South Africa Plans Digital ID Rollout and Green ID Book Phase-Out by 2028

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs  has unveiled plans to phase out the Green ID book, expand digital identity services and introduce a nationwide campaign to document all undocumented South African citizens by 2029 as part of a broader government digital transformation programme.

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber announced the reforms in his keynote address at the Home Affairs Quantum Leap event at Constitution Hill, outlining plans to replace paper-based processes with digital services accessible through smartphones and participating bank branches.

The department will cease production of the Green ID book by 31 March 2027, when the machines used to produce the document will be decommissioned. The 14.7 million South African citizens and permanent residents who still rely on the booklet will then have a further 12 months to transition to the Smart ID card. From 31 March 2028, the Green ID book will no longer be recognised as a valid form of identification, in line with the minister’s announcement.

Schreiber said 515 bank branches now offer biometric Smart ID replacement services, allowing applicants to apply without an appointment. More than 822,500 people have used the service, with the department targeting more than 1,000 service points by the end of 2026. Passport applications and first-time Smart ID applications are also expected to become available through participating bank branches, alongside secure courier delivery of documents.

The department is also expanding its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) platform, which Schreiber said was already accepting short-stay visa applications from 53 countries. Additional categories, including study and work visas, are expected to be added in early 2027. The platform is intended to digitise visa processing, strengthen identity verification and reduce delays, with approved applications for some travellers reportedly being processed within 24 hours.

Another priority is the development of a smartphone-based Digital ID system. According to Schreiber, the department has built a working prototype and is processing public feedback on draft regulations. He said the system would be voluntary, with physical Smart ID cards remaining available, and that the final regulations would place limits on how personal data could be used.

Beyond identity and immigration services, the department plans to digitise applications for documents including birth, marriage and death certificates, making them available through more than 1,000 bank branches. It is also exploring biometric birth registration in collaboration with public and private healthcare providers and developing plans for a new biometrically secured electronic passport.

The reforms include a R12.5 billion public-private partnership to reconstruct South Africa’s six busiest land ports of entry as no-stop border posts, alongside plans to introduce automated gates at border crossings.

Schreiber said the department was preparing a campaign for the 2028/29 financial year to document undocumented South African citizens. The initiative will involve reviewing late birth registration and documentation processes and deploying mobile biometric technology to reach communities across the country, with the goal of ensuring every South African citizen is formally documented by the end of 2029.

The minister also reported that 144 dismissals, 73 arrests and 10 convictions had been secured across the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority since July 2024, as part of efforts to address misconduct and corruption.

The programme forms part of the department’s broader “Home Affairs @ home” vision, which aims to decentralise services, reduce reliance on physical offices and use digital technology to improve access, security and efficiency