Green ID books to be phased out by March 2028

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says the department will stop producing the green ID book by March 31, 2027, as part of the government’s move towards a more secure digital identity system.

Schreiber says the continued use of the paper-based document contributes to identity theft because its manual photograph can be manipulated.

He also says the green ID book has been identified as a factor contributing to the fraudulent acquisition of identity documents by undocumented immigrants.

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Before production ends, the Department of Home Affairs will ensure that remaining naturalised citizens and permanent residents, as well as South African citizens living abroad, can obtain Smart ID cards.

Schreiber says this will ensure every eligible person has access to the more secure Smart ID.

After production of the green ID book ends, the 14.7 million South African citizens and permanent residents who still hold only a green ID book will have an additional 12 months to replace it with a Smart ID.

The green ID book will officially cease to be recognised as a valid form of identification from March 31, 2028, in terms of Section 25(1B) of the Identification Act.

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First-time applicants and people aged over 60 will remain exempt from paying the Smart ID application fee.

Schreiber says the department has already recorded a significant increase in Smart ID replacement applications over the past six months following its digital partnerships.