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Getting a Smart ID at a bank is becoming easier as Home Affairs expands its Digital Partnership Model. But services still vary between banks and branches, so checking what your chosen location actually offers before you go can save you a wasted trip.
Who Can Apply for a Smart ID at a Bank Branch?
The new Partner Branch service is designed to move more Smart ID applications into participating banks, but not every type of application is available at every bank yet.
Under the current DHA Partner Branch model, the service covers:
- Green ID book holders converting to a Smart ID Card;
- Existing Smart ID holders applying for a reissue;
- Permanent residents and naturalised citizens from visa-exempt countries, during the initial phase of the rollout.
🏦 The key point is that eligibility does not automatically mean your nearest bank branch can process your application.
Banks are introducing the service at different speeds and may support different types of Smart ID applications.
Replacing your green ID book
Green ID book holders are among the groups currently covered by the Partner Branch model.
For example, Capitec says its Smart ID replacement service includes customers replacing a green ID book with a Smart ID Card. FNB and Standard Bank also provide Smart ID services at selected locations.
Reissuing a Smart ID
If your existing Smart ID has been lost, stolen or damaged, participating branches may be able to process the replacement.
FNB, for example, specifically offers lost, stolen or damaged Smart ID replacements at selected branches. Capitec also includes these applications in its current service.
The standard DHA reissue fee in the information reviewed for this series is R140, although a bank may have its own additional service fee or payment requirements.
What about first-time applicants?
⚠️ Do not assume that first-time Smart ID applications are available through every Partner Branch.
Availability is still linked to the rollout and the services offered by each bank. Capitec, for example, explicitly says that first-time ID applications are not yet available through its in-branch Smart ID service.
If this is your first ID, check the current eligibility rules for the bank and branch you intend to use. If the service is unavailable, you may need to use the appropriate DHA route instead.
The same caution applies to naturalised citizens and permanent residents. DHA includes certain applicants from visa-exempt countries in the initial Partner Branch rollout, but availability should be confirmed before visiting a bank.
How to Find a Participating Smart ID Bank Branch Near You
The safest way to find a Smart ID at bank service near you is not to rely on an old list of branch addresses.
DHA is expanding the programme, which means branches can be added as the rollout progresses.
📍 Use the official DHA Partner Branch locator
The locator allows you to:
- Select a participating partner;
- Search by city;
- Search by suburb;
- Search by province;
- Search by postal code.
The information supplied for this guide identifies Absa, Capitec, FNB and Standard Bank as participating banks. However, participation by a bank does not mean that every branch of that bank offers Smart ID services.
Some banks also provide their own branch-finding tools. Absa, for example, allows customers to use its branch locator and select Smart ID to find relevant locations. FNB also provides a Find a Branch facility alongside its Smart ID information.
💡 Before travelling: check both the branch and the specific Smart ID service you need. A location that handles replacements may not necessarily accept first-time applications or every other Smart ID service.
Do You Need an Appointment to Apply at a Bank?
Not always.
One of the biggest differences between older bank-based Home Affairs processes and the newer Digital Partnership Model is that booking rules can now depend on the bank, branch and service.
Previously, bank applications commonly involved completing steps through eHomeAffairs, paying online and booking a participating bank appointment before arriving.
The newer Partner Branch model gives participating banks greater control over their customer journey. DHA says customers using this model do not need to log into eHomeAffairs to make bookings or payments. Instead, banks can provide the service through their own apps, websites or branches.
📌 That means the answer to “Do I need an appointment?” depends on the route you choose.
FNB
FNB says customers replacing a lost, stolen or damaged Smart ID at selected branches do not need an appointment. They can visit an eligible branch, complete the application and have their photo and fingerprints captured.
FNB also describes a separate Smart ID/passport process at branches with DHA representation that does require online registration, payment and an appointment.
Absa
Absa provides several options for its Smart ID service. Eligible customers can:
- Book through Absa’s secure online booking portal;
- Book through the Absa Banking App;
- Walk into a selected branch for assistance.
Customers using the booking route receive confirmation by email, SMS or both.
Capitec
Capitec’s current Smart ID replacement service is completed in person at selected branches, where the bank captures the applicant’s photograph, fingerprints and signature.
Its published information for the service reviewed here does not specify a universal appointment requirement, so customers should check the current procedure for their selected branch before visiting.
Standard Bank
Standard Bank’s information also shows that the procedure can differ according to the service. Its Smart ID offering has included both appointment-based online applications and walk-in applications for specified in-branch services.
📌 There is no longer a useful one-size-fits-all rule for bank appointments. Check the instructions for your bank, your branch and your particular Smart ID application.
How the Smart ID Application Works at a Participating Bank
The exact steps vary, but the new Digital Partnership Model follows a straightforward general process.
1. Start through the participating bank
Instead of relying on eHomeAffairs for the new Partner Branch process, DHA says applicants can use the channel made available by the participating bank.
Depending on the bank, this could be its:
- Banking app;
- Website or booking portal;
- Selected physical branch.
The bank first needs to establish whether you qualify for the service it currently offers.
2. Your identity and details are verified
The bank’s process is integrated with DHA so that the application can be submitted for official verification and processing.
Requirements can differ by bank.
For example, Capitec says customers do not need to bring documents for its current Smart ID application. However, someone opening a Capitec account during the visit should bring their green ID book to help verify their details.
FNB similarly says documentation is not required for its specified in-branch Smart ID replacement service.
⚠️ Do not assume that “no documents required” applies to every bank application. Follow the requirements given by your chosen bank for the service you need.
3. Your biometrics are captured
You must attend the participating branch because the application involves biometric identity verification.
This can include:
- Fingerprints;
- A digital photograph;
- Your signature, where required.
Capitec, FNB and Standard Bank all describe biometric capture as part of their in-branch Smart ID processes.
4. Complete the application and payment
If a fee applies, payment arrangements depend on the bank.
FNB says its Smart ID replacement costs R140, with payment approved through FNB Online Banking or the FNB App rather than cash.
Capitec currently lists a total charge of R150 for its Smart ID replacement service: R140 for the DHA application fee plus a R10 service fee. Applicants need a Capitec account to make the payment.
For the Absa service described in its current terms, payment is made at the selected branch and must come from an eligible Absa transactional account or Absa-issued credit card. Absa also notes that an additional service fee may apply.
💳 The DHA application fee and a bank’s own service charge are not necessarily the same thing. Check the total applicable cost with your bank before applying.
5. DHA processes the application
Once the application and biometrics have been captured, the information is submitted to Home Affairs for verification, processing and production of the Smart ID Card.
The bank facilitates the service, but the DHA remains responsible for the underlying identity process.
6. Wait for confirmation
The notification process can also depend on the bank.
FNB says applicants receive an SMS or in-app notification when their Smart ID is ready. Under the broader Partner Branch model, DHA says customers receive application updates through their bank’s usual service channels.
📱 Keep your mobile number and other contact details up to date so you do not miss an important notification.
What to Do if Your Bank Does Not Offer Your Smart ID Service Yet
Finding your bank’s name in the Partner Branch programme does not guarantee that your local branch offers the service you need.
The rollout is continuing in phases. Capitec, for example, says more branches will be added as new sites go live, while Standard Bank has also indicated that its participating network is expanding.
If your preferred location cannot help:
- 📍 Check the official Partner Branch locator for another participating location.
- Check the bank’s own Smart ID information to confirm that the branch supports your application type.
- Consider another participating bank where you meet its eligibility and customer requirements.
- Use an appropriate DHA branch if your application is not yet supported through a Partner Branch.
Do not choose a branch based only on an old online list. The expansion of the Digital Partnership Model means availability can change as more locations and services come online.
For general Home Affairs assistance, you can also contact:
☎ Home Affairs Call Centre: 0800 60 11 90
✉ Email: [email protected]
For eligible applicants, getting a Smart ID at a bank can remove several steps associated with the older process. The newer model brings application, identity verification and biometrics into participating banking channels — but checking eligibility and branch availability first remains essential.
Once the application has been submitted, the next question is just as practical: how do you know when your Smart ID is ready, and where do you get it? The next step is understanding how to track your application and receive or collect the finished document.
