A passport is a must-have document while traveling abroad. It is recognized as an official proof of identity and citizenship, allowing holders to pass the immigration officer’s check and gain assistance from the embassy. With this booklet, you can apply for visas, international driver’s licenses, car rental in a foreign country, etc. And today, we are going to explore South African passport.
Passport application seems tedious work. We are frequently asked what to prepare, how to apply, how much it costs, how long it takes, etc. If you have similar questions, you will find the answer after reading this passage.
Types of South African Passports
A SA passport carries a lot of information, such as a colored photo, passport type, passport number, name of the holder, nationality, gender, birth date, birthplace, issuing country and authority, date of issuance and expiration.
Before heading to introduce how to apply for one, we should learn about the passport types that determine what documents you should prepare, and what you can do abroad.
South African Official Passport
These are issued to government officers for the purpose of official business. The validity is usually 5 years. You must present an official letter signed by the head or representatives of the institution that you are working for to verify your traveling purpose. This type of travel document is free of charge.
You will be required to sign an undertaking, promising that you will
- only use it for duly authorized trips
- keep it secure and safe
- return it to the Department of Home Affairs after dismission
- return it to a designated person or organization for safe-keeping after coming back from the official trip
- report the loss to SA police or designated persons as soon as possible.
South African Diplomatic Passport
It is issued to diplomats, ambassadors, consuls, and their accompanying dependants for work-related travel by the Department of International Relations. This special passport can only be used for diplomatic or related missions, remaining valid for 5 years.
South African Tourist Passport
This is one of the most common SA passports for traveling. Applicants who are 16 or above can get a 10-year passport while those under 16 get a 5-year one. This regular tourist passport has 32 pages. Both are not extended. Once it expires, you have to file a new application again.
Maxi Tourist Passport
This is issued to those who are aged 16 or above and travel frequently and need more pages for visa stamps. There are 48 pages inside, more than the tourist passport we stated before. It is also featured with a 10-year validity and is not renewable.
Documents for Travel Purposes
This is issued to permanent residents in South Africa who can’t obtain travel documents from their country of origin and want to go abroad for the purpose of traveling. It usually remains valid for 5 years. This traveling permit requires a letter from your country of origin confirming that they can’t issue a passport to you, and both the original copy and photocopy of permanent residence permit at the application.
The Emergency Travel Certificate
This is a temporary travel document issued to South African citizens who lost or damaged their passports but have to return to SA emergently. It is only valid for 1 month to 1 year, so you still have to apply for a regular one.
How to Apply for South African Passports
There are online and offline application methods. No matter which one you choose, you have to submit biometrics in person. You should apply for a new passport 6 months before expiration if you already have one.
South African Passport Application in Person
This is done in the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) office when applying within SA, you can either make an appointment first or just walk into a DHA office. Go to Home Affairs website and roll down to find the “DHA Office Locator” button where you can find a nearby office. When applying outside SA, you should go to the nearest South African embassy or mission.
Step 1: Fill in Application Form
Use black ink to complete the form and make sure the information you provide is completely accurate. Each individual uses one application form. Don’t share the same form even if you are a family or applying for passports for kids.
Form DHA-73 is used for application within SA while DHA-529 for abroad. When submitting fringerprints, complete complete Form DHA-9. Supposing that you have your old passport lost or stolen, you should fill up Form DI-47 to report loss and hand it in along with the application forms.
Step 2: Submit Required Documents
You have to hand in documents that verify your identity, citizenship, payment, etc. While submitting the photocopy, make sure it is clear and recognizable. Common required documents are listed as follows:
- SA identity document (ID) (both original copy and photocopy).
- Birth certificate (for applicants younger than 16 years old)
- 2 colored passport photos which are taken within the last 1 month (For more information, please go to South African Passport Photo Requirements).
- Existing official passport (if any). If it is lost or stolen, Form DHA-335 is required.
- Parental consent letter (for applicants below 18).
Step 3: Submit Biometric Information
Record your fingerprint and digital signature which is used to verify your identity for security check.
Step 4: Track your Application Status
After all documents and information are provided, you have to wait for them to be processed. There is an electronic code for you to trace the progress either online or through SMS.
South African Passport Application Online
This is a more convenient and efficient way. By submitting application forms and documents online, you don’t have to spend the whole day waiting in the queue in DHA. The online South Africa passport application goes through the following steps.
Step 1: Register
First of all, you need to create an account on e-Home Affairs website. Make sure what you provide is accurate, especially your phone number, in case of missing the one-time password (OTP).
Step 2: File the Application
You will fill in the application form, upload required documents, and fulfill payment. All fields highlighted in red are mandatory to fill. Click on the “Submit” button to hand in the application form. Next, upload the photocopy of required documents listed on the page while the original copy should be shown at the branch or bank office.
Step 3: Fulfill Payment
You can pay by entering banking details or with credit card, after which you have to log on to your Internet banking system to authorize the bank to fulfill the payment. The authorization process is subject to different banks and might take a few minutes.
Step 4: Make an Appointment
Schedule an appointment at the participating bank office enabled by Home Affairs where the staff would record your digital biometrics, such as fingerprint, photo and signature.
Step 5: Print Out Confirmation Letter
There would be a barcoded confirmation Letter after booking an appointment. You can download it and save it as a PDF file. Remember to take the confirmation notice and ID card (if required) to the appointment.
Apply for South African Passports for Kids
South African passport application process for children below 16 is similar to that for adults, except for the following extra requirements.
- Both parents should sign the passport application form and attend the DHA office or SA mission/consulate if they are married, otherwise, a consent letter and photocopy of ID will not be accepted.
- Both the child and parents should be in attendance unless they are divorced and granted sole parental rights.
- For applications for a child born out of wedlock, it is also required to show the biological father’s consent if any of the circumstances outlined in section 21 of the Children’s Act, 1995, are applicable and both parents should be present.
- Original copy and photocopy of death certificate if a parent is deceased.
- Proof of the High Court’s appointment if the applicant’s guardianship does not belong to parents.
- Court orders in terms of any disputes. For example, a parent can not be found or refuse to provide a consent letter.
South African Passport Photo Requirements
In order to successfully obtain the passport, a qualified biometric photo is a must, so it is necessary to learn about South African passport photo requirements.
- Size: 35mm (width) x 45mm (height)
- Background: white
- Photo validity: 1 month old
- Photo visibility: head and top of your shoulders. Your face should take up 70 –80% of the frame.
- Photo quality: clear and sharp, with no watermarks, creases or damages.
- The photo must reveal your natural skin color and current look.
- Keep your eyes open and visible, so sunglasses, tinted glasses lens or extra-long bangs are not allowed.
- Keep your head in the center and look straight at the camera without tilting.
- Let the light evenly spread on the face and avoid shadows.
- The photo should be properly exposed and avoid red-eye effect.
- The applicant must appear in the photo alone, especially when taking baby South African passport photos.
- Glasses are acceptable as long as it does not obscure your eyes or cast shadows.
- Head coverings are only allowed for religious reasons. Don’t cover your face from the chin to forehead and both cheeks in any case.
- Maintain a neutral facial expression. Keep your mouth closed without obvious grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows.
- Just wear daily-worn clothes, such as T-shirts, shirts, jackets, high-neckline dresses, etc. Uniforms, fatigues or camouflage prints are not accepted.
Make Passport Photo at Home
Now that you have learned about what a compliant passport photo is, is it possible to take a picture with a smartphone? Yes. As the technology develops, smartphone’s camera has been advanced to make high-quality shots. Selfies are not accepted, so you should ask another one to help you.
If you are looking for a passport photo editor, AiPassportPhotos would be your best choice.
It is quite easy to use. Just visit AiPassportPhotos, upload your photo and wait for a few seconds during which the online tool will scan to check photo compliance, crop its size and replace background according to official requirements.
It is not only compatible with computers and mobile devices but also different types of documents for different countries. The built-in AI technology has been equipped with a complete official photo template. Therefore, no matter what you are applying for, you can obtain 100% acceptable biometric photos.
FAQs: South African Passport Application
Q: How long does it take to get a SA passport?
A: It would take 3-8 weeks.
Q: What is the South African passport cost?
A: The regular adult/child passport costs R600 (about USD 32) and maxi tourist passport costs R1200.00 (about USD 32) when applying domestically. The fees would double when applying abroad.
Q: When should I apply for a passport?
A: You should apply for a new passport 6 months before the old one expires or while there are up to 3 blank pages left.
Q: Can I renew my passport?
A: No. The South African passport is not renewable and you should apply for a new one before expiration.
Q: Do I need to fill in the fingerprint form if Home Affairs has already gathered my fingerprints before?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I apply for SA passport when I am abroad?
A: Yes. You should go to the local embassy in person and ask for help.
Summary
After reading this passage, you can learn about different types of South African passports. Just choose the most suitable one according to your real situation. When it comes to South African passport application, you can apply either online or in person. Both methods require similar processes, including filling application forms, submitting supportive documents, gathering fingerprints, and paying application fees. To ensure the approval of your application, we suggest you use the online passport photo maker to check beforehand.
Erin Lo