How to apply for a Smart ID card in South Africa (step by step)

The Smart ID card has replaced the old green ID book as South Africa’s modern identity document. It is a secure, chip-based card that is quicker to verify and much harder to forge. If you still have a green book, or you are turning 16 and applying for the first time, here is exactly how to get your Smart ID.

Who can apply

You can apply for a Smart ID card if you are:

• A South African citizen aged 16 or older, or
• A naturalised citizen, and increasingly certain permanent residents (eligibility has been expanding, so check the latest on the Department of Home Affairs website).

If you are 16 and applying for the first time, this will be your first ID.

Where to apply

You have two main routes:

1. A Department of Home Affairs (DHA) office.
2. A participating bank branch. Home Affairs has partnered with several major banks so you can book, apply and do your biometrics at selected branches, which are often faster and less crowded than DHA offices.

The smoothest experience is usually to book online first through the eHomeAffairs portal (ehome.dha.gov.za), complete the application, pay online, and then arrive at your chosen branch or office only for the photo and fingerprints.

Step by step

1. Register on the eHomeAffairs online portal.
2. Complete the Smart ID application online.
3. Pay the fee online (see below).
4. Book an appointment at a bank branch or DHA office that offers Smart ID services.
5. Attend your appointment for your photograph, fingerprints and signature (your biometrics).
6. Collect your card when notified, or from the office where you applied.

What to bring

• If you are replacing a green ID book, bring the book.
• If this is your first ID at 16, bring your birth certificate and, where required, your parents’ IDs.
• If your existing ID was lost or stolen, see our guide on replacing a lost ID.

What it costs

Your first-ever ID is generally issued free. Replacements and re-issues carry a fee. Fees change, so confirm the current amount on dha.gov.za before you pay.

After you collect it

Once your Smart ID is in hand, keep the physical card somewhere safe and carry it only when you actually need it. For the everyday moments where you just need to show or quote it, a secure personal copy on your phone saves you from carrying the original around. Zari Vault stores that copy encrypted and locked behind your fingerprint, so your ID number is not sitting in your camera roll.

Not sure when a copy is accepted versus when you need the original? Read is a digital copy of your ID legally accepted in South Africa?

For an overview of all your key documents, see our complete guide to South African identity documents.

This guide is general information, not legal or official advice. Government processes, fees and requirements change. Always confirm the latest details with the relevant South African authority (for example the Department of Home Affairs at dha.gov.za) before acting.