South African Passports

South African passports are issued only in Pretoria, South Africa. Applications can still be submitted or forwarded to the applicable South African representative office. Applications take six (6) months or more to be finalized.

They are valid for 10 years and are not renewable. When South African passports expire, new passport applications will have to be filed.

Application forms plus supporting documentation must be submitted in duplicate. Please ensure that you have two sets of the application: 1) the original application form(s) with supporting documents, and 2) a copy of the whole set.

Emergency travel certificates (ETCs) are  issued by South African missions abroad to South Africans who have to travel back home urgently for reasons of death, sickness or any other emergency.  ETCs take only three (3) weeks to be finalized.  

Regular Passport

Regular South African passports are issued to South African applicants who are 16 years old and older. They are valid for 10 years and are not renewable. When South African passports expire, new passport applications will have to be filed.

Requirements:

  • DHA-73 – Passport Application form; with signature and left thumb print.
  • DHA-529 Determination of citizenship. This form must be completed by all applicants
  • DHA-9 Form – Full set of fingerprints on DHA-9 form. This form is not downloadable and must be completed by applicants 16 years old and above.  Fingerprints can be taken at the South African Consulate/Embassy.
  • Four (4) passport size photos (2″ x 2″)
  • Notarized copy of South African Identity Book or Birth Certificate;

  • Notarized copy of South African Passport

Additional Requirements

  • For divorced applicants: Divorce Decree
  • For married applicants: Notarized Marriage Certificate
  • For married female applicants who would like to retain their maiden surnames, or wish to use double–barrel surnames: Written Request to Change “Surname”
  • For those who have dual citizenship; Notarized Copy of Retention/Exemption Letter,
  • Applicants who are naturalized South Africans: Notarized Certificate of Naturalization
  • Applicants who lost their passports and are applying for a new passport; Loss of Passport Report and Police Report for Loss of Passport.

Child Passport

Child passports are issued to children who are fifteen years and below. These passports are not renewable. On their expiry, applications for new passports will have to be filed.

Requirements:

  • DHA-529 Determination of Citizenship. This form must be completed by all passport applicants.
  • DHA-73 Passport Application Form.

    Please note that both parents should sign the DHA 73. If either parent cannot sign, a letter of consent in a form of affidavit and certified/notarized copy of ID will be accepted. If either parent cannot be in attendance, a letter of consent in a form of affidavit and certified/notarized copy of ID will be accepted.

    If divorced and sole parental rights and responsibilities in regard to guardianship have not been granted to one parent, the child and both parents should sign the application form when the application is submitted.

    If a parent is deceased, his or her death certificate and a copy thereof must accompany the application for passport.

    In the case of minors born out of wedlock, the biological father’s consent will also be required, the child and both parents should be in attendance when the application is submitted.

    If the applicant is in the care of a guardian other than the parents, proof of High Court’s appointment must accompany the application.

    If a parent cannot be located or refuses to consent, or a dispute concerning consent arises, the matter should be referred to the Children’s Court. The Court’s decision must be submitted with the application for the passport.

  • Notarized Copy of South African Birth Certificate;
  • Notarized Copy of South African Passport;
  • Letter of Permission to Issue a Passport. To be submitted in cases when parents of the child concerned are divorced and only one has physical custody. The parent not having custody but allowed by the court to have access to the child can provide the requested letter of permission. The parent who has sole custody and guardianship can sign passport applications of their children on their own.
  • Four (4) passport size (2″ x 2″) photos. 

Emergency Travel Certificate

Emergency Travel Certificates are issued to South Africans who have to travel back home urgently for reasons of death, sickness or any other emergency. It is in a page form and may be issued with validity ranging from a month to a year. Applicants for emergency travel certificates must also apply for permanent passports.

Requirements:

  • DHA-73 – Passport Application form; with signature and left thumb print.
  • DHA-9 form – Full set of Fingerprints.  This form is not downloadable. This form must be submitted by applicants 16 years old and above. Fingerprints can be taken at the South African Consulate/Embassy.
  • Written motivation for the issuing of the Emergency Travel Certificate, along with any proof of the urgency of the trip (e.g. confirmation of funeral arrangements, doctor’s letter confirming sickness, police report, etc.)
  • A schedule of your travel arrangements (flight itinerary)
  • Proof of your South African citizenship in the form of your South African identity book, birth certificate or old passport and a copy thereof
  • DHA-529– Determination of citizenship. This form must be completed by applicants who are 16 years old and above;
  • Notarized Copy of South African Passport
  • Notarized Copy of South African Identity Book or Birth certificate;
  • Four (4) passport size photos (2″ x 2″)

Additional Requirements:

  • For divorced applicants: Divorce Decree
  • For married applicants: Notarized Marriage Certificate
  • For married female applicants who would like to retain their maiden surnames, or wish to use double–barrel surnames: Written Request to Change “Surname”
  • For those who have dual citizenship; Notarized Copy of Retention/Exemption Letter,
  • Applicants who are naturalized South Africans: Notarized Certificate of Naturalization
  • Applicants who lost their passports and are applying for a new passport; Loss of Passport Report and Police Report for Loss of Passport.

Maxi Passport

Maxi passports are 48-page documents meant for frequent travelers. They are the same as regular passports (valid for 10 years) except that they have extra pages to provide for more visa pages.

Requirements

  • DHA-73  Passport Application form; with signature and left thumb print.
  • DHA-529 – Determination of citizenship.  This form must be completed by applicants who are 16 years old and above;
  • DHA-9 form – Full set of fingerprints.  This form is not downloadable. This form must be completed by applicants 16 years old and above.  Fingerprints can be taken at the South African Consulate/Embassy.
  • Notarized copy of South African Passport
  • Notarized Copy of South African Identity Book or Birth Certificate;
  • Four (4) passport size (2″ x 2″) photos.

Additional Requirements: 

  • For divorced applicants: Divorce Decree
  • For married applicants: Notarized Marriage Certificate
  • For married female applicants who would like to retain their maiden surnames, or wish to use double–barrel surnames: Written Request to Change “Surname”
  • For those who have dual citizenship; Notarized Copy of Retention/Exemption Letter,
  • Applicants who are naturalized South Africans: Notarized Certificate of Naturalization
  • Applicants who lost their passports and are applying for a new passport; Loss of Passport Report and Police Report for Loss of Passport.
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