South Africa’s green ID book gets an official end date

South Africa’s historic green ID book has been given a final deadline, with millions of people who still use the document needing to switch to the Smart ID card.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the date at the launch of the Home Affairs Quantum Leap programme on Thursday, 1 October.

When will green ID books stop being valid?

The government has set 31 March 2028 as the date when green ID books will cease to be recognised as valid identity documents.

This means South Africans who still rely on the old books will have to obtain a Smart ID card before the deadline if they want a valid form of identification.

Schreiber said the machines used to produce the green ID books will be shut down in March 2027 and permanently decommissioned.

There are currently approximately 14.7 million South Africans who only have a green ID book, according to the minister.

Those people will therefore have 12 months from the shutdown of the green-book production system to obtain a Smart ID card before the old document becomes invalid.

The reason behind the phase-out

The green ID book has been used in South Africa for decades, but Home Affairs has been working to replace it with the Smart ID card because of security and fraud concerns.

Schreiber said the continued use of the green ID book was no longer compatible with a modern society.

The Smart ID card contains security features intended to provide a more secure form of identification.

Deputy Director-General for Operations at Home Affairs, Tulani Mavuso, previously urged green ID book holders to make the switch sooner rather than waiting until the final deadline.

He warned that it would become difficult for people to use the green book for identity verification once it was no longer recognised as a legal document.

Mavuso also highlighted the importance of having a Smart ID card for everyday transactions.

He said the card would become the legal identity document used for transactions, particularly with financial institutions and other organisations.

This means the change is likely to affect more than simply having a valid document in your wallet.

People who still rely on their green books may eventually find that they cannot use them when dealing with banks and other institutions that require a valid form of identification.

What about naturalised citizens and permanent residents?

One issue that has previously slowed the move away from green ID books has been access to Smart ID cards for certain groups, including naturalised citizens.

Schreiber said Home Affairs would address this before the green ID book becomes invalid.

He said the department would enable the remaining cohort of naturalised citizens and permanent residents, as well as South African citizens living abroad, to obtain Smart ID cards before the March 2028 deadline.

This is intended to ensure that these groups are also able to move to the new form of identification before the old books are phased out.