How to APPLY for a smart ID online in South Africa

Whether you’ve lost your ID, had your identity cloned, or still use the old ‘green mamba’, here’s how you can apply for a smart ID online.

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Whether you’ve lost your ID document, had your identity cloned, or are simply still using the old ‘green mamba’, here’s you apply for a smart ID online. Picture: DHA/FOTOR.

Around about 1 million South Africans are going to have to apply for a smart ID online very soon. This comes after the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) illegally blocked hundreds of thousands of ID numbers it believed to be fraudulent.

Nevertheless, let’s assume you’re one of these people, or you had your ID stolen or cloned and now you need to apply for a smart ID online. What do you do and how much does it cost? We’ll answer all we can below …

APPLY FOR A SMART ID ONLINE

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Replacing the famed ‘green mamba’ ID booklet, South Africa’s Smart ID card was introduced by the DHA in 2013. In fact, experts say the phasing out could be as soon the end of 2024 (although there is no confirmation of this), so those who are still using the outdated green mambas should apply for a smart ID online.

To apply for a smart ID online, you must be 16 years of age or older and be a South African citizen. You will need to produce your old green ID booklet (if you have one), a driver’s license or passport to verify your identify. In certain instances if you were born elsewhere, a government-issued foreign identification card or passport from the country of your birth will be accepted.

WHAT DOCUMENTS TO YOU NEED?

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When you apply for a smart ID online in South Africa, you must submit the following documents (if you have them). This is so old identify documents cannot be used nefariously to clone your identity:

• Green ID booklet.
• Ezoic.
• Birth certificate for new applicant.
• Travel or ID documents from the old Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda, or Ciskei homelands.
• Documentation verifying a legal guardian in case of adoption.
• Your parents’ IDs.
• Your parent’s death certificates for any or all deceased parents.
• Proof of address (eg. a utility bill with your name and address on it).
• Permanent resident certificate for those born elsewhere.
• Sworn and signed police affidavit and police case number if you lost or had your ID document stolen.
• Any 16-year-old first-time applicants can apply for a smart ID online for FREE.
• The cost to apply for a smart ID online is R140 if you are old than 16-years of age, are replacing your green mamba ID, or replacing a lost/stolen Smart ID card.

HOW DO YOU APPLY?

Here’s the best way to apply for a Smart ID online:

• Visit the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) eHome website.
• Click on Apply Online for Your Smart ID or Passport.
• Select Go to Registration.
• Fill in all your details: Name, ID number, passport number or birth certificate number, date of birth, email address, and cell phone number. And press Next.
• Then you will upload all the necessary documents listed earlier.
• From there you will make an EFT payment online. If you don’t have digital banking, you can visit your bank in-person to physically make a deposit payment.
• After payment is confirmed, select a convenient Home Affairs branch to provide your fingerprints and have your ID photograph taken.

Did you find this information on how to apply for a smart ID online helpful? Have you been through this process recently?

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