FAQ: South African passports and ID in the USA

No. The SA Chamber summary of the official webinar says there are no walk-in appointments and all appointments are made online [source].

No. You can use any of the US centres regardless of your state of residence [source].

No. The Embassy says no mailed-in passport, ID or birth registration applications will be processed [source].

Credit or debit card only [source].

$127 at VFS: $67 consular fee plus $60 VFS service fee. MAXI is $193 [source].

Four colour photos, 35 x 45 mm, for passports and IDs at VFS [source].

They must apply for a first ID first or together with the first adult passport; both parents and the child must attend [source, source].

Contact the Embassy about an Emergency Travel Certificate; minimum processing is 7 business days and VFS does not issue them [source, source]. DHA says proof of a passport application is not accepted for travel to South Africa [source].

The Constitutional Court declared the automatic-loss rule in section 6(1)(a) invalid from 6 October 1995, and DHA says people who lost citizenship under that rule are considered to have retained it. Voluntary renunciation, and loss before 6 October 1995, are excluded. Check your own record on the DHA portal. See citizenship [source, source].

VFS recommends booking at least 18 months before expiry; the Embassy suggests 12 months [source, source].

Sources disagree. VFS lists a Smart ID re-issue fee, while DHA and SA Chamber describe the Smart ID card as a later phase. See Smart ID.