Australia

South African High Commission in Canberra

Complete guide to the South African High Commission in Canberra, serving over 200,000 South Africans across Australia. Passport renewal via VFS Global, Smart ID, citizenship, and consular services. Also covers honorary consuls in Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane.

Contact Information

High Commission Address

Corner State Circle and Rhodes Place
Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Canberra, Australia

Phone & Email

Phone: +61 2 6272 7300
Fax: +61 2 6273 1033
Consular: consular.canberra@dirco.gov.za
Immigration: immigration.canberra@dirco.gov.za
Visas: visas.canberra@dirco.gov.za
Emergency (after hours): +61 (0)408 696 993

Opening Hours

General: Mon-Thu 08:30-17:00, Fri 08:30-15:00
Consular: Mon-Fri 08:30-12:00
Closed on Australian & SA public holidays

Honorary Consuls

Perth • Melbourne • Adelaide • Brisbane

Honorary consuls provide limited services (notarial, emergency referral). For passports and Smart ID, contact Canberra or use VFS Global.

Services Available

Passport Services

  • Passport renewals (via VFS Global)
  • New/first passport applications
  • Child passport applications
  • Emergency Travel Certificates (BI-123)
  • Maxi Tourist Passport (48 pages)

Identity Documents

  • Smart ID card applications (Live Capture available)
  • ID book replacements
  • Temporary Identity Certificates

Civil Registration

  • Birth registration (SA citizenship by descent)
  • Marriage registration
  • Death registration
  • Unabridged birth certificates

Visa & Citizenship

  • Visa applications (visiting SA)
  • Citizenship by descent & retention
  • Notarial services & document authentication
  • Police clearance fingerprinting

Passport Renewal in Australia

South African passport renewals in Australia are processed through VFS Global. This is convenient for South Africans in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and other cities far from Canberra.

Step-by-Step: Renewing Your SA Passport in Australia

  1. Book online at passport.vfsglobal.com
  2. Gather documents: current passport, South African ID, completed application form
  3. Attend VFS centre for biometric capture (photo & fingerprints)
  4. Pay the fee: R1,200 (standard 32-page) or R2,400 (maxi 48-page) — in AUD equivalent
  5. Wait for processing: approximately 6-8 weeks (forwarded to DHA Pretoria)
  6. Collect passport from VFS or opt for courier delivery

Standard 32-page

R1,200

~6-8 weeks

Maxi 48-page

R2,400

~6-8 weeks

Emergency Travel Cert

R140

1-2 working days

Booking Appointments

Also Accredited To

The Canberra High Commission also serves South Africans in: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and New Zealand.

South Africans in Australia

Australia is home to over 200,000 South Africans, one of the largest SA diaspora communities worldwide. Perth has the highest concentration, followed by Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. The High Commission in Canberra serves the entire country, supported by honorary consuls in Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane.

Official DIRCO website: dirco.gov.za/canberra/

Frequently Asked Questions

Through VFS Global. Book at passport.vfsglobal.com. Attend a VFS centre for biometrics. Fee: R1,200 (standard) or R2,400 (maxi). Processing: 6-8 weeks. VFS has centres across Australia, so you do not need to travel to Canberra.

Corner State Circle and Rhodes Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Canberra. The diplomatic suburb of Yarralumla is about 10 minutes from Canberra city centre. There are also honorary consuls in Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane for basic assistance.

Yes, the Canberra High Commission has DHA Live Capture equipment. Email consular.canberra@dirco.gov.za to book. Processing takes 6-12 weeks. You must travel to Canberra for biometric capture as honorary consuls cannot process Smart IDs.

Yes, South Africa does not have a dedicated mission in New Zealand. South Africans in New Zealand are served by the Canberra High Commission. See our New Zealand guide for more details.

Book an appointment at the High Commission. Bring the original Australian birth certificate, both parents' SA IDs/passports, marriage certificate, and DHA-24 form. Processing takes approximately 4 months. You can also contact the honorary consul in your state for guidance.

For after-hours emergencies in Australia, call +61 (0)408 696 993. For global emergencies, contact DIRCO Head Office on +27 12 351 1000.

Australia Services

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