South Africans, International Visitors Take Note: Defining Dates in Your Dealings with Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is now so far ahead of schedule on its reform journey that its ambitions extend well beyond what seemed possible in July 2024, when the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed and Dr Leon Schreiber took the reins at the department.

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In his keynote address on the vision for the future of government at Constitution Hill on 1 October 2026, the Minister outlined how the Department intends to finish the work already underway, as well as ground-breaking new priorities for 2027 and beyond.

Here are several important dates that citizens and international travellers need to have on their radar.

31 March 2027 – Production of the Green ID Book for South African citizens will end.

In the run op to this date, the Department will enable the remaining cohort of naturalised citizens, permanent residents and South African citizens abroad, to obtain Smart IDs.

31 March 2027 to 31 March 2028 – During this period the 14.7 million South African citizens and permanent residents who still hold only a Green ID book can switch to the Smart ID.

31 March 2028 – The Green ID book will officially cease to be recognised as a valid form of identification in terms of section 25(1)(b) of the Identification Act.

Early 2027 – Following the current accelerated expansion of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), additional visa categories, including study visas and work visas, will be added into the ETA.

2027 – The Department plans to automate the birth, marriage and death registration process.

Over the remainder of the current term, DHA will automate the application process for all physical documents – including birth, marriage and death certificates – with the aim of making all physical Home Affairs documents available at over 1,000 bank branches across South Africa.

2028/’29 financial year – The Department plans rolling out a historic campaign to document every undocumented South African citizen.

End of current administration’s term in 2029 – The target is to have every South African citizen formally documented for the first time in the country’s history.

Fast approaching – Soon South Africans will have 2 new versions of a valid ID: the secure Smart ID card and smartphone-based Digital ID.

Just like millions of South Africans today carry a digital banking card on their smartphone alongside the physical one in their wallet, so too will the Digital ID and the Smart ID card complement each other.

In the not-too-distant future – Once the ETA is fully rolled out, the Border Management Authority (BMA) will introduce automated gates and gantries at all ports of entry, using biometric verification and eliminating reliance on manual passport stamping.

ePassports in the pipeline – Once passport applications at hundreds of bank branches have been fully automated, a proposal for a new ePassport for South Africans will be put before Cabinet.

This ePassport will introduce a secure chip containing the traveller’s biometrics, making the new South African Passport readable by electronic gates at airports around the world.

https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/statements-speeches/2095-keynote-address-by-the-minister-of-home-affairs-dr-leon-schreiber-at-the-home-affairs-quantum-leap-a-vision-for-the-future-of-government-at-constitution-hill

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Please select the visa category you require assistance with:(Required)

RNW - What visa do you currently hold?(Required)

How old is the child?(Required)

Does the child's parent/ guardian have valid status within South Africa?(Required)

What is your marital status?(Required)

What is the status of your spouse?(Required)

What is the number of foreign nationals you are looking to employ?(Required)

CS - Do you currently have a formal offer of employment from a registered South African company?(Required)

CS - What is your highest level of Education?(Required)

CS - What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

CS - How many years of work experience do you have?(Required)

CS - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

Please provide the name of the trusted employer.(Required)

CS - In which country did you complete your highest qualification(Required)

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GWV - What is your expected annual income for the position you have been offered?(Required)

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GWV - Is your prospective employer a member of the Trusted Employer Scheme?(Required)

* Trusted Employers who have received this status form the DHA often meet the following criteria: - Have invested more than R100 million into the South African Economy - Employ more than 150 staff

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RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

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RV - Are you currently residing in South Africa?(Required)

RV - Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RWV - Are you currently employed by a foreign entity outside of South Africa?(Required)

RWV - Do you earn an annual salary exceeding R650,000? (UDS $37,000 / EUR 33,000)(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least R1.8 million?(Required)

RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

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PR_RV - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

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PR_RPV - Do you receive an irrevocable income of at least R37,000 per month (Rental income, dividends, interest, pension, ect )(Required)

PR_RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least ZAR 1,8 million(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is your relationship to a South African citizen/ Permanent Resident?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - Have you maintained your relationship with your South African partner/ South African PR holder?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - How long have you resided in South Africa?(Required)

RV - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

PR_VV11(6) - What is the duration of your relationship?(Required)

Do you have an offer of employment from a South African employer?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a monthly irrevocable income of at least R37,000?(Required)

RPV - Do you have a net worth of at least R2.4 million?(Required)

RPV - Do you intend on working part time or conducting business while in South Africa?(Required)

RPV - Do you have accompanying family members?(Required)

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PR - Do you have direct family members that are South African Citizens or Permanent Residence holders?(Required)

BV - Do you intend to establish or invest in a business in South Africa?(Required)

What type of business do you intend to operate or invest in?(Required)

BV - Are you able to invest a minimum of R5 million into the South African economy?(Required)

GWV - Total Points(Required)

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Important Notice: Applications are accepted only from the countries listed below.

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South Africans, International Visitors Take Note: Defining Dates in Your Dealings with Home Affairs

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