Monday, May 12th, 2025
The Home Office said this morning it successfully launched the deployment of smart IDs for naturalized citizens and permanent residents of visa exemption countries.
“The system is stable and encouraged by the scale of client intake. Nationwide, South African citizens and legal permanent residents are applying for a safer smart ID for the first time.
“As included in yesterday's press release, the department currently has a green barcoded ID and wants to repeat that it is focusing only on applicants coming from Visa exemption countries.
“When volume is reduced, applicants from non-exempt countries will also be supported. The department will communicate when this next phase is opened for application,” the department said.
For ease of reference, the department has published a list of visa exempt countries: https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countres. -sanews.gov.za
