If you intend to travel outside of South Africa or return from a long stay abroad, you should know how long does it take to get a passport so you can plan ahead.
Since you need a valid passport to come in or go out of the country, it is important to know all you can about this document so you are not caught unprepared when the date of your trip comes.
The normal wait period for how long does it take to get a passport is 7 to 21 working days from the date of the passport application submission. During this period, the submission will be processed and the passport will be issued.
The first step to apply for a passport in South Africa is to collect and fill in all the documents needed for passport application. Then, it is necessary to submit the application at any competent institution and pay the relevant fee.
Child Passport Application
The passport application for a child follows most of the rules of an adult passport application with a few extra requisites and steps. The first difference is that for children who are 15 years old or younger, instead of an identity document, the child must present their birth certificate or have it be presented for them.
Passport Application Online
There is no passport application online process in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs rules that it must be done in person for security and authentication reasons.
What Do I Need To Apply For A Passport?
The first requisite for how to apply for a passport in South Africa is to have a South African identity document. These must be presented as the original and a copy.
Then, you must present all relevant passport application form(s), as detailed below. Along with them, you must have two colour photographs taken according to the Passport and ID Specifications. This is not necessary if you apply at smartcard offices, where the pictures are taken digitally and your fingerprints are recorded.
In case you already have another tourist passport, it must be presented as well.
Then, the last step for passport application is to pay the issuing fee.
South African Passport Application Form
To apply for a tourist passport, you must fill in a passport application Form DHA-73, available in the Department of Home Affairs website.
If you are submitting for a tourist passport from outside South Africa, you must also fill out a determination of citizenship Form DHA-529.
How To Cancel Passport Application Online?
Since there is no passport application online process in South Africa, there is no option to cancel the procedure online either.
How Much Is A Passport In South Africa?
The issuing of any new passport costs a tariff of 400,00 South African Rand, no matter if it is for an adult or a child.
How To Check Passport Status?
You can check passport status at the Department of Home Affairs website. You can also call the call centre at 0800 60 11 90 if you do not have access to the internet or if the online service is down.
Countries that are visa for South African passport
According to Henley & Partner’s passport index, there are 104 countries which are visa-free for South African passport holders.
Some of these are Angola, Kenya, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Georgia, Israel, Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
It is advisable to consult how long the maximum stay period without a visa is for each country you plan on visiting.
How Long Are Passports Valid?
There are different rules for how long are passports valid in South Africa. For adults and children who are 16 years old or older, passports only expire after 10 years from the date they were issued.
For children who are 15 years old or younger, however, they expire after 5 years from the issue date.
Passport Renewal Application
South African passports cannot be renewed. Once yours expires, you must apply for a new passport. You may also apply to replace any passport that runs out of blank visa pages before the expiry date.
In case your previous passport was lost or stolen, in addition to all the documents needed for passport application, you must also present a loss of passport report by filling Form DHA-335.
Passport Renewal Application Form
Since there is no passport renewal process in South Africa, there is no distinct passport renewal application form to be filled.
Passport Renewal Application
The passport renewal fee is the same as the new passport issue fee, that is 400 South African Rand.
Now that you know all about how long does it take to get a passport and our other tips, keep reading our blog and always be well-informed!