Why some South Africans are getting Smart IDs in days while others wait months

For some South Africans, getting a Smart ID can be surprisingly quick.

For others, it can turn into a months-long wait.

Recent feedback from applicants have highlighted the very different experiences people can have when applying for the country’s newer identity cards.

Some are getting Smart IDs within days

Bank branches appear to be providing a particularly quick option for some applicants.

Home Affairs has been expanding its Smart ID services through participating banks, with more than 300 000 applications processed through bank branches by July 2026.

Some applicants have reported receiving their cards within about a week of applying.

But that experience is far from universal.

Fingerprints can hold things up

One of the biggest problems is the biometric stage.

Some applicants struggle to get their fingerprints captured successfully, meaning their applications cannot simply move through the system.

This can be particularly difficult for older applicants or people whose fingerprints are difficult for biometric scanners to read.

This can turn what should be a relatively straightforward application into a much longer process.

Then there are the online problems

The Smart ID process increasingly relies on digital services, but technical problems can create another obstacle.

Applicants have reported encountering errors when trying to submit applications, while others have struggled to log into or reset their eHomeAffairs accounts.

Password problems can be particularly frustrating because creating a new account may not solve the issue if the system already has the applicant’s email address registered.

For someone simply trying to replace an old green ID book, being unable to get past the online registration stage can bring the entire process to a halt.

Some applications are more complicated

Not every Smart ID application is processed in exactly the same way.

Home Affairs needs to verify an applicant’s identity and personal information against its records, and problems or discrepancies in those records can potentially delay an application.

This is particularly relevant for people whose records were created under older systems or whose personal circumstances have changed.

Naturalised South African citizens and lawful permanent residents, for example, were only brought into the expanded Smart ID and eHomeAffairs system in May 2025 after previously facing restrictions.

That means some applicants may still encounter administrative or record-related issues even though they are now eligible for a Smart ID.

Waiting for the card is another issue

Even after an application has successfully been submitted, there can still be a wait before the applicant receives their card.

Some applicants report very short turnaround times, while others say they have waited for months without receiving notification that their card is ready.

There can be several stages between submitting an application and collecting the finished document, including verification, processing and card production.

If an applicant does not receive an SMS, it can also be unclear whether the application is still being processed or whether there is another issue that needs to be resolved.

What to do if your Smart ID is delayed

If an application appears to be taking much longer than expected, applicants should first check the status of their application through the official Home Affairs channels and ensure that their contact details are correct.

If there is a problem with the application, applicants may need to contact Home Affairs or return to the office or participating bank where the application was processed.

For people who have not yet applied, checking whether a nearby participating bank branch offers Smart ID services could also provide an alternative to a traditional Home Affairs visit.

The important thing is that there is no single guaranteed Smart ID turnaround time.