Why are embassy fees double the domestic DHA fees?

Missions abroad charge a surcharge to cover consular service costs including staff, secure courier services, and diplomatic pouch postage back to Pretoria for processing.

How much does a police clearance certificate cost?

A South African Police Clearance Certificate costs R190, payable to SAPS. If applying from abroad, additional costs may apply for fingerprinting and courier services. The certificate is valid for 6 months.

How much does an apostille cost in South Africa?

DIRCO charges R80 per document for apostille authentication. Processing takes 5-10 working days. Third-party services charge R500-R2,000+ including handling.

Are DHA fees refundable if my application is rejected?

Application fees are generally non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Ensure you have all required documents before submitting.

Do VFS Global centres charge extra fees on top of DHA fees?

Yes, VFS Global charges a separate service fee on top of DHA fees. The amount varies by country. Contact your local VFS centre for the total cost.

Is a Smart ID card free?

Your first Smart ID card is free. Replacements cost R140. A temporary identity certificate costs R70. Smart ID cards are generally not available at missions abroad.

Fee Schedule

South African Embassy & DHA Fees 2026

Q: How much does a South African passport cost in 2026?

A standard 32-page adult passport costs R600 within South Africa or R1,200 at an embassy abroad. A 48-page Maxi Tourist Passport costs R1,200 domestically or R2,400 abroad. Child passports cost the same as adult passports. Missions abroad also add a local currency surcharge.

Q: How much does an Emergency Travel Certificate cost?

An Emergency Travel Certificate (BI-123) costs R140 and can be issued within 1-2 working days by any South African mission abroad. It is valid for a single journey.

Complete official fee schedule for passport, Smart ID, visa, police clearance, birth certificate, apostille, and document services. Fees shown are DHA tariffs in South African Rand (ZAR). Missions abroad charge the overseas rate plus a local currency surcharge.

Last verified against DHA Tariffs (dha.gov.za), July 2025 schedule.

Passport Fees

South African passport fees differ depending on whether you apply within South Africa (at a DHA office or bank branch) or abroad (at an embassy, high commission, consulate, or VFS Global centre).

Applications Within South Africa (DHA Offices)

Service	Fee (ZAR)	Validity
Adult Passport (32 pages)	R600	10 years
Child Passport (under 16)	R600	5 years
Maxi Tourist Passport (48 pages)	R1,200	10 years
Diplomatic / Official Passport	R600	As issued
Document for Travelling Purposes (BI-105)	R600	Limited
Crew Member Certificate	R600	As issued

Applications Abroad (Embassies & Consulates)

Service	Fee (ZAR)	Notes
Adult or Child Passport (32 pages)	R1,200	+ local currency surcharge
Maxi Tourist Passport (48 pages)	R2,400	+ local currency surcharge

Replacement Passports (Lost, Stolen, or Damaged)

Circumstance	Fee
Applicant at fault (negligence)	Double the standard fee
Not applicant's fault (e.g., robbery with police report)	Standard fee applies

Overseas payment: Fees at missions abroad are paid in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate. Payment methods vary by mission (cash, card, bank transfer). VFS Global centres charge an additional service fee. Contact your embassy for exact local currency amounts.

Source: dha.gov.za/index.php/51-tariffs

Emergency Travel Certificate Fees

An Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC, form BI-123) is issued by South African missions abroad when a citizen's passport is lost, stolen, or damaged while travelling. It is valid for a single journey.

Service	Fee (ZAR)	Issued By	Processing
Emergency Travel Certificate (BI-123)	R140	SA missions abroad	1-2 working days

You will need a police report (if passport was stolen), any available ID documents, and a completed application form. Source: dha.gov.za, dirco.gov.za

Smart ID Card Fees

Service	Fee (ZAR)	Notes
First ID Document (including Smart ID)	FREE	All SA citizens aged 16+
Re-issue of ID (replacement)	R140	Lost, stolen, or damaged
Temporary Identity Certificate	R70	Valid for 3 months

Smart ID abroad: Smart ID cards are not generally available at overseas missions. Most overseas South Africans must apply when visiting South Africa at a DHA Live Capture office. Exception: government employees stationed abroad may apply at their nearest mission.

Source: dha.gov.za, gov.za

Police Clearance Certificate Fee

A South African Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) confirms whether an individual has a criminal record. It is required for immigration, employment, and adoption applications worldwide.

Service	Fee (ZAR)	Validity	Processing Time
Police Clearance Certificate	R190	6 months from issue	~15 working days (SA); 6-8 weeks (abroad)

Applications from abroad: have fingerprints taken at your nearest SA mission or local police station, then courier the SAPS 91(a) form directly to SAPS in Pretoria. The embassy does not forward it for you.

Issuing authority: SAPS Criminal Record & Crime Scene Management. Source: saps.gov.za

Birth, Death & Marriage Certificate Fees

Service	Fee (ZAR)	Notes
First Unabridged Birth Certificate	FREE	Apply at DHA or via SA mission abroad
First Abridged Death/Marriage Certificate	FREE
Additional Abridged Birth/Death/Marriage Certificate	R75	Per copy
Computer Printed / Handwritten Certificate	R20
Birth Register Amendment	R70
Letter of Marital Status Confirmation	R50	Required for marrying abroad
Late Registration of Birth (after 30 days)	R25	Birth registration within 30 days is free

Unabridged birth certificates (showing both parents' details) are required for child passport applications and international travel with children. Processing takes 8-12 weeks.

Source: dha.gov.za

Name Change Fees

Service	Fee (ZAR)
Minor Forename or Surname Change	R70
Major Forename Change	R140
Major Surname Assumption	R325
Duplicate Confirmation of Name Change	R70

A Gazette notice is published for major name changes. Applications from abroad can be submitted through an SA mission. Source: dha.gov.za

Apostille & Document Legalisation Fees

South Africa is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention (signed 3 August 1994, enforced 30 April 1995). DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) is the sole Competent Authority for issuing apostilles in South Africa.

Service	Fee (ZAR)	Notes
DIRCO Authentication / Apostille	R80 per document	Processing: 5-10 working days
Notarial Services at Missions (per document)	Varies by mission	Affidavits, declarations, certified copies

For non-Hague Convention countries: a two-step process is needed — first DIRCO authentication, then legalisation by the destination country's embassy in South Africa.

Source: dirco.gov.za

Visa Fees (Visiting South Africa)

Visa Type	Fee	Processing Time
Tourist Visa (single entry)	Varies by nationality	5-10 working days
Tourist Visa (multiple entry)	Varies by nationality	5-10 working days
Business Visa	Varies by nationality	5-10 working days
Study Visa	Varies by nationality	4-8 weeks
Work Visa (General/Critical Skills)	Varies by nationality	4-8 weeks
Transit Visa	Varies by nationality	5-10 working days

Visa fees depend on your nationality and visa type. Citizens of visa-exempt countries do not need a visa for short stays (up to 90 days for most). Check the visa requirements page for details.

Payment Methods

Bank Transfer

Most missions accept bank transfers to their official accounts. Request banking details from your embassy before making payment. Keep proof of payment for your appointment.

Cash Payment

Cash in local currency is accepted at most missions. Some may also accept South African Rand. Exact amounts recommended as change may not always be available.

Card Payment

Debit and credit card facilities are available at some missions. Contact your embassy to confirm card payment availability before your appointment.

VFS Global Payments

Where VFS Global handles applications, payments are made at VFS service centres. Additional VFS service fees apply on top of DHA fees. See VFS Global portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

A standard 32-page adult passport costs R600 when applied for within South Africa at a DHA office, or R1,200 when applied for abroad at an embassy or consulate. A 48-page Maxi Tourist Passport costs R1,200 domestically or R2,400 abroad. Child passports (under 16) cost the same as adult passports. Missions abroad also add a local currency surcharge.

South African missions abroad charge a surcharge on top of standard DHA fees to cover the additional costs of providing consular services overseas, including staff, secure courier services, and diplomatic pouch postage back to Pretoria for processing. The overseas fee for a standard passport (R1,200) is exactly double the domestic fee (R600).

A South African Police Clearance Certificate costs R190. This fee is payable directly to SAPS (South African Police Service). If applying from abroad, you may also need to pay for fingerprinting at your local embassy or police station, plus courier costs to send the application to SAPS in Pretoria. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

DIRCO charges R80 per document for apostille authentication. Processing takes 5-10 working days in person or longer by post. DIRCO (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) in Pretoria is the sole authority that can issue apostilles in South Africa. Third-party services that manage the process on your behalf charge significantly more (R500-R2,000+).

An Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC, form BI-123) costs R140 and can be issued within 1-2 working days by any South African mission abroad. It is valid for a single journey and is issued when your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged while you are overseas. You will need a police report (if stolen) and any available identification.

Application fees are generally non-refundable regardless of the outcome. This is standard practice for government services. Ensure you have all required documents before submitting your application to avoid unnecessary costs.

Yes, VFS Global charges a separate service fee on top of the DHA application fees. This covers administrative services including application processing, biometric capture, document handling, and courier services. The VFS service fee varies by country. Contact your local VFS centre for the total cost.

Your first Smart ID card is free for all South African citizens aged 16 and older. Replacement cards (for lost, stolen, or damaged cards) cost R140. A temporary identity certificate costs R70 and is valid for 3 months. Note that Smart ID cards are generally not available at missions abroad — most overseas South Africans must apply when visiting South Africa.

Quick Fee Lookup

Passport (SA): R600 (32pg) / R1,200 (48pg)
Passport (abroad): R1,200 (32pg) / R2,400 (48pg)
Smart ID: FREE (first) / R140 (replacement)
Police Clearance: R190
Birth Certificate: FREE (first) / R75 (additional)
Apostille: R80 per document
Emergency Travel Cert: R140
Temp ID Certificate: R70