For years, South Africans have carried around the old green ID book, a little paper relic that has become more outdated with every passing decade. Now, that chapter is coming to an end.
The government is finally moving full steam ahead with a digital-first approach, making IDs and passports easier to get than ever before.
Major Banks Step In
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced that some of the country’s biggest banks are officially on board to expand Smart ID and passport services.
Over the next 12 months, at least 840 new bank branches will be able to process these applications.
This is one of the largest expansions of digital service delivery the Department of Home Affairs has ever rolled out.
Discovery Bank Joins the Push
The latest to join the effort is Discovery Bank, which signed onto the public–private partnership alongside other major players.
Earlier this week, Capitec and FNB were the first to get the ball rolling on August 11, followed quickly by Standard Bank and Absa.
Together, FNB, Capitec, and Standard Bank will handle most of the new service points.
From Pilot Project to National Rollout
In the past, only 30 bank branches across the country—run by Absa, Discovery, FNB, Nedbank, and Standard Bank—offered limited Home Affairs services.
These offices operated on a costly model that required separate DHA staff and duplicate systems.
The new approach is far more efficient: banks will integrate Home Affairs’ digital systems directly into their own branches, meaning fewer queues and less red tape for citizens.
The End of the Green Book
With hundreds of new service points opening up, the green ID book is finally on its way out.
In the near future, millions of South Africans won’t need to step inside a Home Affairs office at all when applying for an ID or passport—they’ll simply walk into their local bank branch.
What This Means for You
If you’re still holding on to your green ID book, its days are numbered.
The switch to Smart IDs is moving quickly, and with banks making the process more convenient, the retirement of the green book is becoming a reality.