Home Affairs says Smart ID card access up 250% as rollout expands

Access to South Africa’s Smart ID card has risen sharply, Home Affairs says, as the department expands banking partners and streamlines applications.

Rapid increase in uptake

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber told delegates at the Xpatweb Global Mobility Conference on 21 July 2026 that access to the Smart ID card technology has jumped by 250% in the last four months.

“If people won’t go to Home Affairs, rather bring Home Affairs to the people …”

Bank branches and application numbers

The department says South Africans can already apply for a Smart ID card at more than 300 partner bank branches, and that the number of participating branches will climb past 750 by the end of 2026.

Schreiber confirmed that more than 422,000 people have applied for the Smart ID card through participating banks in the past four months.

How the Smart ID compares to the green booklet

Home Affairs estimates there are about 16-million old green ID booklets still in circulation. The department has said it will publish a roadmap for phasing out the green booklet in favour of the Smart ID card.

Applying for a Smart ID card

The source lists the application process and fees. First-time applicants pay nothing. A replacement for a lost, stolen or damaged card costs R140. A Temporary Identity Certificate costs R70.

Applicants may visit any Home Affairs office or a participating bank branch, including ABSA, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank or Capitec. They can also register on the ehome.dha.gov.za portal or book through their bank’s app, complete the online form, pay any applicable fee, then attend a branch visit for biometric verification and a digital photo capture.

Applicants should bring their green ID book where available, or a sworn affidavit if it is lost. Where applicable, they should supply a proof of residence, a marriage certificate if married, or a divorce decree if divorced. First-time applicants need an unabridged birth certificate. The department says applications typically take about two weeks and applicants receive an SMS or email when their card is ready for collection.

The department also notes that citizens aged 60 years and older pay nothing at all, whether it is a first application or an upgrade from the green booklet.

Delivery and future steps

Home Affairs said the bank-based rollout will, in time, be supported by courier delivery of ID and passport documents from participating branches. The department intends to publish a full roadmap on phasing out the green ID booklet.