Temporary SA passports to be discontinued
As of 1 September, the Department of Home Affairs will no longer issue temporary passports.
The department says its turnaround time in producing permanent passports has drastically improved and temporary documents are no longer required.
The department’s Mayihlome Tshwete said, “The department is making great improvements and using a lot of technology and as a result, our systems are faster than they were.”
“Only an emergency travel certificate (ETC) will be issued to an applicants under circumstances of emergency travel purposes… to countries that accept ETCs for purposes of assisting family members in distress or if a family member is deceased.”
Home Affairs advises travellers to make contact with the respective Embassy or High Commission for the destination they will be travelling to, in order to check whether the emergency passport will be accepted.
To apply for an emergency passport, you will need:
* An original ID book
* To photos
* R140
The Department of Home Affairs stressed that emergency passports are only issued to assist families in distress.
