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 with supporting documents, and b) a copy of the completed set.

Checklist of Documents to be Submitted:

• DHA-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.
• DHA-529 Determination of citizenship. This form must be completed by all applicants
• Sample Passport Application Form for Minors 
• Sample Passport Application Form for Adults
• DHA-9 form – Full set of fingerprints on DHA-9 form.This form is not downloadable. Please send a self-addressed stamped 9 x 12″ envelope with a request for DHA-9 to receive this form by mail. Or, you can pick up this form from our office between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. This form must be submitted by applicants 16 years old and above. Fingerprints can be taken at the South African Consulate/Embassy or at the nearest police station, fingerprints taking centers or notary public office. Electronic fingerprints on police cards are not accepted.
• See sample DHA-9 form.
• Divorce decree. To be submitted by all divorced applicants;
• Notarized Marriage Certificate. To be submitted by married applicants irrespective of whether they will or will not change their surname;
• Written Request to Change “Surname”. To be submitted by married female applicants who would like:
  • 1) to retain their maiden surnames, or
  • 2) wish to use double–barrel surnames;
• Notarized Copy of South African Passport
• Notarized Copy of South African Identity Book or Birth certificate;
• Notarized Copy of Retention/Exemption Letter, for those who have 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 your mouth is closed and 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.
• Attention New York Applicants: The South African Consulate General in New York will no longer accept prepaid envelope/labels from FedEx and UPS with immediate effect. Applicants are welcome to enclose only USPS self-addressed, pre-paid courier envelope for this office to facilitate return services.
• Fees and processing time
• Where to submit your application