South African Passports

New Zealand applicants, please follow this link.

The South African Passport and Travel Documents Act of 1994 regulates the issuing of South African passports and travel documents.

Please do not make firm travel bookings before obtaining your passport.

Passport applications may take up to 6 months to be finalized. Applicants are requested to bear in mind that applications are referred to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa for processing.

Clients are requested not to contact the Mission unnecessarily for progress on passport applications (These requests ultimately delay the process).

Applicants can contact or mail our office in the event of the passport taking longer than 3 months.

Different types of South African passports and their requirements

• Tourist Passports (Normal Adult passport)
• Child Passports (Persons younger than 16 years of age)
• Maxi Passports (Adult or Child)
• Passport Fees
• Temporary Passports (Adult or Child)
• Emergency Travel Certificates (Adult or Child)

Passport Applications (Adult or Child)

Persons must apply for a first or new passport when the passport has reached the full validity (ten years for adults or five years for children), or if the passport has no more blank visa pages available. New passports have a validity of 10 years for adults and 5 years for children. Please note that these passports cannot be extended once they have reached the expiry date - a new application must be lodged.

The Department of Home Affairs has now introduced a "maxi passport", which contain 48 visa pages instead of 32 pages. These passports are available to persons who travel extensively. In order to apply for a maxi passport, indicate this on the application form and pay the correct fee.

Please note: Do not make firm travel bookings before obtaining your passport.

Passport Requirements (All passport types)

1. Form BI-73 - Passport application form. Please ensure that the Police certify Section B of the application form - Adult as well as Child applications.
2. Form BI-529 - Determination of Citizenship Status
3. Form BI-9 - Although this form is mainly used for ID applications all passport applications of applicants 16 years and older done from abroad MUST include the finger prints. To obtain the BI-9 Finger Print form, please see below.
4. Form DI-47 - Loss Report: Stolen / Lost Passport. Only if your passport is Stolen or Lost.
5. A copy of your old / current passport OR identity document OR birth certificate.
6. A copy of your foreign citizenship certificate and your dual citizenship certificate, if applicable.
7. Photographs Four (4) clear professionally taken colour photos of full face of applicant, showing only head and shoulders measuring 35mm x 45mm. Include the photos but do not attach them to the form. Have one (1) photo endorsed by the Police/Officer by placing the applicant's name on the reverse side and the signature of the Police/Officer.
8. If you are a naturalized South African, a copy of your Naturalization Certificate.

Forms, except Form BI-9, may be downloaded from www.sahc.org.au.

To obtain the BI-9 Finger Print form, please email your request to:-

NB: Quote the applicant’s RSA ID number and postal address. The form will then be posted to you.

Applicants from Australia immigration.canberra@foreign.gov.za or

Applicants from New Zealand consular@sahcwellington.co.nz or Wellington@foreign.gov.za

Passport Fees (see below for Temporary Passports)

Payment must be in Australian Dollars (AUD) made out to the “South African High Commission” by way of Postal Money Order or Bank Cheque. Personal cheques or credit cards are NOT accepted. ONE bank cheque or Postal Money Order for the total amount/whole family is preferred.

General Notes

1. Children are no longer endorsed on parent's passports. Minors under the age of 18 years must have the consent of both parents on form BI-73.
2. Dual Citizenship: A South African citizen, who is also a citizen of another country, must use their South African passport when entering or departing South Africa.
3. Foreign Visas in Current Passport: Any valid visas that are contained in your current passport will not be affected in any way. Any queries regarding your visas should be directed to the issuing country concerned.
4. Old Passports: Although the note in Paragraph D of the application form indicates that your current / old passport must be forwarded with the application, it is not necessary - please keep your old / current passport.
5. Applicable to women: If you want your passport to be issued in your maiden / married surname, a formal letter of request must also be included together with a certified copy of your divorce / marriage certificate.

Temporary Passport Application (Adult or Child)

NB: Applicants applying for temporary passports to accommodate their travels to foreign countries are urged to check with the respective countries' representative whether a temporary passport may be used to enter their country before lodging an application with this Mission.

At this stage the following countries do not recognize the South African temporary passport as a valid document to enter these countries:

The United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, China, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, Italy, Canada and certain states in the USA.

Processing period is 10 working days.

An emergency is defined as needing to travel in the event of serious illness or death of a family member. In the event, a doctor's letter or certificate must be provided as evidence. You are required to provide a written request detailing reasons for urgent travel, documentation to back up those reasons and a copy of your provisional flight itinerary.

Temporary passports are valid for 1 year from date of issue.

Temporary Passport Requirements (in addition to the permanent passport requirements)

1. A further (extra) form BI-73 - Passport application form. Please ensure that the Police certify Section B of the application form - Adult as well as Child applications.
2. An additional x2 photographs - colour photos of full face of applicant, showing only head and shoulders measuring, 35mm x 45mm. (Photographs taken at photo booths are not acceptable). Include the photos but do not attach them to the form. Have one photo endorsed by certifier by placing the applicant's name, and the signature of the certifier, on the reverse side of the photo.

Note: A temporary passport contains only four (4) visa pages. If you intend to travel to more than two countries where visas are required, you must apply for two temporary passports and additional fees are payable. An additional signature and photo will be required for each extra temporary passport.

Temporary Passport Fees

Payment must be in Australian Dollars (AUD) made out to the “South African High Commission” by way of Postal Money Order or Bank Cheque. ONE bank cheque or Postal Money Order for the total amount/whole family is preferred. Personal cheques or credit cards are not accepted.

Return Postage: Only Australian applications (New Zealand return postage)

• For applications originating from within Australia - a Self-addressed Express or Registered Post Envelope (only one envelope per family).

Postal Address: Only Australian applications (New Zealand postal address)

The South African High Commission
State Circle
Yarralumla
ACT
2600

Emergency Travel Certificates (Adult or Child)

An Emergency Travel Certificate is valid for only one single journey direct to South Africa and is issued only to South African citizens who are returning directly to South Africa in extreme emergency cases.

Once back in South Africa, the applicant may then apply for a Tourist passport.

To ensure that the correct travel document is issued, kindly contact the Mission during Consular Office hours 8.30am to 1.00pm on +61 2 6272 7300 for assistance.

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