How to Apply for a Passport in South Africa in 2025

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Searching “how to use for passport successful South Africa,”or adjacent “what to bash if my passport is mislaid oregon stolen”? You’re not alone. Whether you’re a South African getting your precise archetypal passport, renewing an aged one, oregon a foreigner surviving successful South Africa needing the close question papers, this usher covers everything you request to cognize astir the passport exertion South Africa process, from forms and fees to biometrics, renewals, and what to bash erstwhile your passport goes missing.

Disclaimer: The Department of Home Affairs holds the astir existent info connected passport rules. Rules, fees oregon processes whitethorn change. Always cheque the DHA website oregon an authoritative DHA bureau earlier starting.

How Many Types of Passports Are There?

Before applying, cognize your options. Some types include:

Regular/Tourist passport (for adults 16+) valid for 10 years.
Child passport (for nether 16) with shorter validity.
Maxi passport (48 pages) for predominant travellers. More pages = much visa room.
Emergency Travel Certificate (for urgent instrumentality to SA if abroad).

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Passport successful South Africa

Here are the steps to travel for a modular passport exertion (not mislaid oregon stolen).

Step	What You Do
1. Decide wherever & however to apply	You tin use astatine a DHA bureau successful your province, oregon usage eHomeAffairs, DHA’s online portal. (ehome.dha.gov.za)
2. Complete Form DHA-73	This is the main exertion signifier for passports / question documents. (Department of Home Affairs)
3. Gather documents needed for passport	See adjacent section.
4. Biometric capture	Photo, fingerprints, signature. Even if you use partially online, you’ll request to spell successful idiosyncratic for this. (ehome.dha.gov.za)
5. Pay prescribed fee	Varies depending connected benignant of passport. Budget for R600 for galore modular passports. (Western Cape Government)
6. Wait for processing & collect	Usually 7-21 moving days for modular passports. Times whitethorn vary. (Western Cape Government)

Documents Needed for Passport Application

Here are the documents needed for passport erstwhile applying nether “normal” circumstances:

Fully completed DHA-73 signifier (passport exertion form).
Valid South African ID papers or commencement certificate (if nether 16).
If you person your aged passport, bring it. If not, determination mightiness beryllium further steps.
Two colour passport photographs (or nary if the bureau uses digital/bio photograph capture). Confirm astatine your branch.
If you’re nether 18, parental oregon guardian consent. Both parents whitethorn request to beryllium contiguous unless exceptional.
For foreigners residing here, impervious of identity, residence licence oregon non-citizen ID, and sometimes determination of citizenship (if needed). (South Africa Portal)

How to use for a passport if your erstwhile passport was lost, stolen oregon damaged?

Oops. It happens. If your passport is mislaid oregon stolen, here’s what to do:

Report it to the police immediately. You’ll request the lawsuit fig oregon affidavit.
Complete DHA-335 (loss of passport form) erstwhile applying for a replacement.
Still usage DHA-73 for the application. The process is similar, with added documentation (police report, affidavit).
If abroad, interaction the nearest SA embassy oregon consulate. They tin contented an exigency question certificate (ETC) to instrumentality home, past use for a afloat replacement.

You mightiness besides like: Lost your passport abroad? Here’s what to do?

How to use for a passport successful South Africa For Foreigners Residing successful SA

If you’re not a South African national but unrecorded present and privation a passport (or question document), oregon request to renew yours:

Must amusement your overseas identity/residence permit/non-citizen ID. (South Africa Portal)
May request DHA-529 to find citizenship oregon status. (South Africa Portal)
Other forms & proofs (passport of origin, if possible) whitethorn beryllium required.

You mightiness besides like: Can I question if my visa is expiring soon?

Online Application via eHomeAffairs

Yes, South Africa is going online. A batch (but not everything) tin beryllium started via eHomeAffairs:

Register an account.
Fill successful exertion online (DHA-73 etc.).
Pay the interest electronically.
Attend successful idiosyncratic for biometrics. You’ll inactive request to spell to a DHA-enabled slope subdivision oregon Home Affairs bureau for photo, fingerprints etc.

Tips to Avoid Passport Hassles

Don’t permission applying oregon renewing until the past minute. Processing takes time.
Keep a transcript (digital oregon physical) of your passport, ID, and applicable docs.
Make definite your photos are close size & spec. A incorrect photograph = other trips.
For lost/stolen, study instantly truthful individuality theft oregon misuse doesn’t happen.

FAQs

How agelong does it instrumentality to process a passport successful South Africa?
Typically 7-21 moving days for modular passports. Times whitethorn alteration depending connected location, subdivision load, and if you person each required documents.

How overmuch does a passport outgo successful South Africa?
Standard passports are astir R600 for galore big tourer passports. Fees disagree for maxi passports, insignificant passports, oregon peculiar services. Check existent interest with DHA.

Can I use for a passport online?
Yes. The DHA offers eHomeAffairs for online submissions of passport applications and ID/passport renewals. But you’ll inactive sojourn to person biometrics captured.

What bash I request if my passport is stolen?
You’ll request to: