How much does it cost to replace your green ID book with a Smart ID before the new deadline?

South Africans still carrying the old green barcoded ID book now have a limited window to make the switch to a Smart ID card.

As previously reported by The South African, Home Affairs Deputy Director-General for Operations Thulani Mavuso has said green ID books will no longer be functional within the next two years. However, the department has yet to announce the precise cut-off date.

That leaves millions of people needing to make the switch, and for many, one of the first questions will be how much it will cost.

What is the standard Home Affairs fee for a Smart ID?

For most adult South Africans, replacing an existing green ID book with a Smart ID card costs R140.

The Department of Home Affairs’ Smart ID requirements list a R140 fee for citizens applying for the card, while first-time youth and first-time Smart ID applications for people aged 60 and older are listed as free.

For someone simply upgrading an existing green ID book, the R140 Home Affairs fee is therefore the key amount to budget for.

Using a bank could cost slightly more

Home Affairs has expanded its partnership with South African banks, allowing eligible applicants to use participating branches instead of relying solely on DHA offices.

The department said in August that 372 participating bank branches were offering Smart ID services, with the network continuing to expand.

However, banks can charge their own service or convenience fees on top of the Home Affairs charge.

For example, Capitec currently charges R150 in total for its Smart ID service. This consists of the R140 Home Affairs fee and a R10 Capitec service fee.

Standard Bank, meanwhile, has stated that it is not currently charging a convenience fee for the service.

So the cost can depend on where you choose to complete the application.

Don’t forget the other costs

The R140 is the government application fee. It does not necessarily represent the total amount someone will spend on the process.

Travel to a Home Affairs office or participating bank can add to the cost, particularly for people who live far from a service point.

This is one reason Home Affairs has been expanding its bank partnership. In July, the department said its network had grown to 327 participating bank branches, alongside 214 modernised Home Affairs offices.

The department has also said it intends to expand the network further.