United States

South African Embassy in Washington DC

Complete guide to the South African Embassy in Washington DC, plus consulates in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Passport renewal, Smart ID, citizenship, birth registration, and consular services for South Africans in the United States.

Contact Information

Embassy Address

3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
United States

Phone & Email

Phone: +1 (240) 937 5760
Consular: consular.saembassydc@dirco.gov.za
Immigration: immigration.saembassydc@dirco.gov.za
General: info.saembassydc@dirco.gov.za
Emergency: +1 (202) 413-1953

Opening Hours

SA citizens: Mon-Thu 09:30-12:30 (no appointment required)
Non-SA citizens: By appointment only via picktime.com
Closed on US & South African public holidays

Consulates General

New York: dirco.gov.za/newyork/
Los Angeles: dirco.gov.za/losangeles/
Chicago: Serves the Midwest region

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 the United States

South African passport renewals in the US are processed through VFS Global centres. Applications are forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in Pretoria for processing.

Step-by-Step: Renewing Your SA Passport in the US

  1. Book online at passport.vfsglobal.com
  2. Gather documents: current passport, South African ID (Smart ID card or green ID book), 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) — paid in USD equivalent
  5. Wait for processing: approximately 6-8 weeks
  6. Collect passport from VFS centre 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

Lost or stolen passport? If negligence, the fee is doubled. With a police report (theft/robbery), the standard fee applies. Contact the Embassy for an Emergency Travel Certificate for urgent travel.

Booking Appointments

How to Book

South Africans in the United States

The United States is home to an estimated 100,000+ South Africans, with major communities in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Atlanta. The Embassy in Washington DC and consulates in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago serve this community. The official DIRCO website is dirco.gov.za/washingtondc/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Passport renewals are processed through VFS Global. Book at passport.vfsglobal.com, attend a VFS centre for biometric capture, and wait 6-8 weeks. The fee is R1,200 (standard) or R2,400 (maxi 48-page). You can also apply at the Embassy or consulates directly for first-time applications.

South African citizens can visit the consular section Mon-Thu 09:30-12:30 without an appointment. Non-SA citizens seeking visa services must book via picktime.com. Passport renewals require a separate VFS Global appointment.

Besides the Embassy in Washington DC, South Africa has Consulates General in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Each provides consular services including passport applications, birth registration, and citizenship matters. Check their DIRCO pages for specific hours and services.

If your child was born in the US and at least one parent is a South African citizen, you can register the birth at the Embassy or nearest consulate. Bring the original US birth certificate, both parents' SA IDs/passports, marriage certificate, and completed DHA-24 form. Processing takes approximately 4 months as applications are sent to DHA in Pretoria.

When applying from abroad, a standard 32-page passport costs R1,200 and a maxi 48-page passport costs R2,400 (paid in USD equivalent). If replacing a lost passport due to negligence, double the fee. Emergency Travel Certificates cost R140.

For after-hours emergencies, call +1 (202) 413-1953. For general emergencies when no local mission is reachable, contact DIRCO Head Office on +27 12 351 1000.

US Services

Official Links