{"id":21556,"date":"2020-05-28T08:55:48","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T08:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gometa.co.za\/info\/?page_id=21556"},"modified":"2020-05-28T08:55:48","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T08:55:48","slug":"can-you-renew-your-drivers-license-without-an-appointment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/can-you-renew-your-drivers-license-without-an-appointment\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you renew your drivers license without an appointment?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"advads-atf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-2377605822\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads atf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"8381596201\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div><p>As with most interactions with the South African government, renewing your driver\u2019s licence can be a bit of nightmare if you\u2019re going in blind, so we\u2019ve had the bad experiences for you and have tried to create a concise guide to doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>While we may be exaggerating in calling this process a nightmare, many people rely on their licence to keep their jobs, and delays in the process can be scary to think about.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>When we went through this process recently it took almost six months to get our new licence. Granted this occurred during the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/305082\/major-drivers-licence-backlog-200000-and-counting-what-you-need-to-know\/\">massive licence backlog problem<\/a>, but it is illustrative of a worse case scenario you may also experience.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This guide is accurate at the time of writing.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: Book an appointment online<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>While it was expected to go and line up for hours at a licence department, there is now an option to book online instead and simply show up at the appropriate time.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Go to the governmental website&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/online.natis.gov.za\/#\/\">online.natis.gov.za<\/a>, click on \u201cBOOK NOW FOR DL CARD RENEWAL\u201d and enter your personal information. After this you will be presented with a list of local licencing departments which have open appointments available. Choose one of these departments and a time slot, and you will be able to book.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This is a best case scenario, however, as the site is unreliable at best. Many times the website will not have any appointments open but reloading the page or checking back in a few hours will show completely different results.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>On top of that, you may make a booking that is not recognised. We recently used this site to create an appoint at a certain time, only to show up to find the licencing department closed.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Please note that this may not be available in your province. It works in Gauteng at the time of writing, however.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 2: Gather the appropriate documents &amp; money<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>After creating an appointment online you will be instructed to bring the following documents with you:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>ID book<\/li><li>A photocopy of the ID book<\/li><li>Two ID photos<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>In addition to this the application fee must be paid&nbsp;<strong>in cash<\/strong>. Right now this is R228 but the exact amount will be stated in the appointment confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>As for the ID photos it is never stated if they need to be in colour or black and white. We suggest taking two of each to be as prepared as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3: Get an eyesight test (optional)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>During the renewal process at the department you will issue an eye test to ensure that you are still fit to drive. Alternatively you can get this test done beforehand by an optometrist who will then issue a certificate you can give to the department instead.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We recommend doing this as failing your eye test during the appointment will cause the renewal process to end at which time you will need to start all over again. As South African diver\u2019s licences are valid for five years, it\u2019s very likely that most people\u2019s eyesight has deteriorated or at least weakened over that time.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>How much this will cost depends on where you go. Some people we\u2019ve spoken to tell us that their local optometrist does the test for free, while others charge R50 or R99.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The certificate you will be awarded on successful completion is purple and white, and we\u2019ve provided an example down below so you can make sure you have the correct form. Please note that we\u2019ve had to alter the example to prevent duplication.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 4: Appear for your appointment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>The confirmation received after making an online booking recommends that you appear for your booking an hour before the allotted time.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Once there locate the appropriate building for licence renewals and wait for your turn. You will need to confirm your booking \u2013 usually by way of presenting your name or ID number \u2013&nbsp; at which point you will wait in line with other people doing also renewing their licences.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Once you sit down with a department employee they will check over all your documents and begin the process. The eye test will be administered here if you have not done one beforehand as outlined in Step 3.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>If everything is successful you will be given a form confirming that you have complete the process. This form is incredibly important as it both acts as a pseudo extension to the legality of your driver\u2019s licence, and it will need to be presented when collecting your new licence.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This form extends the validity of your licence for three months past what is printed on that licence. You will need to carry this form with you when you drive, and present it with your licence if you need to prove to that you are driving legally.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We highly recommend making certified copies of this form in case you lose it or it goes missing.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 5: Check on the status of your renewal (optional)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>You will likely hear very little from the South African government about your licence after you have completed the previous steps.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve been told that an SMS will be sent to your provided mobile number when the licence is ready to be collected, but these sometimes do not go out.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Thankfully there is a way to manually check it yourself.\u00a0SMS your ID number to\u00a0<strong>33214<\/strong>, wait a few minutes, and you will receive a message back telling you about the status of your new licence. Please note that this service is not free and you will be charged for each SMS. Unfortunately these messages can sometimes be vague and unhelpful<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 6: Collect your new licence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re sure that your licence is ready to be collected, simply take the form mentioned at the end of Step 4 and proceed to the licencing department where you originally had the appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>You will need to wait in line for collection but there is, thankfully, a way for another person to collect it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The aforementioned form has an&nbsp;affidavit printed on the back which you can fill out. This grants another person the ability to collect your new licence on your behalf. This is particularly useful if problems in Step 1 forced you to make an appointment at a department that is far from your home or work.<\/p><div class=\"advads-content\" id=\"advads-1000330283\"><div style=\"width: 300px; padding: 20px; margin: 0 auto; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">\r\n    <p style=\"font-size: 16px; margin: 0 0 10px;\">Need Information or Confused about Something ? <\/p>\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/onlineapplications.co.za\/ask\/\" style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #007BFF; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; transition: background-color 0.3s;\">Ask a Question<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"advads-btf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-4183196574\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads btf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"5513273173\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"advads-cpc\" id=\"advads-2204036645\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Sponsored Guide<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Complete Guide to NSFAS Online Loan Application for South African Students (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are a South African student looking to pursue higher education but are facing financial difficulties, the <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is one of the most accessible funding options available. NSFAS provides financial aid in the form of <strong>bursaries and loans<\/strong> to qualifying students at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa.<\/p>\n<p>This guide will walk you through <strong>everything you need to know about the NSFAS loan application process<\/strong>, from eligibility requirements to application steps and frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udccc What is NSFAS?<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is a government-funded financial aid scheme aimed at helping students from low- and middle-income households to access tertiary education without the burden of upfront fees.<\/p>\n<p>NSFAS <strong>offers both bursaries and income-contingent loans<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bursaries<\/strong>: For eligible students who meet academic and household income criteria (especially for TVET and university students).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loans<\/strong>: For students who do not meet all bursary criteria or who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications not funded under bursary schemes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\u2705 Who Qualifies for an NSFAS Loan?<\/h2>\n<p>To qualify for an NSFAS loan (especially for postgraduate students or programs not funded under the bursary system), you must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be a <strong>South African citizen<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>financially needy<\/strong>, with a household income of <strong>less than R350,000 per year<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Have a <strong>valid South African ID<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>enrolled or accepted<\/strong> to study at a <strong>public university or TVET college<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Not be funded through another bursary program that covers all expenses.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain satisfactory <strong>academic progress<\/strong> (returning students).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcda Courses Funded by NSFAS<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS primarily funds <strong>undergraduate qualifications<\/strong>, but certain <strong>postgraduate programs (e.g., PGCE, postgraduate diplomas in education, and professional courses like LLB)<\/strong> may be considered under the <strong>NSFAS loan scheme<\/strong>, not bursaries.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re studying:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Undergraduate degree or diploma<\/strong>: You are likely eligible for a full NSFAS bursary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postgraduate study<\/strong>: You may qualify for a loan, depending on the course and funding availability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcc4 Required Documents for NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>When applying, make sure you have the following documents scanned and ready:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart Card<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parent(s) or guardian(s) ID documents<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of income<\/strong> (latest payslips, UIF, or affidavit if unemployed).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consent Form<\/strong> signed by your parent(s)\/guardian(s) to allow NSFAS to verify income.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of registration or acceptance at a public institution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Academic transcripts<\/strong> (for continuing or postgraduate students).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f How to Apply for an NSFAS Loan Online<\/h2>\n<h3>Step-by-Step NSFAS Online Application Process (2025)<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Visit the NSFAS Website<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Go to: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Create an Account<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cMyNSFAS\u201d<\/strong> and register your profile.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll need a <strong>valid email address<\/strong> and <strong>South African cellphone number<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose a strong password and verify your account via email or SMS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Login and Start the Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>After registration, log in to your <strong>MyNSFAS<\/strong> account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cApply\u201d<\/strong> to begin a new application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Fill in Your Personal Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Input your <strong>ID number<\/strong>, name, surname, and other details exactly as they appear on your ID.<\/li>\n<li>Provide <strong>household income information<\/strong> and living arrangements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Upload Required Documents<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Upload all supporting documents in <strong>PDF or JPEG format<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Each document must be clear and under the size limit specified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Submit Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Review your application for accuracy.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>\u201cSubmit\u201d<\/strong> and wait for a confirmation message.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Track Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Log in regularly to check your application status.<\/li>\n<li>You will be notified via SMS and email at each stage of the process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Important NSFAS Dates (2025)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Application Opening Date<\/strong>: September 1, 2025<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application Deadline<\/strong>: January 31, 2026<\/li>\n<li><strong>Appeals Period<\/strong>: February 2026 (if rejected)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disbursement<\/strong>: After registration and approval<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Note: Dates are subject to change; always confirm on the official NSFAS website.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcb8 What Does the NSFAS Loan Cover?<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS funding typically includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tuition fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Registration fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Accommodation (if living away from home)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Meals and transport<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Learning materials (e.g., textbooks)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For <strong>loans<\/strong>, repayment is only required <strong>once you start working and earn above a threshold<\/strong> (around R30,000 annually, but subject to change).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd04 NSFAS Loan Repayment<\/h2>\n<p>Repayments are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Income-contingent<\/strong> \u2013 you only repay when you can afford to.<\/li>\n<li>Administered by <strong>DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interest-bearing<\/strong>, but interest rates are low and favorable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can also apply for a <strong>partial loan conversion to a bursary<\/strong> if you perform well academically.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd01 How to Appeal a Rejected NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>If your application is rejected, you may submit an appeal via your MyNSFAS portal:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Log into your MyNSFAS account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cTrack Funding Progress\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If rejected, click on <strong>\u201cSubmit Appeal\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Upload any missing or corrected documents.<\/li>\n<li>Provide a clear explanation or motivation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcf1 NSFAS Contact Information<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Website<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Email<\/strong>: <a href=\"mailto:info@nsfas.org.za\">info@nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Toll-Free Number<\/strong>: 08000 67327 (Monday\u2013Friday, 8 AM\u20135 PM)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Twitter<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/myNSFAS\">@myNSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Facebook<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myNSFAS\">NSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcdd Final Tips Before Applying<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Apply <strong>early<\/strong> to avoid system overload near the deadline.<\/li>\n<li>Use <strong>your own email and cellphone number<\/strong> (do not use someone else\u2019s).<\/li>\n<li>Double-check that all your documents are <strong>certified and legible<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a <strong>copy of your submission confirmation<\/strong> for reference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>By following this guide, you can confidently apply for NSFAS funding and move one step closer to achieving your academic and career dreams\u2014without the burden of immediate financial pressure.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As with most interactions with the South African government, renewing your driver\u2019s licence can be a bit of nightmare if you\u2019re going in blind, so we\u2019ve had the bad experiences for you and have tried to create a concise guide to doing it. While we may be exaggerating in calling this process a nightmare, many\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/can-you-renew-your-drivers-license-without-an-appointment\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-21556","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21556\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}