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Choose the step you need help with and see exactly what to do next ⤵️
Not every Smart ID applicant follows the same process. Choose the route that matches what you need now: applying through DHA, using a participating bank or tracking a card you have already requested.
Apply for a Smart ID through Home Affairs Online and DHA Branches
For many applicants, the first challenge is understanding which Smart ID Card requirements apply to their situation.
This route is particularly important if you need to use the Department of Home Affairs’ digital services or visit a DHA branch.
It also covers first-time applicants aged 16 and over, whose requirements differ from those of someone replacing a Green ID Book or reissuing an existing Smart ID.
📋 Depending on your application, you may need documents such as:
- A birth certificate;
- An existing identity document;
- Proof of residence or a residential address;
- Documents relating to your marital status;
- Other supporting documents required for your circumstances.
Fees vary too. Qualifying first-ever IDs are issued free of charge, while other types of application can carry a fee.
The DHA’s digital environment has also changed, which means older instructions may no longer match the process you find today.
My Home Affairs Online now provides access to current digital services and DHA branch bookings. An in-person visit may still be required for parts of the process, including biometric capture.
⚠️ Before starting, make sure you know which service applies to your application and whether you need a DHA branch appointment.
The full application guide takes you through the points that matter most, including:
- Requirements and supporting documents;
- First-time applications;
- Current online DHA services;
- DHA branch bookings;
- Smart ID fees and payment;
- Common application and booking problems.
👉 Ready to start? See how to apply for a Smart ID Card through DHA, including requirements and booking.
Apply for a Smart ID at a Participating Bank Branch
A DHA branch is no longer the only route available to eligible Smart ID applicants.
Home Affairs’ expanding Digital Partnership Model allows participating banks to provide selected Smart ID services through their own channels and branches.
This model has significantly changed the banking route. Participating banks can integrate with DHA systems and provide their own process for applications, payments and branch visits.
But that does not mean the process is identical at every bank.
Depending on the bank, branch and service:
- You may need an appointment — or a walk-in may be allowed;
- You may need to be a customer of that bank;
- Payment methods can differ;
- An additional bank service fee may apply;
- The types of Smart ID applications available can vary.
📍 Finding a participating bank does not mean every branch offers the service you need. The rollout continues to expand, and different locations can support different application types.
That is also why relying on an old static list of branches can lead you in the wrong direction. You need to check current branch and service availability before travelling.
The dedicated banking guide explains how to establish:
- Whether you qualify for the Partner Branch route;
- How to find a participating branch near you;
- Whether your application type is available there;
- Whether you need an appointment;
- What happens during the branch visit;
- How biometrics and payment work.
First-time applicants should be particularly careful because bank availability is not yet universal for this type of application.
The same applies when checking Smart ID Card requirements for naturalised citizens and permanent residents, as eligibility can depend on the current rollout.
👉 Prefer the banking route? Find out how to locate a participating Smart ID bank branch and apply.
Track Your Smart ID and Get Your Document
Already applied? Your next concern is probably no longer eligibility or paperwork.
It is where your Smart ID is and when you can get it.
📱 Do not make an unnecessary trip simply because you think enough time has passed. Tracking options can depend on the route you used.
DHA digital services can provide application progress information, while Partner Branch applicants may also receive updates through their bank’s communication channels.
A delay does not necessarily mean your application has failed. Identity verification or other processing issues can affect progress, making it important to know when to keep waiting and when to seek clarification through an official channel.
The tracking and collection stage raises several practical questions:
- How can you check your Smart ID status?
- How do you know when the card is ready?
- What should you do if the status stops changing?
- Where should you collect the document?
- Do you need a collection booking?
- Can your Smart ID be delivered?
- What happens if an existing Smart ID is lost, stolen or damaged?
📦 Collection arrangements can vary according to the route used. Under the Partner Branch model, delivery may also be available where offered by the bank rather than being an option for every applicant.
Until the process is complete, keep your application references, receipts and notifications.
If you already had a Smart ID but it was lost, stolen or damaged, you also need to understand the replacement process rather than treating it as a first-time application.
👉 Already submitted your application? Learn how to check your Smart ID status, handle delays and collect or receive your document.
The Smart ID Card requirements that matter most depend on where you are in the process. If you still need to apply, choose the DHA or eligible Partner Branch route. If you have already applied, go directly to tracking and collection.
Start with the problem you need to solve now and follow the route designed for that stage.
