Green ID books to be phased out by March 2028

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says South Africa is moving closer to completely phasing out the green ID book as access to Smart ID services expands across the country.

Schreiber said the Department of Home Affairs will cease production of the green ID book by 31 March 2027, when the machines used to produce the documents will be permanently shut down and decommissioned.

The announcement follows the rapid expansion of access to Smart ID services and government’s efforts to ensure that every eligible South African can replace the paper-based document with a more secure Smart ID card.

In his address to the nation in June, President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that Home Affairs was working on a solution to ensure that all South Africans could make the switch.

Schreiber said independent research had found that the green ID book was among the most defrauded documents on the African continent.

He said the paper-based document, which contains a manual photograph that can be replaced or manipulated, contributes to identity theft and can also be exploited to obtain fraudulent documentation.

“The continued use of the Green ID Book is irreconcilable with the functioning of a modern society,” Schreiber said.

14.7 million still have green ID books

Before production ends, the department plans to enable the remaining cohort of naturalised citizens and permanent residents, as well as South African citizens living abroad, to obtain Smart ID cards.

Schreiber said including these groups, which have historically faced exclusion from the Smart ID system, would mean that every eligible person could obtain a secure Smart ID card.

Following the end of green ID book production, the 14.7 million South African citizens and permanent residents who still hold only a green ID book will have an additional 12 months to switch to a Smart ID.

The green ID book will officially cease to be recognised as a valid form of identification from 31 March 2028, in terms of section 25(1)(b) of the Identification Act.

First-time Smart ID applicants and applicants over the age of 60 will remain exempt from paying the application fee.

Department urges citizens to make the switch

Schreiber said the number of people whose only form of identification is a green ID book has already declined from 16 million to 14.7 million over the past six months.

He attributed the decline to increased replacement rates following the department’s digital partnership initiatives.

The department will now roll out a nationwide communication campaign to inform citizens about the transition and encourage those who still have green ID books to make the switch.

Schreiber urged citizens to visit their nearest participating Home Affairs or bank branch to apply for a Smart ID.

He said digital reforms had reduced the process to as little as five minutes at participating bank branches, with applicants not needing a prior booking or paperwork for the new service.

“This is five minutes well spent to help secure our country,” Schreiber said.