South Africa now lets you replace your Smart ID at 753 bank branches 🇿🇦 🪪

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Getting or replacing a national ID card could soon mean fewer trips and shorter waits in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs has extended Smart ID replacement services to 753 bank branches across the country, a target the government reached, and passed, more than four months before its March 2027 deadline.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the news on 11 November 2026. The expansion is part of a digital partnership between the department and several banks, launched in March 2026. More than one million South Africans have reportedly used the new channel to access identity services since it began.

A service network up more than 350% 📱

Home Affairs initially aimed to offer Smart ID replacement at no fewer than 750 bank branches by the end of the 2026–27 financial year. With 753 branches now up and running, the target has been met months ahead of schedule.

That widens access considerably. When the current administration took office, only 214 Home Affairs offices were equipped to process Smart ID applications. Adding the 753 bank branches brings the network to 967 service points.

According to the department, that is an increase of more than 350% in 246 days. The participating banks are currently Absa, Capitec, First National Bank (FNB) and Standard Bank. More banks and additional services are expected to join over time.

Biometric checks, no appointment needed 🔐

One of the main changes is simpler paperwork. At participating branches, citizens can apply for a Smart ID replacement without booking an appointment or filling in any forms beforehand.

The process relies on biometric technology to identify applicants, and is said to take about five minutes, according to the department.

The approach is part of South Africa’s digital transformation drive in government. The aim is to bring public services closer to citizens while reducing reliance on traditional Home Affairs offices and the long queues that so often come with administrative procedures.

Schreiber called the rollout the fastest expansion in his department’s history. He argues it lets citizens replace their ID card without spending long hours at a Home Affairs office.

The green ID book is slowly being phased out 🪪

Beyond widening the service network, the programme supports the government’s push to gradually retire the green barcoded ID book in favour of the Smart ID card. The Smart ID is presented as a more secure solution that should strengthen the reliability of the national identification system. The change is meant, in particular, to reduce the risk of identity theft and of fraudulent documents in circulation.

The bank partnership is also expected to make identification services easier to reach, particularly for people living in areas where Home Affairs infrastructure remains hard to access. As the scheme keeps growing, new banks and services are expected to be added. South African citizens can use the department’s online platform to find the participating bank branch closest to them.

Would you want banks in Cameroon to offer administrative services too, such as issuing or renewing the national ID card?