South Africa’s new e-passport is coming, with some big changes for travellers

South Africa is preparing to introduce a new biometric e-passport that could make international travel faster and strengthen the country’s case for more visa-free access around the world.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says the department is working with Government Printing Works on the new passport, which will contain a secure electronic chip carrying the traveller’s biometric information.

The technology will make the passport harder to forge and allow it to be read by electronic passport gates at airports.

What will be different with the new e-passport?

The biggest change will be the biometric chip. So, when an e-passport is scanned, border authorities can check the information stored on the chip against the physical passport and the traveller.

International e-passports can contain biometric information such as a high-resolution facial image and, depending on the country, fingerprints. The chip also uses a digital signature to help verify that its information has not been altered.

This technology is already widely used internationally, including across the European Union and in several African countries.

Schreiber says Home Affairs is already upgrading the passport application process before the new document is introduced.

One of the changes involves biometrically verifying passport photographs to prevent fraud such as “photo swapping”.

“Once we have fully automated the process to eliminate any scope for human manipulation or fraud, we will take the proposal to Cabinet for a new ePassport,” Schreiber said.

The changes form part of Home Affairs’ wider push to modernise passport applications, including plans to expand access through bank branches.

Could it mean shorter airport queues?

For travellers, one of the biggest potential benefits is faster border processing.

E-passports can be used at automated border control gates, where the chip is scanned and biometric technology checks that the traveller matches the passport.

That could allow passengers to move through passport control without waiting for an official to manually inspect their documents at airports equipped with compatible e-gates.

However, having an e-passport will not automatically give someone access to every e-gate worldwide, as each country and airport sets its own requirements.

It could also help with visa-free travel

Schreiber said he also wants the new passport to do more than improve security.

He says South Africa will use the more secure e-passport as part of efforts to negotiate visa-free access to more countries for South African travellers.

“Once both the digital systems and hardware upgrades are in place to eliminate Passport application fraud, we will embark on negotiations with the aim of obtaining visa-free access to more countries around the world for South Africans who use the new, secure ePassport,” he said.

The passport itself will not automatically make a destination visa-free, as visa exemptions are negotiated separately between countries.

However, Schreiber’s argument is that a more secure passport could strengthen South Africa’s position when negotiating those agreements.

So when can South Africans get the new e-passports? Well, not just yet, as there is no confirmed date for applications.

Schreiber has said Home Affairs and Government Printing Works are working on the project, with a proposal to Cabinet expected once the passport application process has been sufficiently automated and protected against fraud.

Home Affairs has previously included e-passport development and testing in its plans, including technical specifications and testing at ports of entry and e-gates.

So, while the e-passport is on the way, South Africans cannot apply for one yet.