At some point, everyone needs to sort out their smart ID application. Whether you’re getting yours for the first time or replacing an old one, it’s much easier these days.

You can start the process online without waiting in long queues. All you need to do is fill in your details, upload your documents, and choose where you’ll collect your card. Follow our step-by-step guide to get your smart ID application done quickly, so you can tick it off your to-do list.

For more useful guides, check out: 

• How to Do a SASSA Application for the R370 SRD Grant (With Pictures)
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Smart ID Pre-Application Checklist

Here is a list of everything you need to have ready before starting your application.

• Clear, high-quality digital scans or photos of all supporting documents – your ID, passport, or birth certificate, certified copy of parent/guardian’s ID (if required), and proof of address.
• Reliable internet connection. If you don’t have internet access at home, read our post on where to get free data.
• Active email address.
• Active cellphone number.
• Money in your bank account to cover the application fee, if applicable.
• Internet banking access. You must be able to log into your online banking separately to authorise the payment.

Part 1: Account Registration

Step 1: Create Your Profile 

Action: Go to the registration page of the eHome DHA website. Fill in your personal and contact details exactly as they appear on your Identity Document, Passport, or Birth Certificate.

• Key Fields: Title, Initials, Full Forename(s), Surname, ID Number, Date of Birth, Email, and Cellphone Number.
• Verification: Complete the CAPTCHA to prove you are not a bot.
• Next: Click Next >.

Useful Tip: The CAPTCHA is NOT case-sensitive. This means that you don’t need to worry about capitalising letters correctly. For example, if the CAPTCHA shows the word “Example,” you can type it as “example,” “EXAMPLE,” or “ExAmPlE,” and it will still be accepted as correct.

However, if the CAPTCHA image is too blurry to read, you can usually click the refresh/reload icon next to it to get a new one. Ensure your email and cellphone are correct, as they are crucial for verification.

Step 2: Set Your Password and Security Questions 

• Action: Create a strong password and answer the three security questions.
• Password Requirements:
  • Minimum of 8 characters in length.
  • At least 1 special character (e.g., ( ) { } – _ * & ^ % $ # @ !).
  • At least 1 uppercase character.
• Security Questions: Answer the questions regarding your first school, birthplace, and mother’s birth year.
• Next: Click Next >.

Useful Tip: Choose security question answers that you can easily remember but that are not common knowledge. Save your chosen password immediately in a secure location.

Step 3: Confirm Cellphone Number via OTP 

• Action: The system will send a One-Time Pin (OTP) via SMS to the cellphone number you provided (e.g., 762455018).
• Submission: Enter the OTP into the field provided. You may need to click Send New OTP if you haven’t received one yet.
• Next: Click Next >.

Useful Tip: Keep your cellphone right next to you for this step, as the OTP is time-sensitive. If you don’t receive it, check your phone’s SMS block list or click “Send New OTP” after a few moments.

Step 4: Email Verification Required 

• Action: You’ll see a confirmation that your registration was successful, but you need to verify your email address.

Step 5: Email Action 

Go to your email inbox and open the email from eHomeAffairs. Click on the verification link provided.

• Next: Once verified, return to the website and click Log On.

Useful Tip: The system suggests checking your spam folder if the email doesn’t arrive in your inbox immediately. Completing the email verification is mandatory before you can proceed to log in.

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Part 2: Log On and Start Your Smart ID Application

Step 5: Log On 

Action: Enter your User Name (your ID Number) and Password.

• Verification: Complete the CAPTCHA again.
• Next: Click Log On.

Useful Tip: Remember the CAPTCHA is NOT case sensitive. Have your ID number and password ready to avoid delays. The system warns a second OTP will be sent to your phone for security.

Step 6: OTP for Log On 

• Action: Enter the new One-Time Pin (OTP) that was sent to your cellphone to finalise the log-on process.
• Next: Click Submit.

Useful Tip: This two-factor authentication (password + OTP) is for security, so keep your phone close by.

Step 7: Logged-in Home Page 

Action: You are now logged into the eHomeAffairs portal.

• Next: Click the large brown button that says Create New Application.

Useful Tip: The eHomeAffairs system allows you to save and complete your application at a later stage, so don’t feel rushed to complete all sections in one go. You can also click “Update Details” if needed.

Step 8: Select Applicant Type 

• Action: Indicate who the application is for by selecting the radio button: Myself or Someone else.
• Next: Click the green button that says Start Application Process.

Useful Tip: The note on the screen highlights that applications for Identity Documents or travel documents for individuals 16 years and older require the person to apply in their own right. Ensure you select “Myself” for your own Smart ID Card application.

Step 9: Complete the Application Form – Form Step 

• Action: You are now in the ‘Form’ step (step 2 of 5). The application reference number is automatically generated (e.g., ECH-0004XRZE-067754-N).
• Document Selection: The system shows you are applying for an Identity document.
• Biographic Details: Confirm whether you have a South African Identity No. and provide your ID No., citizenship status (Birth, Descent, Naturalisation, etc.), and your Full Forenames, Surname, and Maiden Name.
• Next: Click Create Application Products to proceed to the next section of the form (which would be followed by Upload, Payment, and Visit Branch).

Useful Tip: Double-check your ID Number, Full Forenames, and Surname against your official documents for absolute accuracy. The steps 1-5 progress bar (Select, Form, Upload, Payment, Visit Branch) clearly guides you on the remaining phases of the online process.

Final Stages: Complete Your Smart ID Application Online

After submitting your application form, you must complete the final three crucial steps online to finalise your booking: uploading documents, making payment, and scheduling your visit.

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Step 10: Upload Supporting Documents (Online Upload)

• Action: Digitally upload copies of required documents, which may include your birth certificate, a certified copy of a parent/legal guardian’s ID document, and proof of residence.
• Important Note: While uploading documents here is recommended, it isn’t always mandatory. Some Home Affairs branches are not fully equipped for online document processing, meaning you might have to bring the originals with you to the office.
• Originals Required: Even if you upload them online, you must present all original documents when you go to the Home Affairs office or enabled bank branch in person.

Useful Tip: Uploading documents online can speed up your appointment. Use clear, high-quality scans or photos of your originals. If you’re a first-time applicant (youth 16 and older), your first Smart ID is free, but you will still need your birth certificate and a parent/guardian’s ID (for minors).

Step 11: Make the Online Payment

• Action: Enter your banking details into the system to initiate payment for your smart ID application fee.
• Fee: The current fee is generally R140 for replacements or exchanges, but it is free for first-time applicants who are 16 years old.
• Crucial Authorisation: Be aware that submitting payment details on eHomeAffairs only creates an instruction to your bank. You must log into your Internet Banking profile separately to formally authorise the payment before it can be processed.
• Verification: After authorisation, allow a few minutes for the bank’s system to verify the payment with Home Affairs.

Useful Tip: If you encounter issues, contact your bank for guidance on their specific government payment authorisation process. Do not leave the system until you receive confirmation that the payment has been authorised and verified.

Step 12: Book Your Appointment and Print Confirmation

• Action: The system will prompt you to book a physical appointment at your chosen location.
• Location Choice: You can choose a standard Home Affairs office (where appointments are generally not required for biometrics) or a DHA-enabled bank branch (where a booking is compulsory).
• Purpose: This final visit is essential for capturing your biometrics (digital fingerprints and photo) and your signature.

Step 13: Print Your Confirmation Letter

• Action: Click the Download Confirmation link. Save the document to your device and open it as a PDF.
• Printing: You must print this barcoded confirmation letter.
• Bring with you: Take the confirmation letter and your old green barcoded ID Book (if you have one) with you to the branch or bank on your appointment date.

Useful Tip: If you choose a DHA-enabled bank branch for your appointment, ensure you book as soon as slots open, as they are limited. Having your application completed and paid for online means your physical visit should be quick, focusing only on the biometric capture, which only takes a few minutes.

FAQs About Smart ID Application

Which specific bank branches are currently enabled to process the online Smart ID application biometrics?

The bank branches that support Smart ID and passport applications through the eHomeAffairs service are provided below, grouped by the bank.

Please note that you must be a customer of the bank whose branch you use to submit your biometrics and collect your documents.

Standard Bank 

• Standard Bank Canal Walk: Canal Walk, Cape Town, Western Cape
• Standard Bank Centurion: Centurion Lifestyle Centre, Centurion, Gauteng
• Standard Bank Jubilee Mall: Jubilee Mall, Hammanskraal, Gauteng
• Standard Bank Kathu Mall: Village Walk Shopping Centre, Kathu, Northern Cape
• Standard Bank Killarney Mall: Killarney Mall, Johannesburg, Gauteng
• Standard Bank Kingsmead: 1 Kingsmead Way, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
• Standard Bank Mitchell’s Plain Promenade: Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, Western Cape
• Standard Bank Newton Park: 1 Pickering St Newton Park, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
• Standard Bank Simmonds Street: 5 Simmonds St, Johannesburg, Gauteng

FNB 

• FNB Burgersfort: Twin City Complex, Burgersfort, Limpopo
• FNB Centurion Lifestyle Centre: Centurion Lifestyle Centre, Centurion, Gauteng
• FNB Cornubia: Cornubia Boulevard, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
• FNB Glen Shopping Centre: The Glen Shopping Centre, Glenvista, Johannesburg, South Africa
• FNB Greenpoint: Media Quarter, Cape Town, Western Cape
• FNB Lynwood: The Grove Mall, Pretoria, Gauteng
• FNB Merchant Place: 4 Merchant Place, Sandton, Gauteng

Nedbank

• Nedbank Arcadia: Nedbank Plaza, Pretoria, Gauteng
• Nedbank Constantia Kloof: 16 Constantia Boulevard, Roodepoort, Gauteng
• Nedbank Durban North: 57 Adelaide Tambo Dr, Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal
• Nedbank Nelspruit: The Crossing Shopping Centre, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
• Nedbank Rivonia: 135 Rivonia Road, Sandton, Gauteng
• Nedbank St George’s Mall: St Georges Mall, Cape Town, Western Cape

Absa

• Absa Centurion Lifestyle Centre: Centurion Lifestyle Centre, Centurion, Gauteng
• Absa Key West Krugersdorp: Key West Shopping Centre, Krugersdorp, Gauteng
• Absa Port Elizabeth: C/o Bagshaw & Govan Mbeki Avenue, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
• Absa Sandton City: C/o Rivonia Road and 5th Street, Sandton, Gauteng
• Absa Stellenbosch: C/o Bloemhof Building, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
• Absa Towers: C/o Commissioner And Troye Streets, Johannesburg, Gauteng

Discovery Bank 

Discovery Bank Head Office: 1 Discovery Place, Sandton, Gauteng

Do I need to provide photos for the Smart ID application? 

No. At DHA offices or DHA-enabled bank branches equipped with the “Live Capture” system, your photo, fingerprints, and signature (biometrics) are captured digitally during your in-person appointment.

Can I apply for a Smart ID and Passport in the same online application session?

Yes, the eHomeAffairs portal is designed to handle both services simultaneously. Once you click “Create New Application,” the system will allow you to select the documents you wish to apply for, enabling you to combine your Smart ID application with a passport application in a single online session.

If I apply online but cannot pay immediately, how long does the eHomeAffairs system keep my application saved?

The eHomeAffairs system allows you to save your application and complete it at a later stage. Your saved application remains accessible for a significant period, but it is best practice to complete the payment and booking steps as soon as possible, as appointment slots—especially at bank branches—are limited and fill up quickly.

Is there a separate cost for replacing a lost Smart ID card compared to exchanging my green ID book?

Yes. The fee for exchanging your first green barcoded ID book for a Smart ID Card is generally R140 (free for first-time applicants aged 16 and older, or citizens 60 and older). 

However, the fee for replacing a lost or stolen Smart ID Card is subject to the current DHA replacement fee structure, which may be different from the exchange fee. Always check the fee on the eHomeAffairs portal before finalising your payment.

How long will it take to get my Smart ID card after completing the online application and biometrics?

The typical turnaround time for receiving your Smart ID card after you have successfully completed the entire smart ID application process—which includes submitting the online application, making payment, and capturing your biometrics at the branch—is generally between

How do I know when my Smart ID is ready for collection? 

The Department of Home Affairs will notify you via SMS once your Smart ID card is ready for collection at the office/branch where you completed your biometrics.

What happens to my old green bar-coded ID book when I apply for and collect my new Smart ID card?

When you go to the Home Affairs office or the DHA-enabled bank branch for your appointment to capture biometrics and, later, to collect your new card:

Surrender: You are generally required to bring your old green bar-coded ID book with you.

Cancellation: Upon the successful collection and verification of your new Smart ID card, the Department of Home Affairs will take back the green bar-coded ID book to be officially cancelled in accordance with the Identification Act. This is a crucial step to eliminate the old document and prevent potential fraud.

Can I appoint someone to collect my new Smart ID Card on my behalf?

No. You must personally collect your Smart ID Card from the branch where you submitted your biometrics. This is a crucial security measure because you must present your old ID book (if applicable) and digitally verify your identity by placing your finger on a biometric reader to confirm you are the legitimate recipient.

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