The essentials: your first Smart ID card (age 16+) is free. A replacement — lost, stolen, damaged, or upgrading from the green ID book — costs R140. You can apply at a Home Affairs office or, increasingly, at a participating bank branch. The card typically takes around 14 working days; a Temporary Identity Certificate (R70, valid two months) covers you in the meantime if you can’t wait.
The green ID book is being phased out — you can no longer apply for one, and every new application is issued as a Smart ID. Your green book remains legally valid for now, but upgrading is worth doing before you need to.
What it costs
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First-time Smart ID (16+) | Free |
| Replacement, re-issue or green book upgrade | R140 |
| Temporary Identity Certificate | R70 |
Fees are the same at Home Affairs offices and bank branches, though some banks add a small service fee on top. One money-saving note: since your first card is free but corrections cost R140, triple-check every detail on your first application.
Route 1: The bank branch route (usually faster)
Under Home Affairs’ digital partnership model, banks process Smart ID applications on their own systems via a secure connection to Home Affairs — often in minutes, without the dawn queue. As of mid-2026, Capitec, Standard Bank and FNB are the banks live on this model. Capitec has the largest network (109 branches as at June 2026), followed by Standard Bank (74) and FNB (20). Absa, Nedbank, African Bank, Discovery Bank, TymeBank and GoTyme have confirmed they are joining, with Absa and Nedbank in testing.
Home Affairs has said it expects around 750 branches to be offering the service by the end of 2026, and 1,000 by 2029. Branch counts move fast — treat the numbers above as a snapshot and check the official list at dha.gov.za or your bank’s site before travelling.
The general flow:
- Create a profile on eHomeAffairs at ehome.dha.gov.za (ID number and a valid email) — some banks instead use in-branch self-service terminals with no booking
- Complete the application online and pay by card upfront through the portal
- Book a slot at a participating branch and visit for fingerprints and photo
- Collect your card at the same branch when the SMS arrives
Two catches to know. First, some banks restrict the service to their own clients — FNB is one — while others have opened it wider, so the safest choice is a branch of the bank you already use. Second, the current phase mainly covers Smart ID replacements and green-book upgrades; Home Affairs has said first-time Smart ID applications, passports and home delivery are coming to bank branches, but first-time applicants should confirm before travelling rather than assume.
Two different in-branch experiences: Capitec uses a self-service terminal where you authenticate with biometrics and pay in branch — a walk-in, roughly five-minute process with no eHomeAffairs booking needed. Standard Bank’s route is similar but staff-assisted. Older eHomeAffairs pilot branches at banks like Absa, Nedbank, Investec and Discovery still work the original way: apply and pay on the portal first, then book a biometric appointment.
Route 2: The Home Affairs office route
For first-time applicants, children turning 16, and anyone whose bank doesn’t participate:
- Book online via eHomeAffairs where available — booked slots are prioritised and walk-in queues have grown
- Bring: your birth certificate (first-time applicants) or existing ID or green book (upgrades); for lost or stolen cards, a police affidavit; parents accompany minors with their own IDs
- Photos and fingerprints are captured digitally on-site
- Pay (card at most offices; cash accepted; keep the receipt — you need it at collection)
- Collect when the SMS arrives — bring the receipt and old ID
📥 Free download: Home Affairs Visit Checklist — documents per application type (first ID, replacement, upgrade, minor), booking info, fees, and a “before you leave home” tick-list. One page, because discovering a missing document in the queue is a special kind of pain. Get the free download → (email required — we send the download link plus a short, useful tip series; unsubscribe anytime).
How long it takes
Around 14 working days is typical; up to four weeks at peak times or busier rural offices. Check status via eHomeAffairs or the DHA contact centre on 0800 60 11 90. If you urgently need ID in the gap — exams, banking, a job offer — the R70 Temporary Identity Certificate is issued the same day and is valid for two months.
Fixing the most common problems
- “My details are wrong on the system.” Corrections (name spelling, status) must be resolved at Home Affairs before a card can be issued correctly — raise it at the counter and get a reference
- ID number issues blocking you elsewhere (SASSA declines, bank verification failures) usually mean the Home Affairs record itself needs correction — the card follows the record, not the other way round
⚠️ Scam warning
Never pay a “runner” or agent to skip queues or fast-track a card. The fixed fees above are the only fees — everything else is either a scam or bribery, and both can wreck your application and your record. There is also no online service that can issue a Smart ID without you appearing in person for fingerprints and a photo; any site claiming otherwise is harvesting ID numbers. Report problems on 0800 60 11 90.
FAQ
Is the green ID book still valid?
Yes, for now — but it’s no longer issued, and upgrading (R140) gets you the more secure card that banks and institutions increasingly prefer.
Can my 16-year-old apply at a bank branch?
First-time applications are still limited at most banks — a Home Affairs office (with birth certificate, and a parent present) is the reliable route for a first ID.
Do I need an appointment?
Strongly recommended for Home Affairs offices via eHomeAffairs, and required for most bank routes. Some banks run walk-in terminal models instead — check before you go.
What if my card never arrives?
Follow up on 0800 60 11 90 with your receipt reference. Cards do occasionally stall — polite persistence with the reference number resolves most cases.
Next step
Your ID is the key to every other system — grants, UIF, tax, banking. The Government Admin Toolkit (R99) carries checklists for all of it, so every government visit is a one-trip visit. 🛒 Get the Government Admin Toolkit →
Related: SASSA Status Check · How to Claim UIF · SARS eFiling Guide
Last verified 30 August 2026 · Sources: Department of Home Affairs statements, gov.za, BusinessTech and MyBroadband branch-rollout reporting · Fees and branch lists change — confirm your nearest participating branch before travelling · Report an error
How To South Africa is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs or any government department.