You can now apply for your ID or passport online through Home Affairs e-channel. This process allows you to complete the process online. Home Affairs is currently in talks with South Africa’s major four banks to offer passport and Smart ID applications and collections.
According to the Standard Bank call centre (contacted on 16 August), there is an age restriction to applications. Only people between the ages of 25 and 40 years can apply for their Smart IDs and Passports at Standard Bank branches.
There’s currently a bit of confusion around whether you need to be a Standard Bank customer to apply. The call centre agent stated: “It is not only Standard Bank customers. However, for you to get one, you will need to log onto the Home Affairs website and apply there. Once you are done, log onto your Standard Bank internet banking and make the payment and that is when you can go to the branch.”
However, Thabo Mokgola from the Department of Home Affairs, said that the service is only offered to Standard Bank customers, within the age restrictions.
Furthermore, Justmoney received conflicting information around which Standard Bank branches offer this service. When Justmoney contacted Mokgola, Justmoney was informed that the service is offered at the Standard Bank Canal Walk Century City branch in the Western Cape, as well as the Rosebank and Centurion branches in Gauteng.
However, when speaking to the call centre agent, Justmoney was told that the branches that offer this service are: Century City branch in Cape Town, and Simmonds Street, Centurion and Killarney branches in Johannesburg.
Apply online
Despite the conflicting reports on the finer details of which branches are participating in this pilot, the overall process appears to be easier than traditional applications made in a Home Affairs office.
Justmoney registered on the Home Affairs e-portal. The application process appears to be quite secure with several steps needed to access your profile to enable you to apply. The application form can then be completed online.
The application form clearly marks the sections of the form that need to be completed, helping you to make sure you do not miss any necessary information.
The online application process does not limit you to collecting your ID or passport at only Standard Bank and other banks. When Justmoney viewed the application form, it offered a list of Home Affairs offices, allowing you to select the office you would like to collect your Smart ID or passport from.
If you choose to do the entire process through your bank, you are required to have online banking.
Mokgola said that Home Affairs is in talks with all major banks to roll out this process nationally, with an announcement likely to be made soon.
