How to Apply for a Smart ID Card: Online Application, Requirements and DHA Booking

Applying for a Smart ID is easier when you know which documents to prepare, where to start and whether you need a DHA appointment. With booking services moving to My Home Affairs Online and new bank options available, choosing the right route matters.

Smart ID Application Requirements and Documents You Need

What you need depends on why you are applying. A 16-year-old getting an ID for the first time has different requirements from someone replacing a green bar-coded ID book.

First-time applicants aged 16 and over

DHA requirements list:

• Birth certificate;
• Certified copy of a parent, legal guardian or informant’s ID;
• Death certificate or certified copy if the parents are deceased;
• Proof of residence, where available, or a residential address.

A parent should accompany a first-time applicant. If the parents are deceased, a legal guardian may need to accompany them.

📌 The first issue is free of charge.

Replacing a green ID book

If you already have a green bar-coded ID book and are moving to a Smart ID Card, DHA lists:

• Your green bar-coded ID, or an affidavit if it has been lost;
• Proof of residence, where available, or your residential address;
• Marriage certificate, if married;
• Divorce decree, if divorced.

💲 For people aged 60 and over, converting from a green ID book to a Smart ID is free. For other citizens covered by these requirements, the fee is R140.

Lost, stolen or damaged IDs

You can request a reissue if your ID has been lost, stolen or damaged. A new document may also be necessary when personal details change, including a surname change following marriage or divorce.

Additional documents can therefore be required depending on your circumstances.

Naturalised citizens and permanent residents may also face different eligibility and supporting-document requirements. Check your specific case with DHA before travelling to a branch.

💡 Good to know: Smart ID offices with digital capture facilities take your photograph electronically, so standard ID photos are generally not required for the Smart ID application itself.

How to Start Your Smart ID Application Online

If you are searching for how to apply for a Smart ID Card online, be careful with older tutorials. DHA’s digital services have changed, so previous booking links and instructions may no longer reflect the current system.

The official My Home Affairs Online portal provides access to current digital services, including:

• Creating a My Home Affairs Online account;
• Accessing available services;
• Tracking applications;
• Booking a DHA branch appointment;
• Accessing the Smart ID Partner Branch service.

⚠️ Important: Not all Smart ID services follow the same online process.

Check the options currently available on My Home Affairs Online and follow the instructions for your application type, especially if you find older guides referring to previous DHA systems.

What about eHomeAffairs?

Older Smart ID guides frequently direct applicants to eHomeAffairs. However, the newer Partner Branch model works differently.

For this route, DHA says customers do not need to use eHomeAffairs for bookings or payments. Instead, participating banks provide their own application channels, which may include their app, website or an assisted branch service.

The Partner Branch service currently covers specified applicants, including green ID book holders converting to Smart IDs and existing Smart ID holders applying for reissues.

👉 Use the official My Home Affairs Online portal to check the current services before starting.

How to Book a DHA Branch Appointment

The Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS) has moved.

Applicants who find the old BABS page are now directed to My Home Affairs Online.

👉 Book or manage a DHA branch appointment through My Home Affairs Online

On the homepage, choose “Book a DHA Branch Appointment” and follow the current instructions to find the appropriate service and available appointment.

A Smart ID application may still require an in-person visit for biometrics, including your fingerprints and photograph. An online process does not necessarily remove this requirement.

Before your appointment, prepare the documents relevant to your application. Depending on your circumstances, these could include:

• Green bar-coded ID;
• Birth certificate;
• Proof of residence or residential address;
• Marriage certificate;
• Divorce decree;
• Other supporting documents requested by DHA.

Keep your booking confirmation or reference details available for your visit.

📌 No appointment slots? Check the official booking system again for availability. Avoid third parties claiming they can bypass DHA’s booking process or guarantee a slot.

For unresolved enquiries:

Home Affairs Call Centre: 0800 60 11 90
Email: [email protected]

Smart ID Fees and Payment

Knowing the fee is another important part of understanding how to apply for a Smart ID Card.

The DHA information available for this guide indicates:

The DHA’s Smart ID requirements confirm the first three categories above.

If DHA issues your ID with an error in your personal information, the department’s guidance states that the document can be replaced free of charge.

How should you pay?

Payment depends on the application route.

Do not assume that an old eHomeAffairs payment tutorial applies to the service you are using today. This is particularly important with the new Partner Branch model, where participating banks provide their own application experience.

Follow the payment instructions shown by the official channel through which you are applying.

If you pay but the payment is not confirmed:

• Keep your receipt or transaction reference;
• Check your application before attempting another payment;
• Contact the appropriate service provider or DHA if the problem continues.

⚠️ Avoid paying twice simply because the first transaction does not immediately appear.

Common Smart ID Application and Booking Problems

Even when you understand how to apply for a Smart ID Card, outdated links and changing DHA systems can create confusion.

The old BABS page says the system has moved

That is expected. DHA has moved its Branch Appointment Booking System to My Home Affairs Online.

👉 Go to the current DHA booking portal

There are no appointment slots

Availability depends on the official booking system. Check again or look for another suitable DHA location where the required service is available.

Do not pay unofficial agents who claim they can unlock or guarantee appointments.

My personal details are incorrect

Do not knowingly proceed with incorrect information. DHA may require supporting evidence, such as a birth certificate, to correct personal details.

My payment is not showing

Keep your proof of payment and application references. Check the transaction before paying again and contact the appropriate support channel if it remains unresolved.

My application will not proceed

First make sure you are using the current official service, rather than a link or tutorial for an older DHA system.

Eligibility can also vary by application route, particularly for Partner Branch services.

I cannot register or log in

Use the account and support options provided by the official portal. If the issue remains unresolved, contact DHA:

☎ 0800 60 11 90
✉ [email protected]

Traditional DHA branches are no longer the only route for getting a Smart ID. Home Affairs is expanding its Partner Branch model, allowing eligible applicants to start the process through participating banks and complete identity verification and biometrics at selected locations.

The next step is to find out which banks participate, whether you qualify and how to locate a Partner Branch near you.