As the Department of Home Affairs continues to increase efforts to encourage citizens to replace their green barcoded ID books, South Africans now have more options than ever to apply for and collect Smart ID cards.<\/p>\n
According to the department, more than four million Smart ID cards were issued during the 2025\/26 financial year.<\/p>\n
Last weekend, during the electoral commission\u2019s voter registration weekend, the department stated that nearly 6,000 new Smart ID card applications were processed and 3,700 cards were collected.<\/p>\n
The expansion of Home Affairs’ partnership with banks has increased the number of collection points nationwide, with more than 100 bank branches now offering Smart ID services, in addition to traditional Home Affairs offices.<\/p>\n
Citizens can collect their Smart ID cards from the same Home Affairs office or participating bank branch where they submitted their application and biometric information.<\/p>\n
Gauteng<\/p>\n
Gauteng has the largest number of Smart ID collection points, including numerous Home Affairs offices and participating bank branches.<\/p>\n
Bank branches offering Smart ID services include locations operated by Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, Discovery Bank and Investec in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand, Sandton, Soweto and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
Gauteng currently hosts the highest concentration of bank-based Smart ID facilities in the country.<\/p>\n
Western Cape<\/p>\n
Residents can collect Smart ID cards at Home Affairs offices in Cape Town, Bellville, Paarl, Worcester, George and other centres.<\/p>\n
Participating bank branches include Standard Bank’s Canal Walk, Mitchells Plain and Parow branches, as well as several Capitec locations. The province has become one of the major beneficiaries of the Digital Partnership programme.<\/p>\n
KwaZulu-Natal<\/p>\n
Collection points include Home Affairs offices in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay and Newcastle.<\/p>\n
Bank-based collection facilities are available at selected branches, including Standard Bank’s Kingsmead branch and various Capitec locations across the province.<\/p>\n
Eastern Cape<\/p>\n
Residents can collect Smart ID cards at Home Affairs offices throughout the province, including Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha and Queenstown.<\/p>\n
The Standard Bank Newton Park branch in Gqeberha is among the participating bank branches offering Smart ID services, alongside expanding Capitec locations.<\/p>\n
Limpopo<\/p>\n
Smart ID cards can be collected from Home Affairs offices in Polokwane, Thohoyandou, Tzaneen and other towns.<\/p>\n
Selected bank branches participating in the Home Affairs programme are also available in the province, with further expansion planned.<\/p>\n
Mpumalanga<\/p>\n
Residents can collect Smart ID cards at Home Affairs offices in Mbombela, Emalahleni and Middelburg.<\/p>\n
Participating bank branches offering Smart ID services have expanded under the new digital partnership programme.<\/p>\n
Northern Cape<\/p>\n
Collection remains available at Home Affairs offices in Kimberley, Upington and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
The Standard Bank Kathu Mall branch is among the bank-based Smart ID service points in the province.<\/p>\n
Free State<\/p>\n
Smart ID cards can be collected at Home Affairs offices across the province, including Bloemfontein, Welkom and Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
Currently, the province does not yet have participating bank branches offering Smart ID services, although this is expected to change as the national rollout expands.<\/p>\n
North West<\/p>\n
Residents can collect Smart ID cards from Home Affairs offices in Mahikeng, Rustenburg, Klerksdorp and surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
Like the Free State, North West currently relies on Home Affairs offices, with no participating bank branches yet operational under the programme.<\/p>\n
How collection works<\/p>\n
Once an application has been processed, Home Affairs sends an SMS notifying applicants that their Smart ID card is ready for collection.<\/p>\n
Applicants must collect the card in person because fingerprint verification is required before the document can be released. The card can only be collected from the office or bank branch where the application was completed.<\/p>\n
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has said the department aims to expand Smart ID services to 1,000 bank branches by 2029 as part of a broader effort to digitise government services and eliminate long queues at Home Affairs offices.<\/p>\n
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