The Department of Home Affairs is custodian, protector and verifier of the identity and status of citizens and other persons resident in South Africa. This makes it possible for people to realize their rights and access benefits and opportunities in both the public and private domains.
The Department controls, regulates and facilitates immigration and the movement of persons through ports of entry. It also provides civic and immigration services at foreign missions; and determines the status of asylum seekers and refugees in accordance with international obligations.
This website is a joint project of the Embassy in Washington, DC and the Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York.
New smart ID card to be introduced this year
9 May 2013
Pretoria – Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor says the long-awaited smart Identity Document (ID) card will be rolled out in the second quarter of this current financial year.
The smart IDs will first be issued to all first-time ID and re-issue applicants. This is part of the process of moving towards a “paperless environment” in the department. “It is a contactless card containing a microchip embedded with biometric security features. It has a life span of at least 10 years,” said Pandor. The new smart ID card will have a microchip, the specifications for which cannot be disclosed for security reasons, which will house the necessary biometric data unique to every individual. The information on the chip will be laser-engraved to prevent tampering. The smart cards aim to cut down on the fraudulent use of fake or stolen IDs, as the department says the new cards will be almost impossible to forge. Read more.
Issuing of abridged birth certificates to end in March 2013
Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs will from 4 March 2013 stop issuing abridged birth certificates and will only issue unabridged birth certificates to parents of new born babies.
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Thursday, 31 January 2013, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor said the unabridged birth certificates will be issued on the spot and at no cost will contain the details of both parents. Minister Pandor said this was part of the department's move towards a paperless environment as well as to curb fraud. Read more.
South African Tourism
Visit the newly designed SATOUR website where you can dive deeper into all the irresistible experiences our country offers. Find out what to do, where to go, and be the first to get access to spectacular deals from preferred travel partners.
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National Population Registration Campaign
Home Affairs is intensifying its public outreach programme to ensure that each and every citizen, young and old, has been registered on the National Population Register and has the right document at a specified time of their lives.
Independent Electoral Commission
Follow the link to find out if you are registered to vote and where your voting station is. You will need to enter your ID number.