Long queues, paperwork and crowded Home Affairs offices may eventually become a thing of the past in South Africa.
The Department of Home Affairs is accelerating a major digital transformation project that aims to move key services online, including Smart ID and passport applications.
The changes form part of a broader modernisation drive designed to improve service delivery, strengthen security and make government services easier to access.
Home Affairs expanding digital services
Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, said the department has spent the past two years working on reforms under a programme called “Home Affairs @ home”, which aims to reduce dependence on physical offices and paper-based systems by introducing digital and biometric technology.
According to the department, one of the biggest successes so far has been the rapid expansion of Smart ID services through banks.
Home Affairs recently expanded Smart ID replacement services to 167 bank branches nationwide through a new partnership model with banks.
The previous system only reached 30 branches over an entire decade.
The department said that more than 127 000 South Africans have already used the upgraded digital service, with some applications now taking as little as five minutes to complete.
Home Affairs also said it plans to expand the service to 750 bank branches by the end of 2026, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Online passport and first-time ID applications planned
The next phase of the digital rollout could be even more significant. Home Affairs plans to expand its digital platform to include first-time ID applications, passport applications and even doorstep delivery of documents.
The department has also introduced an upgraded online booking system after reports that appointment slots on the old platform were being blocked and sold illegally.
According to Schreiber, the new system has been secured against abuse and should operate more smoothly within the coming weeks.
South Africa’s Digital ID system is on the way
Home Affairs is also developing a Digital Identity system that could eventually allow South Africans to securely access official documents directly from their smartphones.
Draft regulations for the new system have already been published for public comment.
The Digital ID platform is expected to allow remote identity verification while making it easier for citizens to access government services online.
The department’s digital push is also aimed at improving national security.
Schreiber described the Green ID book as one of the most heavily defrauded documents on the continent, contributing to identity theft and illegal immigration.
By increasing Smart ID adoption, Home Affairs hopes to gradually phase out the older document completely.
