Green ID Books Set for Retirement: South Africa’s Smart ID Revolution Begins

New digital ID era includes app orders, home delivery, and global rollout for citizens abroad

If you’ve been clutching onto your old green barcoded ID book, this might be the year to let go. South Africa is finally drawing the curtain on the paper-bound identity document that’s served the nation for decades. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA), under new minister Leon Schreiber, is pushing full steam ahead with a digital ID revolution — and 2025 marks the turning point.

Out with the Old, In with the Smart

In his first budget vote speech on July 8, Minister Schreiber announced that the production of green ID books will cease by the end of this year. This isn’t just an aesthetic change. The green ID books, he said, are five times more vulnerable to fraud and identity theft than the Smart ID cards.

And with fraud and impersonation crimes rising in South Africa, a secure and modern ID system is no longer optional, it’s urgent.

“We will not wait,” Schreiber said, noting that over 100 Home Affairs offices still rely on outdated systems that can only issue the green books. But rather than stall progress while waiting for those offices to modernise, the department has a bold new strategy: take Smart ID services to the banks.

Smart IDs at Your Local Bank Branch

In a move that mirrors how South Africans already buy airtime and electricity, Schreiber unveiled plans to let citizens apply for Smart IDs and passports via their banking apps and eventually, even have them delivered to their doorsteps.

Already tested in pilot form, the partnership with banks is set to expand to at least 100 new branches this year, with a longer-term goal of reaching 1,000 branches over the next three years. Integration between Home Affairs’ IT systems and banks will allow secure, biometric-based processing and bring the convenience many citizens have been waiting for.

This will also allow naturalised citizens and permanent residents, not just South African-born citizens, to access the Smart ID system.

Going Global: Serving South Africans Abroad

The minister also delivered long-awaited good news for South Africans living overseas. In countries like Australia or the UAE, it can take a year or more to receive a Smart ID or passport. That’s about to change.

Starting this month, new DHA service centres will open in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates, with France, Germany, and the Netherlands to follow later this year and North America in early 2026.

The goal? Cut waiting times for Smart IDs and passports abroad to just five weeks.

Why It Matters: Security, Dignity, and Efficiency

Beyond convenience, the Smart ID shift is also about restoring dignity and trust. “This is a momentous step,” Schreiber said, “towards delivering dignity for all, while simultaneously clamping down on fraud.”

The long-term vision is even more ambitious: a fully digital ID system that works across both public and private services, from accessing healthcare or grants to signing up for bank accounts or mobile contracts.

Public Reaction and What’s Next

Online reaction has been cautiously optimistic. While many welcomed the idea of using banking apps and home delivery for Smart IDs, some users questioned whether Home Affairs has the tech infrastructure to deliver. Others noted that rural areas and digitally excluded communities must not be left behind.

The DHA plans to submit a Digital ID Policy to Cabinet soon, which will kick off a round of public consultations. This could shape how South Africa’s identity system will operate in a fully digital future.

South Africa is officially phasing out the green ID book by the end of 2025, ushering in a new era of secure, smart, and digital identity services. From online applications to bank branch pickups and global reach, the changes are big and overdue. Whether you’re at home or abroad, the future of ID in South Africa is going digital.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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