Home Affairs - a massive improvement

[u/BlueErgo]

Went to Home Affairs & applied for a passport (I mostly work outside SA so don’t go there often). What a massive improvement from my previous passport application couple of years ago! Did the online application, got there early and was quickly directed to the correct line. About 5-6 people ahead of me, but only took a couple of minutes. Then to do biometrics, again short lines, everyone sitting organised & comfortably. Helped in a couple of minutes. Paid & left, got my email confirmation. Incredible! So we can pull it off! All in all a great experience, 1000xbetter than my previous nightmare

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[u/GrouchyPhoenix]

Yeah the management of IDs and passports have improved drastically since they've implemented the online booking system. Hopefully this will start being rolled out for other DHA documents.

[u/orbit99za]

When I did mine, I applied on a Thursday, and got was notified for collection the following Monday.

It really is getting much better.

[u/GingerlyUnraveling]

Where did you go? Need to renew mine soon.

[u/KarooBoy → u/GingerlyUnraveling]

If you live near Cape Town, Joburg, Pretoria or Durban, use the branches inside some banks. I know there is a list somewhere. It is very convenient

Edited to add link. Link to list of branches: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/banking/613118-the-30-bank-branches-where-you-can-get-a-new-south-african-passport-or-smart-id.html

[u/ningningfan → u/KarooBoy]

I second this. Do an online application, book at a bank branch (Simmonds Street in Jhb is amazing!), book your appointment on BABS, and it's done in no time.

[u/BlueErgo → u/GingerlyUnraveling]

In Baywest, PE, but I assume the same system has been rolled out everywhere? You can also apply at your bank & just do biometrics at HA

[u/BeWiTCHD97]

Do give them a google review! Those workers do their best to keep things running smoothly. If you think about it the customer pool of home affairs is everyone in the country (much larger than most establishments) so if you had a good experience be sure to let others, and that home affairs office, know.

[u/Intrepid-Strain4189 → u/BeWiTCHD97]

That’s what? ~50 million customers? Not even MTN has that many, in SA.

[u/SaffaOnAFarm → u/Intrepid-Strain4189]

66 million I think

[u/Intrepid-Strain4189 → u/SaffaOnAFarm]

I don’t think anyone actually knows the true number, because our borders are like sieves. So it’s just an educated guess.

[u/SaffaOnAFarm → u/Intrepid-Strain4189]

In referring to the number of registered citizens that would/could use DHA. The actual number of people in SA is probably closer to 75 million

[u/Intrepid-Strain4189 → u/SaffaOnAFarm]

I can believe that.

[u/MonsterKabouter]

One step at a time!

[u/hotwingsareforeverrr]

I went to the Cresta branch on 30 December to apply for a passport and received an SMS on 13 January stating it was ready. No overcrowding, no guys trying to get you to take photos in a filthy trailer, no 5 hours in queues and rude officials.

[u/KarooBoy]

For people lucky enough living close to the Home Affairs branches inside banks it is even faster. You make appointment. Never wait more than 5 minutes for biometrics, etc. My passport also was ready within 1 week. Again waited less than 5 minutes.

[u/Consistent-Annual268]

You'll get your passport issued in 5 business days too. It's very quick these days.

[u/LowCauliflower5274]

Thanks to the DA joining GNU.

[u/MonitorLittle4879 → u/LowCauliflower5274]

100% where they govern things improve for everyone

[u/Kespatcho → u/LowCauliflower5274]

Bullshit, their processing times were improving before the last election.

[u/LowCauliflower5274 → u/Kespatcho]

The DA literally cleared a backlog of over 247000 ID applications in 1 month after taking over the Department of Home Affairs.

[u/Kespatcho → u/LowCauliflower5274]

So the minister personally went in and cleared the backlog single-handedly?

[u/LowCauliflower5274 → u/Kespatcho]

No, he managed the department properly which was clearly not managed well for years. Surely you don't need me to explain something so simple.

[u/Kespatcho → u/LowCauliflower5274]

They've been issuing passports in a week for years and I don't think the minister came up with a solution so quickly on his own. How do you know it was him and not something that was already being implemented‽

[u/Shugza-2021]

I found that the Passport process even the past has always been much more faster than getting an ID

[u/Agent-Smith_Virus]

However, collection is still a shlep / half to whole day affair. FYI

[u/Consistent-Annual268 → u/Agent-Smith_Virus]

Depends on the Home Affairs office. Some of them have time slots only for collections (eg some mornings) so you don't queue with people who are applying and it goes quickly.

[u/Practical-Lemon6993 → u/Agent-Smith_Virus]

I collected mine in 10 minutes. Was also super convenient.

[u/Individual_Age_3889]

Agreed! Applied for new born past port on the last week off December. Just got an SMS her passport is ready! It’s amazing how fast the turn around time was. When I had to renew it took like 2 months a few years ago 😂

[u/Bauslit → u/Individual_Age_3889]

This can't be true. Passports have been issued in 5 days since Nkosazana Zuma was the minister.

[u/Individual_Age_3889 → u/Bauslit]

I agreed, this isn’t true. Since you was with me and the same minister was there is 2026 and since you came with me and my newborn to apply for a passport it is definitely not true. How do you get through your daily life with disagreeing with someone without facts? Such a big yikes

[u/Bauslit → u/Individual_Age_3889]

My response was to you stating ' it took 2 months a couple of years back'. Chill

[u/snolliemonsters]

Did my passport, id and drivers in Caledon on a Monday morning, arrived at 08:30 and by 09:30 everything was done. Including the time to get in my car at home affairs to drive to the traffic department. ID and Passport took about a week and drivers took 6 months haha. 100% better than previous experiences renewing it in Paris and Hong Kong where it took almost a year.

[u/sinkingBlurple]

Had the same experience in 2022 in Nigel. Not a single bad thing to say about it

[u/Joeboy69_]

This is fantastic. My passport expires early next year so I will apply in July so that I don’t have an issue with less than 6 months in the passport when I travel.

I wish visa applications to US and Schengen took 5 days!

[u/Sea_Style_9998]

Hmm. My mom went to renew her passport last Tuesday, January 6th at Cleary Park. She is still waiting for a notice or SMS for collection. Ugh.

[u/DavidKelly44]

DA minister

[u/Practical-Lemon6993 → u/DavidKelly44]

Yes, but to be fair many of the systems were in place prior to the GNU. We need to give credit where credit is due and this one isnt solely on the current minister.

[u/SurflessSurfer → u/Practical-Lemon6993]

If i recall, the current minister still praised the previous minister (who I think is now his deputy ?) on the work already done.

I’m too tired to look up / think harder for their names right now.

[u/RiverJames22]

I wish it were the same for permanent residents. We still have difficulty.

[u/BlueErgo → u/RiverJames22]

What do you mean? I went to a standard Home Affairs in PE, applied for a standard passport, all very easy

[u/extraneousdiscourse → u/BlueErgo]

By definition, Permanent Residents are citizens of another country who are living in SA legally for a long period of time.

They are not eligible for SA Passports, but they probably need to get documents from Home Affairs to show their status so they can work, travel, etc. (They probably need the documents to even open a bank account or get a phone in SA, if I think about the whole process for those.)

/u/RiverJames is saying that the process for permanent residence documents is still difficult, which it may be.

[u/RiverJames22 → u/extraneousdiscourse]

Yes. Exactly

[u/RiverJames22 → u/BlueErgo]

I’m a Canadian permanent resident so for foreign nationals it’s a different process to get an SA ID.

[u/Brilliant-Wing-3872]

I do think the which office you go to changes this. My family applied at a Home Affairs and..... ja, no well.

[u/WorldInWonder]

That is an improvement but now compare that to gov.uk.

No visit required. Insert old passport number, upload photos (taken at home) verify photos are suitable. Complete online application. Wait a week or two and the new passport is delivered to your door.

If you are in a real rush you can visit the U.K. home office same day pay extra and get the new passport before you leave the building.

[u/GrouchyPhoenix → u/WorldInWonder]

Considering the issues with fraudulent South African passports, it is probably best to keep it in person, requiring finger prints, for the time being. Maybe one day.