You can apply for your ID book at any Department of Home Affairs office or any South African mission or consulate abroad. All applications are forwarded to the Department’s headquarters in Pretoria. Your fingerprints will be compared to those on file or submitted into the National Population Register. Your application will then be processed, and once issued, your ID book will be sent to the office where you applied for you to pick up.
You must provide your cellphone number in your application in order to receive SMS updates on the status of your application. To receive SMS updates, text “ID” followed by your ID number to 32551. For each SMS sent, you will be charged R1.
Applying for an Identity book / Identity document for the first time
New applicants must submit the following documents to their local Department of Home Affairs office or South African mission or consulate abroad:
Form BI-9, filled out in black ink
A certified copy of your birth certificate or a reference book, as well as a copy of your former Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda, or Ciskei homeland identity or travel credentials.
Two color photos that are identical (NOT needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally however colour photographs are still needed for temporary IDs)
A Home Affairs official will take your fingerprints and stamp them on Form DHA-9.
If you are a naturalized citizen or have a permanent residency status, you must include the following documents with your application:
your naturalisation certificate and a certified copy from Home Affairs
your permanent residency certificate and a certified copy from Home Affairs
your exemption certificate and a certified copy from Home Affairs
BI-1620, which must be filled out at a Home Affairs office
If the permanent residence permit or exemption certificate cannot be provided, Form BI-829 must be completed in order for a duplicate to be issued. If you cannot provide the naturalization certificate, you must apply for a duplicate before submitting the ID book application.
Corrections to the ID Document
If you receive your ID book and find mistakes in the personal information contained inside, the Department of Home Affairs will replace it at no cost.
Simply submit the following to any Department of Home Affairs office to apply to correct information in your ID book:
Forms BI-9 and BI-309 must be filled out correctly.
Proof of the inaccuracy, demonstrating the right information For example, a birth certificate
Two color photos that are identical (NOT needed at smartcard offices as ID images are captured digitally)
Reprinting an ID book
You can reissue your ID card by submitting the following request:
If you are married and want to take your spouse’s surname. You must provide a copy of your marriage certificate, a completed Form BI-9, and the appropriate cost.
If you are a woman and want to apply for a new ID in the name of any of your former surnames, you must produce documentation verification (such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) together with a completed Form BI-9. You will also be charged a fee for the re-issue.
If your ID book was misplaced, stolen, or destroyed,
If you have not previously submitted your fingerprints, you can apply for a replacement by completing Form BI-9.
Adding more documents as needed (e.g. a marriage certificate if you are married)
Paying the necessary re-issue charge
If your ID book is lost, damaged, or stolen, you may apply for a Temporary Identification Certificate (TIC). This can be done at any Department of Home Affairs office and is subject to fingerprint verification.
Can I get my South African ID online?
You can also apply for your ID online by visiting ehome.dha.gov.za/echannel.
