Home Affairs or Not?

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Vikki Sixx

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Hi All,
I have been away from SA for the last 5 years working abroad. I need to return to SA to renew my passport and to get a "credit card type" ID document issued (as I still have the old booklet).

Are these services still done at Home Affairs ... I have heard that some bank now offer the service too?
If at HA, is there a particular one (in JHB) that is worth going to to be quick, as I don't have much time
Any other guidance would be appreciated

Cheers for now
Vic
 
Also remember that you can only use the bank's and online if you were born in SA...

I have to go to HA as I wasn't born in SA, but have been a naturalised SA citizen for over 40 years... My ID and Passport show the same, but I cannot use the bank or online to renew, crazy!
 
R13... said:
Apply online and use the banks. Your sanity will thank you. Appointments at banks are harder to come by but well worth the wait.
Click to expand...
Cool. Can one make an appointment online as well with the banks? I want to squeeze in as many things as I can during this 2 week trip (I know ... not too much time). Also when you apply for a passport do you loose you old one while waiting or can you still keep it. I would need it to travel while waiting for the renewal
 
howardb said:
Also remember that you can only use the bank's and online if you were born in SA...

I have to go to HA as I wasn't born in SA, but have been a naturalised SA citizen for over 40 years... My ID and Passport show the same, but I cannot use the bank or online to renew, crazy!
Click to expand...
That's silly. I was born in SA so all good there (luckily for me)
 
Vikki Sixx said:
Cool. Can one make an appointment online as well with the banks? I want to squeeze in as many things as I can during this 2 week trip (I know ... not too much time). Also when you apply for a passport do you loose you old one while waiting or can you still keep it. I would need it to travel while waiting for the renewal
Click to expand...
You keep your old passport so it is valid as long as it isn't expired.
 
Vikki Sixx said:
I want to squeeze in as many things as I can during this 2 week trip (I know ... not too much time).
Click to expand...
You should open up a bank account with one of the "big four" banks otherwise you cannot renew your passport or apply for an ID card using their channels.

Luckily you can open bank accounts online nowadays ... but how will you submit a proof of residence for SA (which they may require due to FICA laws in order to activate the account) if you have been away for many years?
 
D said:
You should open up a bank account with one of the "big four" banks otherwise you cannot renew your passport or apply for an ID card using their channels.

Luckily you can open bank accounts online nowadays ... but how will you submit a proof of residence for SA (which they may require due to FICA laws in order to activate the account) if you have been away for many years?
Click to expand...
An affidavit is acceptable
 
howardb said:
Also remember that you can only use the bank's and online if you were born in SA...

I have to go to HA as I wasn't born in SA, but have been a naturalised SA citizen for over 40 years... My ID and Passport show the same, but I cannot use the bank or online to renew, crazy!
Click to expand...
Yip. FIL had the same issue. He was born in Zambia.

Mother-in-law asked me to help them secure an online booking and she got annoyed when his booking kept throwing out an error...

To the OP, do it via the banks as has been suggested. It's so easy.
 
Anyone really struggling with the ehome affairs portal ? Like it’s an absolute mess to just get through the process
 
MightyQuin said:
Quick question: why do you need to come back home to renew your passport?
Click to expand...
I don't. I can do it here in the UK but it takes really long nowadays (about 8 months) and by that time it will have expired. I have not been able to travel but can now so thought I would use the time while in SA to do this
 
now05ster said:
Yip. FIL had the same issue. He was born in Zambia.

Mother-in-law asked me to help them secure an online booking and she got annoyed when his booking kept throwing out an error...

To the OP, do it via the banks as has been suggested. It's so easy.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I still have an account with Nedbank but it has become dormant due to non-use. Will see how to re-kindle it
 
Vikki Sixx said:
Cool. Can one make an appointment online as well with the banks? I want to squeeze in as many things as I can during this 2 week trip (I know ... not too much time). Also when you apply for a passport do you loose you old one while waiting or can you still keep it. I would need it to travel while waiting for the renewal
Click to expand...
Try to make the appointment now, it takes at minimum 21 working days after the appointment for it to be ready.
 
Another quick few questions:
1. My wife and I both have to do it ... assume we both need to have bank accounts separately and all documents separately - correct? Or could I collect at my bank on her behalf?
2. Would we still need to go into HA for the bio metrics or anything else or is this 100% done with the banks now?

Thanks
 
Vikki Sixx said:
1. My wife and I both have to do it ... assume we both need to have bank accounts separately and all documents separately - correct? Or could I collect at my bank on her behalf?
Click to expand...

My wife and I went together to my bank to renew our passports, she doesn't have an account there and it wasn't a problem. ABSA. But that's just the bank side of it, the Home Affairs thing is separate. You need to apply separately and you won't be able to collect for her. I tried to collect for my wife but nope.
 
Have a look at the ehomeaffairs thread, i recently got my passport from an FNB bank and although it took long to apply for, the whole process was simple
 
Why don't you do it via the embassy? Are you anyway coming back to SA regardless if you renew it here or not?
 
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