South African Passport Renewal in the UK 2026 (DHA / VFS Global)

South African passports are not extended. The current UK guidance states that a new passport can be applied for 6 to 12 months before expiry or when there are no blank visa pages. Adult passports are generally valid for 10 years and passports for children under 16 for 5 years.

The South African Department of Home Affairs has outsourced UK passport application services to VFS Global. VFS handles adult passport applications for citizens with a 13-digit bar-coded ID book or Smart ID Card and child passport applications for eligible children under 15 years and 9 months whose birth was registered with Home Affairs and who have a South African unabridged birth certificate.

Current VFS Global locations listed for South African passport services in the UK are London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Choose the available centre shown through the official passport booking route before travelling.

Complete the required forms fully in black ink and block letters. Do not leave mandatory sections incomplete. BI/DHA-529 contains citizenship, parental and marital-status information and must be completed according to the overseas instructions.

Bring the relevant South African identity document, existing passport, birth or citizenship documents and other supporting evidence required for your circumstances. The UK High Commission instructs applicants to bring originals and copies.

Use clear professionally taken colour photographs measuring 35 mm x 45 mm, with the full face visible and a clear forehead. The UK guidance specifies no glasses and head-and-shoulders framing.

Use the official South African passport VFS booking route linked by the High Commission. Book one appointment slot per applicant. Passport applications require physical attendance because the application includes identity verification and, for applicants 16 and older, fingerprints.

Attend in person with the completed forms, originals, copies, photographs and other required evidence. DHA-9 is supplied as part of the appointment process for applicants who need fingerprints.

The current High Commission UK tariff lists £58 for a normal 32-page adult passport and £58 for a child passport. Lost, stolen or damaged replacements are £116. VFS applicants must follow the VFS payment instructions and must not deposit the passport fee into the High Commission's account unless applying through the High Commission route specifically covered by its instructions.

Passport applications made in the UK are processed through the South African Department of Home Affairs in South Africa. The High Commission's UK guidance currently states an average overall processing time of approximately 6 to 12 months.

Do not assume a 3- to 6-month delivery period. The official UK guidance states 6 to 12 months and asks applicants not to contact the mission unnecessarily for progress updates because repeated progress enquiries can add administrative delay.

Passport collection is subject to the instructions provided after processing. Third-party collection is prohibited under the High Commission's current notice. Passports cannot be collected on weekends or UK or South African public holidays.

Valid visas in the current passport are not automatically cancelled merely because you apply for a new South African passport. The High Commission specifically notes that valid foreign visas in the current passport are unaffected and questions about those visas should be directed to the issuing country.

The current High Commission guidance states that South African citizens, including dual or multiple citizens, must use a valid South African passport when entering and leaving South Africa.