For New York applicants only:  At least six (6) months after lodging your application, you may check the list of passports ready for release.  If your name appears on the list, forward your current passport to the South African Consulate General in New York for cancellation. Cancelled passport with valid visa will be returned to the applicant together with the new passport.

Regular South African Passports

Regular South African passports are issued to South African applicants who are 16 years old and older. They are valid for 10 years and are not renewable.  When South African passports expire, new passport applications will have to be filed.

Requirements

Please ensure that you submit two sets of the application:  a) the original application forms and supporting documents, and b) a copy of the complete set.

  • BI 73 – Passport Application form; with signature and left thumb print.  Section B is required to be signed and duly stamped by the Police Station or Notary Public to confirm certification.
    Sample BI-73 Passport Application Form for Minors
    Sample BI-73 Passport Application Form for Adults

  • BI 9 form – Full set of fingerprints on BI-9 form. This form must be submitted by applicants 16 years old and above. Fingerprints can be taken at the nearest police station, fingerprints taking centers or a notary public office. Electronic fingerprints on police cards are not accepted. See sample BI-9 form. This form is not downloadable. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope with a request for BI-9 to receive this form.

  • BI 529 – Determination of citizenship.  This form must be completed by applicants who are 16 years old and above; See sample BI-529 form

  • Divorce decree.  To be submitted by divorced female applicants who wish to assume new surnames;

  • Notarized Marriage Certificate.  To be submitted by married women irrespective of whether the they will or will not change their surname;

  • Written Request to Change "Surname".  To be submitted by recently married female applicants who would like:

    • 1) their surnames to be changed accordingly,

    • 2) to retain their maiden surnames, or

    • 3) wish to use double–barrel surnames;

  • Notarized Copy of South African Identity Book or Birth certificate;

  • Exemption Certificate to Travel on a Foreign Passport.  To be submitted by applicants with dual citizenship;

  • Notarized certificate of Naturalization. To be submitted by applicants who are naturalized South Africans.

  • Loss of Passport Report and Police Report for Loss of Passport.  To be submitted by applicants who lost their passports and are applying for a new passport;

  • Four (4) passport size photos (2" x 2")  Please note that color photos which comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for passports photo images are required for South African passport applications. The holder's signature (persons 16 years old and above) is laser engraved into the passport. To ensure good quality scanned signature for laser engraving into the passport, the signature in the signature box on the passport application form should be in the middle of the box and must not touch the sides of the box. A medium point ballpoint pen should be used to sign the box. Please ensure that your teeth are not showing on the photo. Passport applications in which the photo and signature images do not meet quality standards will be rejected causing delays in the issuance of passports.

  • Fees and processing time

  • Where to submit your application

 

Last Revised: Tuesday, March 02, 2010