News
Smart ID Applications May Soon Be Just a Tap Away on Your Banking App
In a move that could revolutionize how South Africans access essential identity documents, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is looking to bring smart ID and passport applications directly to your banking app. Partnering with major financial institutions like Absa, FNB, and Standard Bank, the DHA plans to digitize the application process—making it easier than ever to apply for your documents online.
A More Convenient Future for ID Services
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber revealed in April 2025 that talks are underway to integrate DHA services into bank apps. The response from banks has been encouraging.
Absa’s Chief Digital Officer, Subash Sharma, expressed strong support, calling it a “value-enhancing” step for customers. With increasing digital engagement from their user base, Sharma believes offering smart ID services via mobile and online banking could especially benefit those who live far from physical branches.
Standard Bank echoed the sentiment, welcoming innovations that enhance customer experience and security. The bank already works with DHA to provide ID services at some branches and is ready to support broader digital integration.
Although Nedbank and FNB have yet to respond publicly, their participation seems likely if the proposal is formally brought to the industry through the Banking Association of South Africa.
Why This Matters
The idea is simple: If you can bank online, why not apply for a smart ID or passport in the same way? The proposed service would extend the already successful eHomeAffairs platform, streamlining identity document applications and easing the burden on physical DHA offices.
This would be especially transformative for South Africans in rural or remote areas who often have limited access to DHA offices or participating bank branches.
Expanded Access for Naturalised Citizens and Permanent Residents
In a related development, the DHA has finally opened up smart ID applications for naturalised citizens and permanent residents—fixing a decade-long IT issue that had previously excluded them.
As of May 12, 2025, over 1.4 million eligible individuals can now apply for smart IDs for the first time. For now, the service is limited to those from visa-exempt countries, but the department says broader access will follow once the initial surge in demand stabilizes.
The department hailed this as a major IT milestone, noting that it improves national security and brings fairness to naturalised citizens and permanent residents who’ve long awaited access.
A full list of visa-exempt countries—137 in total—is available on the DHA website and includes regions like the UK, USA, India, China, Brazil, and many African nations.
| Visa-exempt passports | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Union Laissez Passer
African Development Bank Laissez-Passers Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bolivia Botswana Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands |
Bulgaria
Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Chile China Comoros Congo Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Ducie and Oeno Islands Ecuador Egypt Ethiopia Falkland Islands Finland France Gabon Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece |
Guernsey
Guinea Guyana Henderson Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kenya Kingdom of Eswatini Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia |
Maldives
Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Monaco Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Niger Nigeria Norway Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Korea Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovak Republic South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain Sweden Switzerland Tanzania Togo Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
United Nations Lasse Passer
United States of America Uruguay Venezuela Vietnam Zambia Zi |
The DHA’s push to integrate smart ID and passport services into banking apps marks a major step toward a digital-first future for public services in South Africa. With strong support from leading banks and expanded access for more residents, the path to a secure, convenient digital ID system is becoming a reality—one tap at a time.
{Source: My Broad Band}
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
