 200 (adult and child) and R2 400 (maxi).
A replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged passport is charged at double the tariff, unless it was lost, stolen or damaged through no negligence of the holder, in which case only the normal fee is payable.
Processing takes 13 working days for ordinary and maxi passports and 18 working days for minor passports, according to DHA; abroad it takes at least six to eight months.
How to Prepare or Apply
- Check that you have an ID on record and that your name is correct on the population register.
- Collect the documents above.
- Choose where to apply: a Home Affairs front office with live capture or a Smart ID card office, a participating bank, the eHomeAffairs channel, or an embassy or consulate abroad.
- Get Form DHA-73 from the Home Affairs office, pay the fee, and attend in person for your biometrics.
DHA’s travel documents page does not say whether Home Affairs offices require an appointment, so check with your office before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I do an online passport application in South Africa?
According to the eHomeAffairs page, you can apply online, upload documents, pay online and book a slot at a Home Affairs-enabled bank branch, but a branch visit for biometrics is mandatory. Confirm the current steps on eHomeAffairs.
What is the passport application fee or cost?
R600 for an adult or child passport and R1 200 for a maxi passport inside South Africa; double if your previous passport still has six months or more of validity. Abroad: R1 200 adult and child, R2 400 maxi.
Can I apply for a passport at Capitec?
DHA announced a Capitec partnership in August 2025 for Smart ID and passport applications at select branches and the Capitec app, and said passport renewal would be added at a later stage (DHA statement). Confirm with DHA or Capitec what is available now.
What documents are needed for a passport application?
Form DHA-73, your original ID and copy, your existing passport (or a DHA-335 report and police affidavit), two colour photos unless captured digitally, and the fee. Add Form DHA-529 when applying abroad.
Which forms do I need to renew my passport outside South Africa?
Form DHA-73 and Form DHA-529, lodged in person at the nearest South African embassy or consulate. DHA estimates at least six to eight months; the fee is R1 200 for an adult and R2 400 for a maxi passport.
What does “no passport application can be captured, applicant has an open passport” mean?
DHA’s pages do not explain this message. Ask the Home Affairs office or the bank branch where you applied, or contact DHA.
How long does a passport take?
13 working days for ordinary and maxi passports and 18 working days for minor passports, per DHA.
Forms, fees and channels are set by the Department of Home Affairs, or the nearest South African mission abroad; confirm them on the DHA travel documents page before you apply. See visa requirements for your destination and browse all travel and immigration requirements.