Fees and Turn Around Times (United States)

Subject to changes.  Please also check the Schedule of Fees

Fees must be paid in money order or certified bank check payable to: 

• SACG (for applications submitted to any of the three Consulates General in the U.S.) 

• South African Embassy (for applications submitted to the Embassy in Washington)

** New York applicants: Effective 1 April 2008, all fees for consular transactions including mailing fees (where applicable) must be paid in money order or certified bank checks only. Cash or personal check payments are not  accepted. The  money orders and certified bank checks must be made payable to the SACG, with the exact amount as no refunds will be made.

Mailing Fee

New York Applicants: 
All applications for travel documents must be accompanied by a mailing fee of US$18.30 for US Postal Service standard overnight mail in money order or certified bank check or $16.00 for FedEx overnight.  

Pre-paid self addressed envelopes, FedEx, DHL, UPS or other courier account numbers to facilitate return of final documents are not accepted. Failure to comply will result in your application/documents to be held at our offices for pickup.

Chicago Applicants:
Please note that from 1 September 2009, the Embassy in Chicago, IL, will no longer accept mailing/postage fees from applicants in order to return documents.

Applicants must:

1) enclose a self-addressed, pre-paid courier envelope at the time of application for documents issued locally (such as temporary passports and emergency travel certificates, visas and permits) to be mailed to applicants, and

2) send a second pre-paid courier envelope if the applied for documents will be issued in Pretoria, South Africa (such as passports, birth certificates, etc.).

The applicant's name and address must be indicated as both the sender (return address) and receiver (addressee) on the prepaid courier envelope. All courier envelopes/labels must have a tracking number.

Washington Applicants:
Please note that from 1 April 2008, the Embassy in Washington DC will no longer accept mailing/postage fee from applicants in order to return documents.

Applicants must:

1) enclose a self-addressed, pre-paid courier envelope at the time of application for documents issued locally (such as temporary passports and emergency travel certificates, visas and permits) to be mailed to applicants, and

2) send a second pre-paid courier envelope if the applied for documents will be issued in Pretoria, South Africa (such as passports, birth certificates, etc.).

The applicant's name and address must be indicated as both the sender (return address) and receiver (addressee) on the prepaid courier envelope. All courier envelopes/labels must have a tracking number.

Last Revised: Tuesday, June 28, 2011