Home Affairs says South Africans can now apply for a replacement Smart ID at 753 bank branches, passing its own target of 750 branches more than four months early.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the milestone on Wednesday 11 November, according to a government statement. The department had set itself the goal of reaching 750 branches by the end of March 2027.
Where and how it works
- Four banks take part: ABSA, Capitec, First National Bank and Standard Bank.
- The department says no booking is needed and customers can walk into a participating branch.
- Applications are processed using biometric technology in about five minutes, according to the department.
- The department says participating branches can be found at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za.
The numbers the department gives
The partnership with the banks began on 9 March 2026. Schreiber said access had grown by more than 350% in 246 days. The department says the bank branches, together with its own offices, bring the total to 967 locations, up from 214 Home Affairs offices at the start of the administration. It says more than one million South Africans have benefited from the service.
Schreiber said: "Today, we have not only achieved that target but exceeded it with more than four months to spare." He added that "the days of standing in a long queue just to apply for a replacement Smart ID are fast coming to an end."
What comes next
The department says more banks and more services are to be added to the project shortly. The statement does not say which banks or which services.
What we do not yet know
- The fee for a replacement Smart ID at a bank branch, which the statement does not give.
- Which documents, if any, an applicant must bring, and whether first-time applications are covered.
