You must have a South African identity number when you apply for a passport.

Any changes to your names must be applied for, finalised and recorded in the NPR before you submit your passport application Passports are issued in accordance with your names as they appear in the National Population Register (NPR) at the time of your application. See exceptions under Tourist Passports:persons under 16 Both parents and the children concerned must be present when applying for passports for children. Husband, wife and children must all complete separate application forms. Your fingerprints must be taken (for people who are aged 16 years or older) and checked against the National Population RegisterĪll documents required for passport applications should be completed in black ink The passport officer must check that your photograph is a true image of yourself and The passport officer must be satisfied that your identity is legal and valid It is important to know that when you apply for a passport, whether in South Africa or overseas, you must apply in person because: Applications made within South African borders can be submitted to any office of the Department of Home Affairs applications made outside of the country can be submitted to your nearest South Africa embassy or mission. Permanent South African passports and travel documents (machine-readable documents) are printed only in Pretoria, South Africa, from where they are dispatched to the offices of application. South African passports and travel documents are issued in terms of the South African Passports and Travel Documents Act, 1994, and the related Regulations.

General information about South African passportsĪ passport is a document issued by a national government for international travel and it certifies the identity and nationality of the holder.Īpplicants should note that In terms of section 26(B) of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995, it is a punishable offence for a South African citizen of 18 years and older to leave or enter South Africa on a foreign passport. NOTICE: The Department of Home Affairs no longer issues Temporary Passports.

Printable borders for certificates