Home Affairs expands Smart ID services to 753 bank branches ahead of schedule

The Department of Home Affairs has reached its target of making Smart ID replacement services available at more than 750 bank branches, achieving the milestone more than four months ahead of schedule.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced on Wednesday that 753 bank branches across the country are now offering Smart ID services, following the launch of the department’s digital partnership with the banking sector in March 2026.

The department had initially set a target of reaching 750 participating branches by the end of the 2026/27 financial year.

According to Home Affairs, more than one million South Africans have already used the new digital service channel since its introduction.

The expansion has significantly increased the number of locations where citizens can access Smart ID services.

At the start of the current administration, only 214 Home Affairs offices were equipped to process Smart ID applications. The addition of 753 bank branches has increased the department’s Smart ID service footprint to 967 locations.

Home Affairs said this represents an increase of more than 350% in 246 days.

The participating banks currently include ABSA, Capitec, First National Bank and Standard Bank, with the department indicating that more banks and additional services are expected to be added.

Smart ID applications without bookings

The department said citizens do not need to make a prior booking or complete paperwork before accessing the service at participating bank branches.

Applications are processed using biometric technology, with Home Affairs saying the process can take about five minutes.

The expansion forms part of the department’s broader digital reform programme, which seeks to make Home Affairs services more accessible while reducing reliance on traditional office-based processes and lengthy queues.

Schreiber said the department had not only reached its original target but had done so ahead of the March 2027 deadline.

He described the expansion as the fastest service expansion in the department’s history and said the initiative was helping reduce the need for citizens to spend long periods at Home Affairs offices when replacing their Smart IDs.

Green ID book phase-out

The expanded Smart ID network also forms part of government’s plans to move away from the green bar-coded identity document and towards the more secure Smart ID Card.

Home Affairs said the move is aimed at strengthening the security and integrity of South Africa’s identification system while addressing vulnerabilities associated with identity theft and fraudulent documents.

The department said the digital partnership is also intended to broaden access to critical identification services, particularly for communities that have historically faced limited access to Home Affairs facilities.

More participating banks and services are expected to be added as the programme expands.

South Africans can check for their nearest participating bank branch through the Department of Home Affairs’ online platform.