South Africans who wish to apply for a passport must know the
type of passport they need to apply.
This is because the Home Affairs
issues different kinds of passports and it is important that they apply
for the right one.
Regular Passport
If a
South African has to work abroad or desires to take a vacation overseas,
he can file for a regular passport. A regular passport is issued to
people who are sixteen years or older and has a validity period of ten
years. Unlike other passports, South African passports are not
renewable. So if the passport becomes expired, an applicant must submit a
new application requesting for a new passport.
In order to apply
for a regular passport, one must submit a completed DHA-73 form. Submit
an original and a copy of their identity document along with two
coloured photographs meeting the required standard specifications. If a
South African lives abroad and wishes to apply for a passport, they must
submit the form DHA-529 with the rest of the documents to determine the
citizenship of the applicant.
Lastly, if a passport is stolen or
gets lost, an applicant must also submit the form DHA-335 together with a
confirmation stating the report of the lost passport. For frequent
flyers, they can apply for the maxi passport. It is similar to the
regular passport; the only difference is that it has 48 pages instead of
32 pages and is ideal for multiple entries and visas.
Child Passport
For
children who are fifteen years old or below, they can apply for a child
passport. However, instead of ten years, its validity is only up to
five years. Similar to the regular passport, it is not renewable and
submission of new application is required to get a new child passport.
To apply for a child passport, submit the completed DHA-73 form together
with the original and a copy of the birth certificate. Two coloured
photographs with the correct specifications must be included. It is
important that both parents and the child be present when submitting the
application. In cases wherein a parent is deceased, an original and a
copy of death certificate will serve as proof.
Emergency Travel Certificates
For
Expats whose passports are about to expire and need to go back due to
emergency reasons such as sickness, death or accidents, they can apply
for emergency travel certificates. Its maximum validity is up to nine
months only depending on the applicant's situation. To apply for a
travel certificate, one must submit a duly completed DHA-73 form
together with a written request and proof of emergency cause, two
coloured photographs with correct specifications, original and copy of
identity document.
Bring a copy of the old passport or anything that
will serve as proof of their citizenship.
Following the set
guidelines would make the application for passport(s) faster and more
efficient; however, it is still best to check the official website to
ensure that all travel requirements and guidelines are updated.
SA Fast Track provides SA passport renewal services for South Africans around the world. For more information on how to renew South African passport and other related services, please visit SA Fast Track Official website.
