Fastest way to new Smart ID card in your pocket

It’s good news for Smart ID card adoption in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has just announced that the new digital partnership with South Africa’s banks has served 1 002 773 people.

That’s a pretty impressive milestone since the first walk-in branch opened for business in just March 2026. Moreover, the digital service now runs at 669 bank branches, with the DHA counting 873 service points, including its own desks.

FASTEST WAY TO SMART ID CARD

Nevertheless, the DHA can’t waste too much time patting themselves on the back. Because, despite the good start, it needs to ramp those figures up to 850 000 swaps every month if it hopes to make its own March 2028 deadline. Currently, it is only averaging around 125 000 a month through the digital bank partnership.

A reminder that the DHA has confirmed it will stop making green ID booklets on 31 March 2027. And they will cease to be accepted as valid ID from 31 March 2028. At last count, four banks have branches active on the system, with one far out in front:

• Capitec: 319
• Standard Bank: 157
• FNB: 140
• Absa: 30

While other banks have signed on, they’re yet to go live. Plus, the DHA says it is targeting 750 branches for the Smart ID card by the end of the year.

HOW TO GET A NEW SMART ID CARD QUICK

We recommend making the upgrade from green ID book to Smart ID card sooner rather than later before the rush picks up:

• Confirm the bank branch you wish to visit. Check it’s on Home Affairs’ official list of live bank branches HERE.
• You no longer need a pre-booking. Go in person and simply walk-in with your green ID book, or a SAPS case number, in the case of a lost or stolen ID.
• Complete biometrics. Fingerprints and a digital photo.
• Pay only the official fee of R140. People aged 60 and over pay nothing.
• Keep your reference just in case and await an SMS from the bank when the card is ready, usually within two to three weeks.
• Simply collect and check the details. Make sure your name, ID number and photo are correct before leaving.

Note that this service does not apply to first-time Smart ID applicants who are 16 or under! If you have no form of existing identification, you must still go through the entire DHA rigmarole to get onto the system.

WHAT’S COMING NEXT?

Besides the Smart ID card upgrade, soon passports, first-time Smart IDs for under 16s and doorstep delivery are expected to rollout at bank branches, too. Beyond that, the long-awaited Digital ID on your smartphone will come next. As mentioned, if you’re one of the 14-million late adopters, don’t wait too long. With 855 000 applications needed in and out the door every month, that smooth system may start to come under pressure.

But what do you think? Do you need to upgrade to a new Smart ID card? If you’ve done so recently, how was the bank branch experience? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …