FNB Passport Application Guide South Africa 2025
Skip the long queues at Home Affairs — apply through your bank
Last updated: January 2025
⚡ Quick Facts
- Passport cost: R600 (32 pages) or R1,200 (48 pages)
- Processing time: 3–4 weeks on average
- You do NOT need to be an FNB customer to use this service
- Payment must be made through online banking (not at the branch)
- FNB now has 15+ branches with 240 more coming in 2025
📋 What’s In This Guide
What Is the FNB Passport Service?
Good news! You don’t have to queue at Home Affairs for hours anymore.
FNB (First National Bank) has partnered with Home Affairs since 2015. This partnership lets you apply for your passport at certain FNB branches instead of going to a busy Home Affairs office.
The bank staff will take your photo and fingerprints. Your passport then gets processed by Home Affairs. When it’s ready, you collect it from the same FNB branch.
Since August 2025, FNB has expanded this service massively. They started with 15 branches and plan to roll out to 240 branches over the next year. The FNB Banking App will also let you apply directly in the coming months.
✅ Why Use FNB for Your Passport?
- Shorter queues – Bank branches are much less crowded than Home Affairs
- Book an appointment – You choose your date and time (no waiting for hours)
- Faster service – The whole process at the branch takes about 15 minutes
- Professional environment – Clean, air-conditioned bank branches
- Track your application – Get SMS updates on your passport status
- No photos needed – Your photo is taken at the branch (no extra cost)
Who Can Use This Service?
Good news: You do NOT need to be an FNB customer. This service is open to all South African citizens.
You can apply if you are:
- A South African citizen by birth
- 16 years or older (for adult passport)
- Under 16 years (for child passport – parents must apply)
- Applying for a new passport or replacing an old one
Important note for naturalised citizens:
If you became a South African citizen through naturalisation, services at banks are being rolled out in phases. Check with your specific branch first.
📖 Types of South African Passports
| Passport Type | Who It’s For | Valid For |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Passport (32 pages) | Adults 16 years and older | 10 years |
| Maxi Passport (48 pages) | Frequent travellers | 10 years |
| Child Passport | Children under 16 | 5 years |
💰 Passport Costs in 2025
These fees were updated in November 2022 and remain the same for 2025.
| What You’re Applying For | Cost |
|---|---|
| Adult Passport (32 pages) | R600 |
| Maxi Passport (48 pages) | R1,200 |
| Child Passport (under 16) | R600 |
| Smart ID Card | R140 |
| Lost/Stolen Passport Replacement | R1,200 |
⚠️ Important: You cannot pay at the FNB branch. You must pay through online banking (FNB App, FNB Online Banking, or your own bank if using eHomeAffairs). No cash, credit cards, or cheque cards accepted at the branch.
🎉 Free for Senior Citizens
If you are 60 years or older, you may qualify for a free passport. Check with Home Affairs for the current rules on senior citizen exemptions.
📄 Documents You Need
For Adult Passport (16 years and older):
- Your South African ID book or Smart ID card
- Your old passport (if you have one)
- Printed application confirmation from eHomeAffairs (with barcode)
- Police affidavit (only if your ID was lost or stolen)
For Child Passport (under 16):
- Child’s unabridged birth certificate
- Both parents’ ID documents
- Both parents must be present at the branch
- If parents are divorced: court order showing custody
- If one parent is deceased: death certificate
- Printed application confirmation from eHomeAffairs
💡 Good to know: You do NOT need to bring passport photos. The FNB branch will take your photo and fingerprints digitally. This is included in your passport fee.
📝 Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Your Passport at FNB
Step 1: Register on eHomeAffairs Website
Go to ehome.dha.gov.za and create a profile.
You will need to enter:
- Your name and surname (exactly as on your ID)
- Your ID number
- Your date of birth
- Your email address
- Your cellphone number (for OTP verification)
Step 2: Complete Your Passport Application
Log in to eHomeAffairs with your ID number and password.
Select “Create New Application” and choose “Passport”.
Fill in all the required fields (marked in red). Take your time – mistakes can cause delays.
Tip: You can save your application and come back to it later if you need to.
Step 3: Pay for Your Passport (Very Important!)
After you submit your application, you must pay through your bank.
For FNB customers:
- Log into FNB App or FNB Online Banking
- Go to Payments
- Select eFiling + Smart IDs
- You will see the payment request from Home Affairs
- Approve the payment
For other bank customers:
Log into your own bank’s online banking. Go to Payment Requests and approve the Home Affairs payment.
Step 4: Book Your Appointment at FNB
Once your payment shows as “Confirmed” on eHomeAffairs (usually within a few minutes for card payments, or 24-48 hours for EFT), you can book your appointment.
- Log back into eHomeAffairs
- Select “Book Biometrics Appointment”
- Choose an FNB branch from the list
- Select a date and time that suits you
- Confirm your booking
- Print the confirmation page (you need this at the branch)
Step 5: Visit the FNB Branch
On your appointment day:
- Arrive a few minutes early
- Bring your ID book or Smart ID
- Bring your printed application confirmation (with barcode)
- Your photo and fingerprints will be taken
- The whole process takes about 15 minutes
Step 6: Wait for Your Passport
Home Affairs will send you SMS updates as your application progresses.
Processing usually takes 3–4 weeks, but can vary.
You will get an SMS when your passport is ready for collection.
⚠️ Important: Payment Must Be Done Online
This is where many people get stuck. The eHomeAffairs website does NOT take payment directly. Here’s what you need to know:
- No payment at the bank branch – Don’t arrive with cash expecting to pay there
- No credit or cheque cards – Only EFT or debit card payments work
- Payment must be approved in YOUR bank – Log into your online banking
- Card payments clear faster – Usually within minutes
- EFT can take 24–48 hours – Plan ahead if using EFT
Where to find the payment request in FNB:
FNB App → Payments → eFiling + Smart IDs → You’ll see the payment request
🏦 FNB Branches With Passport Services
As of January 2025, the following FNB branches offer passport and Smart ID services:
Gauteng Province:
- FNB Merchant Place (Johannesburg)
- FNB Centurion Lifestyle
- FNB Lynnwood (Pretoria)
- FNB The Glen
Western Cape:
- FNB Green Point (Cape Town)
KwaZulu-Natal:
- FNB Cornubia
Limpopo:
- FNB Burgersfort
🚀 Coming soon: FNB plans to roll out this service to 240 branches across all nine provinces during 2025. Check the eHomeAffairs website for the latest list of available branches.
🏛️ Other Banks Offering This Service
If there’s no FNB branch near you, these banks also offer passport services:
| Standard Bank | 20 branches now, 300+ by 2027 |
| Capitec | 10 branches from October 2025, 100 by March 2026 |
| ABSA | Branches in Johannesburg, Sandton, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Krugersdorp |
| Nedbank | Arcadia, Rivonia, Constantia Kloof, St George’s Mall, Newton Park |
| Discovery Bank | Sandton (Discovery Place) |
| Investec | Sandown, Sandton |
📬 Collecting Your Passport
When your passport is ready, you will receive an SMS from Home Affairs.
What to bring when collecting:
- Your South African ID (Smart ID or ID book)
- The SMS notification (on your phone is fine)
- Your old passport (if you have one)
Important notes:
- You MUST collect your passport in person
- Your fingerprints will be verified at collection
- Collect from the same FNB branch where you did your biometrics
- Allow about 15 minutes for collection
🔧 Common Problems and Solutions
Problem: “I can’t find any available appointment slots”
Solution: Try checking early morning or at the start of the week when new slots are released. Try different branches. Keep refreshing – slots become available when others cancel.
Problem: “My payment won’t go through”
Solution: Make sure you’re approving the payment in your bank’s online banking, not on the eHomeAffairs website. The payment request appears under “eFiling + Smart IDs” in FNB. Also, payments may only show during office hours.
Problem: “The website keeps timing out”
Solution: The eHomeAffairs system can only handle 2,000 users at once. Try during off-peak hours (early morning, late evening, or weekends). Save your progress often.
Problem: “My application status is stuck”
Solution: Check that your payment has cleared. Make sure all your details match your ID exactly. Contact the Home Affairs call centre on 0800 60 11 90.
🚨 SCAM WARNING: Protect Yourself
Passport fraud is a serious problem in South Africa. Here’s how to stay safe:
❌ NEVER Do These Things:
- Never pay anyone to “speed up” your passport application
- Never give your ID or passport to someone who promises a faster service
- Never use a “middleman” or “agent” who claims to have connections at Home Affairs
- Never click on links in SMS or WhatsApp messages claiming to be from Home Affairs
- Never send money to someone claiming your passport is “stuck” and needs a fee
🔍 Watch Out For These Scams:
Fake Home Affairs SMS/WhatsApp:
Scammers send messages saying your passport is ready or there’s a problem. They ask you to click a link or call a number. Real Home Affairs will never ask for money via SMS.
Fake SAPS Officers:
Criminals call pretending to be police, saying your passport is linked to a crime. They ask for money to “clear your name”. Real police investigations are NEVER done over WhatsApp or video calls.
“Express Passport” Services:
There is NO legitimate “express” or “emergency” passport in South Africa. Anyone offering this is a scammer. The only emergency document is a travel certificate for South Africans stranded abroad.
🛡️ Remember: The ONLY official website is ehome.dha.gov.za. The ONLY payment is through your bank to Home Affairs. There are NO shortcuts.
😰 What If My Passport Is Lost or Stolen?
- Report it to the police immediately – Get a case number and keep a copy of the police report
- Report it to SAFPS – Call 011 867 2234 or email protection@safps.org.za to protect your identity
- Apply for a new passport – Follow the same process on eHomeAffairs
- Pay the replacement fee – Lost or stolen passports cost R1,200 to replace (double the normal fee)
- Bring extra documents – You’ll need the police report and a DHA-335 form (loss of passport form)
⚠️ Important: If you find your old passport after applying for a new one, you cannot use it. It has already been cancelled in the system.
👶 Applying for a Child’s Passport
Getting a passport for your child (under 16) requires extra steps to protect children:
Requirements:
- Both parents must be present at the bank branch
- Child’s unabridged birth certificate (must show both parents’ names)
- Both parents’ IDs
- The child must also be present
- Both parents must sign the application form
Special Situations:
If parents are divorced: Bring the divorce decree. If one parent has sole custody and guardianship, that parent can apply alone. Sole custody alone is NOT enough – you need guardianship too.
If one parent is deceased: Bring the death certificate with the application.
If the child was born out of wedlock: The father’s consent is still required. Both parents and the child must be present.
If one parent refuses to consent: You may need to go to the Children’s Court to get permission. Bring the court order with your application.
📞 Where to Get Help
| Department of Home Affairs Call Centre |
📞 0800 60 11 90 (toll-free) 📧 hacc@dha.gov.za |
| Home Affairs Ministerial Hotline (For complaints that aren’t resolved) |
📞 0800 204 476 📧 minister@dha.gov.za |
| FNB Contact Centre |
📞 087 575 9404 |
| Report Fraud (SAFPS) |
📞 011 867 2234 📧 protection@safps.org.za |
| Report Scams (Yima) |
📞 083 123 7226 (083 123 SCAM) 🌐 www.yima.org.za |
| eHomeAffairs Website |
🌐 ehome.dha.gov.za |
💡 Pro Tips for a Smooth Application
- Apply early – Don’t wait until you need to travel. Apply at least 2 months before your trip.
- Check your passport validity – Many countries require 6 months validity. Apply for a new one if yours expires within 6 months.
- Use a strong internet connection – The eHomeAffairs website can be slow. Don’t use mobile data.
- Save your work often – The website can time out. Save your progress regularly.
- Double-check all details – Your name must match your ID exactly. Even small mistakes cause delays.
- Take a screenshot – After booking, screenshot your confirmation in case you can’t print it.
- Arrive on time – If you miss your appointment, you may have to book again.
- Keep all receipts – Save proof of payment and your reference number.
✅ Final Recommendations
Using FNB to apply for your passport is much easier than going to Home Affairs. The process is straightforward if you follow these steps:
- Register and apply on eHomeAffairs (ehome.dha.gov.za)
- Pay through your online banking (not at the branch)
- Book your appointment at an FNB branch
- Visit the branch with your ID and confirmation
- Wait for your SMS and collect your passport
Remember: Never pay anyone who promises to speed up your application. There are no shortcuts. Only use the official eHomeAffairs website and pay through your bank.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and was last updated in January 2025. Fees, requirements, and processes may change. Always verify current information on the official Department of Home Affairs website (www.dha.gov.za) or eHomeAffairs portal (ehome.dha.gov.za) before applying.
This guide is not affiliated with FNB, the Department of Home Affairs, or any government department.
For complaints or problems: Contact the Department of Home Affairs at 0800 60 11 90 or the Ministerial Hotline at 0800 204 476.