Home Affairs Unveils Digital Tool to Simplify Access to Smart ID Services

The Department of Home Affairs has introduced a digital platform designed to help South Africans identify nearby bank branches that process smart ID card applications.

A total of 372 participating bank branches nationwide are now equipped to handle smart ID applications, giving citizens a more accessible way to replace the green bar-coded ID book with the safer smart ID card.

The branch locator can be accessed through the department’s website at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za and will automatically reflect new participating branches as they are added to the system.

Since the banking partnership was rolled out in March, over 500,000 South Africans have chosen to apply for their smart ID cards at participating bank branches.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the launch of the online locator demonstrates the department’s ongoing drive to modernise and expand access to its services.

“This new online service makes it easier than ever for South Africans to find their nearest participating bank branch and switch to the secure smart ID card. Every reform we implement should make our services easier to access, and this is another practical step towards achieving that goal,” Schreiber said.

Schreiber also called on holders of the green bar-coded ID book to use the new service to locate a participating bank branch and migrate to the smart ID card, noting that it provides stronger protection against identity fraud.