South African passport
Encyclopedia
A South African passport is a travel document
issued to citizens of South Africa
for the purpose of international travel. It allows the bearer to travel in foreign countries in accordance with visa requirements, and facilitates the process of securing assistance from South African consular officials
abroad, if necessary. A South African passport is a valid proof of citizenship
document according to South African nationality law
. Currently citizens of South Africa
enjoy visa free access to 88 countries, of which some may require pre travel registration.
South African passports are issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs, in terms of the South African Passport and Travel Documents Act (Act 4 of 1994), and the South African Passport and Travel Documents Regulations of 1996.
Regular passport: These passports are issued to citizens who are 16 years of age or older, and are intended for occasional travel, such as vacations and business trips. They contain 32 pages, and are valid for 10 years. Regular passports are not renewable - when they expire, new passport applications have to be filed.
Maxi passport: Similar to regular passports, but contain 48 pages to cater for frequent travelers. Like regular passports, they are issued to citizens aged 16 and older, are valid for 10 years, and are non-renewable.
Child passport: These passports are issued to citizens who are 15 years of age or younger. They are valid for 5 years, and are non-renewable
Official passport: These passports are issued to officials attached to government institutions who have to travel on official business. They are valid for 5 years, and are issued to officials free of charge by the Department of Home Affairs.
Diplomatic passport: Issued to diplomats and consuls for work-related travel, and to their accompanying dependents.
emblazoned in gold in the center of the front cover. "REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA", French
: "REPUBLIQUE D'AFRIQUE DU SUD" are inscribed in gold text above and below the coat of arms respectively. "PASSPORT", French
: "PASSEPORT" are inscribed in gold text near the bottom of the front cover. The back cover is left blank.
Beginning in 2009, passports were issued with the new South African coat of arms
. Additionally, visa pages now contain a watermark of the Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Elephant, and Rhinoceros - the Big Five
animals of Southern Africa.
The passport note occupies the first page of the passport, and the particulars page occupies the last. The identity information page is printed on the inside of the passport's back cover, opposite the particulars page.
and French
.
In English
:
and in French
:
A machine-readable zone is found at the bottom of the identity information page.
In order to apply for a South African passport, one must fill out application form
BI-73, and bring the appropriate sized photograph
s to ensure correct identity.
South African passports are issued at any home affairs office in South Africa.
According to the South African Citizenship Act (Act 88 of 1995) as amended by the South African Citizenship Amendment Act (Act 17 of 2004), South Africans may hold dual citizenship, but may not use their citizenship of another country to gain advantage or avoid responsibility while in South Africa.
It is also illegal for an adult who holds South African citizenship to enter or depart South Africa using a non-South African passport. Dual nationals traveling on a non-South African passport may be turned away from border checkpoint
s and could be fined or imprisoned for up to 12 months.
Travel document
A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or international treaty organization to facilitate the movement of individuals or small groups of persons across international boundaries...
issued to citizens of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for the purpose of international travel. It allows the bearer to travel in foreign countries in accordance with visa requirements, and facilitates the process of securing assistance from South African consular officials
Consular assistance
Consular assistance is help and advice provided by the diplomatic agents of a country to citizens of that country who are living or traveling overseas.Such assistance may take the form of:* provision of replacement travel documents...
abroad, if necessary. A South African passport is a valid proof of citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
document according to South African nationality law
South African nationality law
South Africa rewrote its nationality law since the end of Apartheid in 1994 and the establishment of majority rule in the country under the African National Congress...
. Currently citizens of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
enjoy visa free access to 88 countries, of which some may require pre travel registration.
South African passports are issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs, in terms of the South African Passport and Travel Documents Act (Act 4 of 1994), and the South African Passport and Travel Documents Regulations of 1996.
Types of passports
There are six types of South African passports:Regular passport: These passports are issued to citizens who are 16 years of age or older, and are intended for occasional travel, such as vacations and business trips. They contain 32 pages, and are valid for 10 years. Regular passports are not renewable - when they expire, new passport applications have to be filed.
Maxi passport: Similar to regular passports, but contain 48 pages to cater for frequent travelers. Like regular passports, they are issued to citizens aged 16 and older, are valid for 10 years, and are non-renewable.
Child passport: These passports are issued to citizens who are 15 years of age or younger. They are valid for 5 years, and are non-renewable
Official passport: These passports are issued to officials attached to government institutions who have to travel on official business. They are valid for 5 years, and are issued to officials free of charge by the Department of Home Affairs.
Diplomatic passport: Issued to diplomats and consuls for work-related travel, and to their accompanying dependents.
Physical appearance
South African passports are green in colour, with the South African coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
emblazoned in gold in the center of the front cover. "REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA", French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: "REPUBLIQUE D'AFRIQUE DU SUD" are inscribed in gold text above and below the coat of arms respectively. "PASSPORT", French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: "PASSEPORT" are inscribed in gold text near the bottom of the front cover. The back cover is left blank.
Beginning in 2009, passports were issued with the new South African coat of arms
Coat of arms of South Africa
The present coat of arms of South Africa was introducedon Freedom Day April 27, 2000. It replaced the earlier national arms, which had been in use since 1910. The motto ǃke e: ǀxarra ǁke is written in the Khoisan language of the ǀXam people and translates literally to "diverse people unite"...
. Additionally, visa pages now contain a watermark of the Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Elephant, and Rhinoceros - the Big Five
Big Five game
The phrase Big Five game was coined by white hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. The term is still used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African wildlife safaris. The collection consists of the lion, African elephant, cape buffalo,...
animals of Southern Africa.
The passport note occupies the first page of the passport, and the particulars page occupies the last. The identity information page is printed on the inside of the passport's back cover, opposite the particulars page.
Languages
The front cover, passport note, particulars page, and identity information page are printed in both EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Passport note
Passports contain a note from the issuing state, addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that they be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside the South African passport states:In English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
:
- In the Name of the President
- The President of the Republic of South AfricaPresident of South AfricaThe President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....
requests all whom it may concern to allow the bearer of this passport to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer all necessary assistance and protection.
and in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
:
- Au Nom du Président
- Le Président de la République d'Afrique du Sud, prie tous ceux que les présentes peuvent concerner de laisser passer librement et sans entrave le titulaire du présent passeport et de lui accorder toute aide et secours en cas de besoin.
Particulars page
The South African passport contains a particulars page, wherein the bearer is instructed to fill in their address of permanent residence and other contact information. Additionally, the bearer is instructed to fill in the name, address, and contact information of someone to notify in case of an accident or death abroad.Identity information page
The following data are printed on the identity information page, located on the inside of the passport's back cover:- Colour photograph of passport holder
- Type [of document]
- CodeISO 3166-1 alpha-3ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes are three-letter country codes defined in ISO 3166-1, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization , to represent countries, dependent territories, and special areas of geographical interest...
[of the issuing country, which is ZAF for South Africa] - Passport number
- Surname
- Given name(s)
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Identity number
- Sex
- Place of birth [lists only the country name]
- Date of issue
- Authority [the issuing authority of the passport, which is Dept Of Home Affairs]
- Date of expiry
A machine-readable zone is found at the bottom of the identity information page.
New passports (with the new coat of arms)
The Department of Home Affairs began issuing new format passports on the 9th of April, 2009. These passports are not biometric but do contain sophisticated security features such as a seven-layer polycarbonate page where personal details and a photograph are laser engraved. Various other security features have been used to bring the passport into line with International Civil Aviation Organisation requirements.Applying and carrying
Form (document)
A form is a document with spaces in which to write or select, for a series of documents with similar contents. The documents usually have the printed parts in common, possibly except for a serial number...
BI-73, and bring the appropriate sized photograph
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
s to ensure correct identity.
South African passports are issued at any home affairs office in South Africa.
According to the South African Citizenship Act (Act 88 of 1995) as amended by the South African Citizenship Amendment Act (Act 17 of 2004), South Africans may hold dual citizenship, but may not use their citizenship of another country to gain advantage or avoid responsibility while in South Africa.
It is also illegal for an adult who holds South African citizenship to enter or depart South Africa using a non-South African passport. Dual nationals traveling on a non-South African passport may be turned away from border checkpoint
Border checkpoint
A border checkpoint is a place, generally between two countries, where travellers and/or goods are inspected. Authorization often is required to enter a country through its borders. Access-controlled borders often have a limited number of checkpoints where they can be crossed without legal...
s and could be fined or imprisoned for up to 12 months.
See also
- Visa requirements for South African citizensVisa requirements for South African citizensHolders of regular South African passports are allowed to enter a number of countries without the need of a visa. Prior application for a visa is required for countries or territories not mentioned below....
- Department of Home Affairs (South Africa)
- South African nationality lawSouth African nationality lawSouth Africa rewrote its nationality law since the end of Apartheid in 1994 and the establishment of majority rule in the country under the African National Congress...