Big update for getting your Smart ID and passport at bank branches in South Africa

More bank branches in South Africa are set to offer Smart ID and passport services soon, but specific details still need to be ironed out between the banks and the government.

Since its launch in 2016, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has allowed its staff to work in bank branches across South Africa to facilitate smart ID card and passport applications and renewals.

Several banks, including FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Absa, Discovery Bank, and Investec, allow South Africans to apply for and renew their Smart IDs and passports nationwide.

The Banking Association South Africa (BASA) said it remains committed to working with the DHA to extend the rollout of Home Affairs services across bank branches.

BASA said that the participating banks will supply most of the technology needed to support the service.

That said, banks will still rely on DHA infrastructure to request that the department issue ID cards and passports.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between participating banks and the DHA states that the department’s staff will be seconded to participating bank branches.

To expand the services, BASA said that the MOU needs to be changed into an agreement to transfer the responsibility for staffing to participating banks, releasing needed capacity back to the DHA.

“While there have been ongoing engagements between BASA and the DHA, the agreement has yet to be finalised,” said BASA.

“We remain available to the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Leon Schreiber, to resolve the outstanding matters and assist him in meeting the targets DHA has for the rollout of the services.” 

Big expansion plans

Outside of the BASA’s announcement, the DHA has announced several other initiatives to expand the service.

The department’s Strategic Plan for 2030 sets ambitious targets for the rollout of expanded services, including 1,000 bank branches equipped with DHA’s live capture technology by 2027/28.

This includes 100 new branches within 2025/26, a massive expansion from the current 30 branches that offer the service.

It hopes to add 40 bank branches between October and December 2025 and 60 branches between January and March 2026.

The expansion is premised on the rollout of a new live capture system model, which the department hopes will accelerate the adoption of Smart IDs in the country.

Speaking to MyBroadband, Schreiber also noted that the DHA’s services will be expanded from physical branches to banking apps.

The Minister stated that the department’s goal is to enable its services virtually, including through banking apps, which should ensure access to services at all times.

“This is all part of the same process, as integrating Home Affairs services onto banking platforms in branches is the logical precursor to delivering those same services online and on apps,” said Schreiber.

Schreiber added that the agreement would allow banks to offer smart ID and passport services via their banking apps.

It is unclear whether these services would be available to digital banks that don’t have branches that allow for the live capture process.

South Africa currently has three digital banks: Bank Zero, TymeBank, and Discovery Bank. Old Mutual’s OM Bank is set to join later this year.

Discovery has a single branch at its headquarters in Sandton, which has the technology to offer Home Affairs services.

Bank Zero and TymeBank currently do not offer the service despite having over 11 million clients.

Until the updates go live, South Africans can apply for or renew their passport and smart IDs at the following bank branches: