Dear Client,
The Department of Home Affairs has announced a timetable for replacing South Africa’s green bar-coded ID books with Smart ID Cards.
The Minister of Home Affairs announced the following dates on 1 October 2026:
- 31 March 2027: Production of green bar-coded ID books is scheduled to end.
- 31 March 2028: Green ID books are scheduled to cease being recognised as valid identification.
If you still use a green ID book, we encourage you to apply for a Smart ID Card well before the announced deadline to avoid last-minute delays.
Home Affairs is expanding access to Smart ID services through participating bank branches. Visit My Home Affairs Online for information on available services and participating branches.
Please note that these dates reflect the announced timetable. We will continue to monitor further Home Affairs directives and relevant Government Gazette notices and keep you informed of material developments.
Why this matters to you
Valid identification plays an important role in banking, financial transactions and business administration. If you are a business owner, director or individual still using a green ID book, we encourage you to plan ahead. Replacing your ID early can help you avoid potential delays when identification is required for financial or administrative purposes.
For further information, please read the BusinessTech article.
Kind regards,
The Nwanda Team