If you wish to travel outside South Africa, you must hold a valid SA passport during your trip. However, it will be a daunting task when you apply for a SA passport. You can complete the passport application and make an appointment online through the BABS system. In this article, we will show you the complete guide on how to complete the passport home affairs appointment.
How to apply for a South African passport
When you want to apply for a South African passport, you must have a South African identity document to apply for a passport, such as a birth certificate for the children. No matter which passport types you apply for, the tourist passport, official passport or a diplomatic passport, you need to follow the basic steps below and complete the application process.
- You must complete the online application form.
- Pay the required application fee.
- Make an appointment on the online booking system launched by the Department of Home Affairs.
- Attend the appointment face-to-face to have biometric information collected.
- Wait for the arrival of the South African passport.
Requirements for passport appointment
Before you apply for the SA passport, you need to prepare the requried documents when you attend the passport appointment. Here you can check the list below:
- Completed passport application form DHA-73.
- Original and copy of identity documents, such as a birth certificate or Green Book.
- Two passport-size photos in color
- The application fee.
- The proof of appointment
- A passport loss report (DHA-335 ) and confirmation that you have reported the loss to the police, if you have lost your passport or it has been stolen.
- Parental consent to issue a passport if you are under 18.
How to book passport appointments online
The most important part for your South African passport application is the passport appointment. You need to follow the steps below and complete the online passport appointment booking.
- You must open your web browser and visit the official South African Home Affairs website and click on the BABS link.
- You are then required to select the identification type “ID Number” and enter your South African identity number.
- Select the passport booking service and enter your other personal details in the fields provided, such as your full name, email address, and other information.
- Select the province, city, and nearest Home Affairs branch that you want to complete the appointment.
- You can choose a suitable date and time slot for your appointment from the system. So you can choose one that fits your schedule.
- After you have thoroughly reviewed all the details, such as the date, time, and type of service, you can confirm your Home Affairs booking.
- You need to pay for the Home Affairs online bookings online by using the available payment options. Because the online passport booking service has associated fees.
Once you have paid for the service and submitted the application, you will receive a confirmation of your appointment via email, which contains important details, such as your reference number.
Home Affairs branches for the online booking system
The Department of Home Affairs introduces the Branch Appointment Booking System to avoid long queues for citizens. You are encouraged to use an online booking system for your passport application, as Home Affairs Departments will process citizens who have booked an appointment through the Branch Appointment System. As there are many Home Affairs branches available for your passport application online, you can choose the one that is the most suitable for you. Here you can check the list of all Home Affairs offices below:
| Province | Office/Branch |
| EASTERN CAPE | ● ALIWAL NORTH ● BIZANA ● BUTTERWORTH ● CLEARY PARK ● ENGCOBO ● GRAAFF REINET ● GRAHAMSTOWN ● HUMANSDORP ● LIBODE ● MDANTSANE ● MOTHERWELL ● LUSIKISIKI ● MTHATHA ● PORT ELIZABETH (GQEBERHA) ● EAST LONDON ● KING WILLIAMS TOWN ● QUEENSTOWN ● MOUNT FRERE ● MT AYLIFF ● QUMBU ● STERKSPRUIT ● UITENHAGE |
| FREE STATE | ● BETHLEHEM ● BOTSHABELO ● WELKOM ● PHUTHADITJHABA ● BLOEMFONTEIN ● BULTFONTEIN ● HARRISMITH ● KOFFIEFONTEIN ● KROONSTAD ● SASOLBURG ● THABA NCHU |
| GAUTENG | ● BENONI ● BOKSBURG ● BRAKPAN ● BRONKHORSTSPRUIT ● GARANKUWA (ODI) ● HEIDELBERG ● KEMPTON PARK ● AKASIA ● RANDBURG ● VEREENIGING ● RANDFONTEIN ● KRUGERSDORP ● GERMISTON ● SPRINGS ● ALBERTON ● PRETORIA (BYRON) ● ALEXANDRA ● SOWETO ● JOHANNESBURG (HARRISON) ● MAPONYA MALL ● CENTURION ● ROODEPOORT ● MAMELODI ● MAPONYA MALL (SOWETO) ● NIGEL ● SEBOKENG ● SOSHANGUVE NORTH ● VAN DER BIJL P |
| KWAZULU NATAL | ● DURBAN (COMMERCIAL ROAD) ● EMPANGENI ● PINETOWN ● PROSPECTON ● SCOTTBURGH ● UMZIMKULU ● ESHOWE ● IXOPO ● KWADUKUZA (STANGER) ● MTUBATUBA ● TONGAAT ● NDWENDWE ● UMGENI ROAD (DURBAN) ● PORT SHEPSTONE ● NEWCASTLE ● ULUNDI ● RICHARDS BAY ● PIETERMARITZBURG ● NEW HANOVER ● KOKSTAD ● DUNDEE ● VRYHEID ● ESTCOURT ● LADYSMITH |
| LIMPOPO | ● DZANANI ● ELIM ● GROBLERSDAL ● IPELENG (THABAZIMBI) ● LEBOWAKGOMO ● LEPHALALE (ELLISRAS) ● MALAMULELE ● MODIMOLLE ● MODJADJISKLOOF ● MUSINA ● PHALABORWA ● TZANEEN ● JAN FURSE ● GIYANI ● MOKOPANE ● POLOKWANE ● THOHOYANDOU (MAKWARELA) ● VUWANI |
| MPUMALANGA | ● HAZYVIEW ● KOMATIPOORT ● WHITE RIVER (NSIKAZI) ● EMALAHLENI (WITBANK) ● ERMELO ● MBOMBELA (NELSPRUIT) ● MALELANE (MALALANE) ● MHALA ● BELFAST (EMAKHAZENI) ● BETHAL ● VOLKSRUST ● BARBERTON ● MASHISHING (LYDENBURG) ● PIET RETIEF ● SECUNDA (from Evander) ● STANDERTON ● EERSTEHOEK ● MIDDELBURG |
| NORTHERN CAPE | ● CALVINIA ● DE AAR ● JAN KEMPDORP ● PAMPIERSTAD ● KURUMAN ● KIMBERLY ● UPINGTON ● POSTMASBURG ● PRIESKA ● SPRINGBOK |
| NORTH WEST | ● ATAMELANG ● BRITS ● GANYESA ● ITSOSENG ● LICHTENBURG ● MANKWE ● POTCHEFSTROOM ● VRYBURG ● WOLMARANSSTAD ● MMABATHO ● KHAYELITSHA ● RUSTENBURG ● KLERKSDORP ● ZEERUST |
| WESTERN CAPE | ● BEAUFORT WEST ● CALEDON ● MALMESBURY ● MITCHELL’S PLAIN ● MOSSEL BAY ● NYANGA (NONTSUMPA) ● OUDTSHOORN ● STELLENBOSCH ● VREDENDAL ● WORCESTER ● PAARL ● WYNBERG ● CAPE TOWN (BARRACK STREET) ● BELLVILLE ● GEORGE |
How to cancel or reschedule a passport appointment
If you cannot attend your scheduled appointment on time, you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment in advance. Here you can follow the steps to cancel the appointment.
- You need to login to the BABS system and click My Appointment.
- View the upcoming appointment on the profile.
- Then you will see the option to cancel the appointment.
- If you want to reschedule the appointment, you can choose the available date and time slot.
However, if you wish to cancel the appointment, you must complete it within their minimum cancellation period. If it can’t be canceled, you need to call them.
How to check if my passport is ready for collection
After you have completed the passport application, you need to wait a few days to collect the passport. If you find that it is a long time before you receive the passport, you can check if your passport is ready for collection. Here you can send a message to 32551 and type “ID”, followed by a space and your ID number. It will then show the status of the South African passport. When it shows that it can be picked, you can collect your passport at the Home office.
Bonus tip: Create photo for SA passport booking online
When you attend the scheduled passport appointment, you are required to create two photos for the passport appointment. You can get it from professional photoshop or photo booths. However, if you want to save money and have fun making passport photos, here you can take a photo at home and upload it to the professional photo editor: AiPassportPhotos. It will process your uploaded photos immediately and make it meet the South African passport photo requirements. So you won’t be worried about the refusal of an application because of inappropriate passport photos.
FAQ
Can I go to Home Affairs without an appointment?
If you do not book an appointment for your passport application at Home Affairs, you can still be used as walk-ins. However it is advisable to make a passport booking in advance so that you are guaranteed of the service on the particular day during your booked time slot. Otherwise, you may experience long queues and waste your time at Home Affairs. And in the future, it may only offer the passport service for those who have booked the appointment online.
Can I transfer the appointment slot to my family?
No, you can’t transfer the appointment slot to your family. Once you have booked your appointment, you will receive an SMS or email reminder from the system three days before the appointment date. If you have something important to do on that day, you can cancel or change your appointment by logging back into the system. Therefore, you cannot make an appointment and then give the slot to a friend or family member.
Can I book passport appointment without ID number
No. You must book a passport appointment online with your ID number. According to the BABS system, you need to enter the ID number and log in to the online system, so you can complete the passport appointment.
What is the age limit to book an appointment at BABS?
To book an appointment at BABS, you must be 16 years of age or older. Only South African citizens over the age of 16 are allowed to have an ID or Smart ID. And when you want to book an appointment at BABS, you need to enter the ID number to enter the passport appointment service.
Conclusion
When you book a passport appointment online, it can reduce long queues and wait times at offices. Of course, the online system can ensure that citizens are served promptly and efficiently. When you complete the passport application appointment, you should attend the appointment on time. If not, you should cancel or change the scheduled time slot in advance.
Erin Lo