South Africa: Smart ID Service Expanded to Permanent Residents and Naturalized Citizens

The Minister of Home Affairs has announced that, effective May 12, 2025, eligible permanent residents and naturalized citizens (individuals who have been granted South African citizenship) may obtain a Smart ID, which serves as a form of identification for accessing government, banking, and other citizen-related services. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will initially process applications from permanent residents originating from visa-exempt countries and expand to those from visa-required countries at a later date. Currently, these affected individuals cannot access the e-Home Affairs portal to book biometric appointments and are only issued the older green barcoded ID book. This initiative is part of DHA’s broader effort to phase out the green ID book and advance its digital transformation goals.