Home Affairs hikes passport and travel document fees

[mylesillidge]

Huge price hike for South African passports

Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced new fee amendments for South African passports and travel documents in terms of section 4(1)(e) of the South African Passports and Travel Documents Act, 1994.

The amended fees, published in the Government Gazette No. 47256 on 6 October 2022, come into operation on 1 November 2022 and will see prices hiked by 50 to 300%.

 

[gregmcc]

Jeez, some serious hikes there.

• Adult passport R1 200 for 32 pages (current fee R400);
• Child passport R1 200 (current fee R400).

WTF?! Good thing I just got a new passport.

 

[LazyLion]

Just got my new passport last week thankfully....
although I had to fly to Durban to get the USA visa....

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

• Adult passport R1 200 for 32 pages (current fee R400);
• Child passport R1 200 (current fee R400).

"for a South African passport or travel document made outside of the Republic"

they probably think if you're out there earning Euros/Dollars you can pay more

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

if the service suddenly became more efficient a bit of a hike might be justified

new passport some years back in Latvia + expedited processing fee was around 60 EUR ... but you got the new passport within 3 days or less and the application could be submitted in about 30min

if Home Affairs can match that I'll pay more ... highly unlikely of course

 

[gregmcc]

if Home Affairs can match that I'll pay more ... highly unlikely of course

I would also happily pay more with a decent service. When I got a new passport at the SA high commision in the UK I had to jump through so many hoops. Took 5 months in total. And now they want a 300% hike for their shitty service. **** em!

 

[Bigjay84]

Looters got to raise cash from somewhere, might as well be those fleeing the country

 

[Drifter]

At least it's valid for 10 years. We just received our Canada visitors visas after 12 weeks. They asked for our passports and reckon another two weeks before we can collect. Even though it's a 10 year visa, it will expire when our passports expire in 2026. We then have to go through the whole chit show again for new visas. It's a royal fahrk up.

 

[Drifter]

Just got my new passport last week thankfully....
although I had to fly to Durban to get the USA visa....

How did you manage to get an interview slot? They froze all interviews till Feb next year.

 

[LazyLion]

How did you manage to get an interview slot? They froze all interviews till Feb next year.

There was a slot open in Durban, so I grabbed it, booked a flight and flew down there.
They didn't even ask me why I was at a different branch.
Just had my passport couriered back to Joburg.
Picked up my passport at the DHL offices in Randburg two days later.
There were other people there who had done the same thing.
Now I can go to DisneyWorld in December, Baby!

 

[surface]

I am happy to pay any fees to DHA with condition that they process more than 1 document per day. Pretty sure between all DHA offices, they can manage this if they put their heads together.

 

[LazyLion]

I am happy to pay any fees to DHA with condition that they process more than 1 document per day. Pretty sure between all DHA offices, they can manage this if they put their heads together.

Now you're pushing it....

 

[surface]

At least it's valid for 10 years. We just received our Canada visitors visas after 12 weeks. They asked for our passports and reckon another two weeks before we can collect. Even though it's a 10 year visa, it will expire when our passports expire in 2026. We then have to go through the whole chit show again for new visas. It's a royal fahrk up.

so 10 years validity for passport and 10 years for visa . Which one is a fahrk up ? Both ?

 

[Drifter]

There was a slot open in Durban, so I grabbed it, booked a flight and flew down there.
They didn't even ask me why I was at a different branch.
Just had my passport couriered back to Joburg.
Picked up my passport at the DHL offices in Randburg two days later.
There were other people there who had done the same thing.
Now I can go to DisneyWorld in December, Baby!

Lucky you. We cant get a slot. Only need a transit visa, but it the same price as a full visa.

 

[Drifter]

so 10 years validity for passport and 10 years for visa . Which one is a fahrk up ? Both ?

THw whole visa process. You also cant renew your passport if it has not expired. If you report your passport stolen, they hit you with a fine. It is what it is I guess.

 

[surface]

DHA has nearly stopped working due to covid excuse (as if they needed any). Talked to a colleague and he has got 25 people waiting for visa renewals. Current timeline is now 8-10 months to process dependent visas. More for work visa renewals. PR permit - indefinite.

 

[Drifter]

WHAT???? 8-10 months? Is this for US visa?

 

[surface]

THw whole visa process. You also cant renew your passport if it has not expired. If you report your passport stolen, they hit you with a fine. It is what it is I guess.

You sure about this ? This sounds unbelievable .

 

[surface]

WHAT???? 8-10 months? Is this for US visa?

No man. Topic is DHA so talking about SA visas. Although I am sure US visa is taking triple time than usual. Many many years ago, we got it within a month.

 

[deweyzeph]

If you can't afford R600 for a passport (which by world standards is pretty damn cheap) then you really can't afford to travel.