I went all the way to Mabopane to receive an update since the people were on the phone were telling me one moment that my ID has been out for months then another call they would say it's only on Stage 1. As expected the ID was not ready at Mabopane and I was only told what my ID number is. Not even sure what I can do with that info

 

Is this for Cirical Skills PR? when did you apply?

 

Anyone got their ID recently in critical skills category? this is taking forever now.

 

I called DHA a few days ago and was informed that my ID application is still at the first-issue stage, and that they have no idea when it will move to the next stage. Prior to this interaction, I had emailed DHA via the HACC email address, and they responded with the same information, while assuring me that my application was receiving immediate attention.

 

@ Twrist, so sorry about your predicament. You should have applied for a Traffic Register while you were using temporary visas. I had my traffic register while I was still using temporary visa, so registering for a driver's licence after getting my PR was very easy. You cannot do much so just wait and hold, and don't give money to anyone to avoid getting it all wrong. As soon as ID is out you can follow up and get it done. Baby steps okay, all will be fine, we are almost there. Enjoy your day

 

I want to echo that advice. @twrist don't be discouraged. If you really think about it, you will find that it makes sense. It would be akin to duplicating your identity or profile in the system if we were allowed to do that. I'm sure, as someone here in the forum suggested, they would allow you to get a TR with your temp visa if still valid, but if you were to go back to merge/transfer it to your ID after you get it, i suspect there could be a problem when they see the timelines (i.e. why did you apply for this document using a document that predates your most recent document?). Don't quote me on this, but I would go further in speculating that, best-case scenario, they would make you apply for your license from scratch, based on your ID.

Just be patient, stay focused. You have cleared the hardest hurdle, and it's all flat surface from now on . I know for a fact that at least securing employment is much easier now. As well as registering a company, applying for a loan, credit, travelling without restrictions, and all the rest of it. Take it from me, I'm still on the other side, climbing the hurdles.

All the best. 🤞

 

Given that I'm still waiting for my ID, I thought I'd try to do something productive and apply for a driver's licence, but apparently foreigners need a Traffic Registration Number so I went along to the Traffic Registration office to apply for one of those, and was told they are only for people on temporary visas, so i don't qualify (!). The traffic department won't let me apply for a licence without an ID though, and they won't accept my PR certificate, so once again I'm stuck in this weird limbo of being permanent but not permanent enough. Has anyone dealt with something similar?

I'm so sick of not having an ID number. I keep running up against walls at every turn. I'm trying to be a productive member of society over here!

 

Now you know what SA looks like, LOL.

Productive? Efficiency? with DHA or any government agency?

How long have you been here?

BTW, why not use your temp visa to apply for the Traffic Registration Number? Is it still valid? Why did you show your PR certificate to the officials?

Sometime, you need to be more creative to be "productive" in SA.

 

@ Task. When we applied in January 2025 there was no verification required. They told us they no longer required Verification of PRP to process the Green book ID. I submitted with ease and still waiting for outcome, even called yesterday and they said its on process call back in 2 weeks. All the best though

 

Hi @Vero27

So I also thought you do not need the PR verification

It was mentioned to go to Orange Farm home affairs to apply for my daughters first green ID book

we did the application in april

when I phoned the Orange farm branch to I was told that they have sent back the application and we need to get the verification before they will continue with the application

I’ve done the verification application at VFS at the start of this month and hoping it gets done soon

all the best. It can be so confusing sometimes

 

Hi @Vero27

So I also thought you do not need the PR verification

It was mentioned to go to Orange Farm home affairs to apply for my daughters first green ID book

we did the application in april

when I phoned the Orange farm branch to I was told that they have sent back the application and we need to get the verification before they will continue with the application

I’ve done the verification application at VFS at the start of this month and hoping it gets done soon

all the best. It can be so confusing sometimes

@Task
Thanks for sharing. I'm sorry to hear that they sent back the application for your daughter.

I agree, it can be confusing, especially with so little information available at DHA or VFS

For PR Certificates that were just recently issued (this year), it just doesn't make sense that we need to go and verify it and I was told over the phone that DHA will do their own verification

Anyway, I really hope you get the verification soon. All the best to you and your daughter

 

@Vero27, Thanks I hope to get it soon. Yes you must try to do that soon. Have a nice day

 

@Blissful Scent
Thank you. Have a nice day too

 

@ Vero27, Congrats on your PRP. As a matter of fact I also received my PRP certificate in January 2025, and within the next week I applied for an ID. Although I'm based in Johannesburg I applied without any stress, as most of the selected Home Affairs offices where you apply for Green ID book does not need PRP verification as all verification is done from their system. I believe the branch you went and the person incharge is being sarcastic and wicked. You must try to locate another branch where you can apply for a green ID book in KZN as the case maybe, or you visit other branches in Capetown or Johannesburg to apply without stress. Try calling the home affairs to get a better answer on where to go apply. Sorry for all the stress

 

@Blissful Scent
Thank you so much for your reply and sharing your experience at DHA, I really appreciate it. Congrats on your PRP. I'm so glad that you could apply for the Green ID without any issue and I really hope that you will get your ID soon. I received my PRP when we were still in Pretoria and then got very busy with the move. I will take your advice and find out about other branches where I can apply. Thank you for your kind words

 

Hi everyone,

I'm very thankful that I came across this thread. I received my PRP in January 2025 and am among those who only received one A4 certificate. I live in KZN and was wondering if anyone has been able to successfully apply for a green ID book. I was directed to Chatsworth DHA after being told that DHA Umgeni is only issuing the smart ID and as a PR, I have to first apply for the green ID book, which is really fine with me. Just being able to get an ID would be a blessing. However, the person in charge at Chatsworth DHA insisted that I get a PR verification, told me to go to VFS. Went there and was told that I need to apply for a Proof of Permanent Residence. With a lot of research, I found out that PR Verification and POP are 2 different things. A woman from the helpline of DHA also confirmed that DHA does its own verification when we apply for an ID book. So now, I can either go back to Chatsworth and confront this man and insist on applying for the ID or find another branch, except that I don't know any other DHA in KZN and even the helpline has not been able to direct me to another branch. I will really appreciate some advice

 

 

Thats good. I already called today, they said still on process ID section. I must call Back in 2 weeks

 

@makPret, Thats a great news you just gave us here. I applied in January 2025, I'm going to put a call through today and hear what they say. Which Home affairs did you apply from? Your response will be appreciated

 

I applied at Mabopane office on the 20th of December

 

Beware what the HACC tells you sometimes that system is broken. I called and have now been told that my ID has been out since 17 Jan like I was told earlier and that I do have an ID number but for secuirty reasons they won't tell me over the phone. I'm just going to go and check at the office hopefully it's there.

Then I can apply for my smartID and put all of this behind me

 

Oh, wow - I just called the HACC now and I have been issued with an ID number finally! 🙌

Unlike other people's experience here, she wouldn't tell me the number over the phone, but this feels like massive progress. I applied at the beginning of December

 

If only they could wrap up our pending Green Book ID cards bc my Mom only applied for Smart ID 2 weeks ago and it's already out

 

Yeah it's so frustrating. I suspect they've taken all the staff off the green ID books, because how can it possibly take this long, really?

 

Good day

Here’s an update on my daughter’s ID application. We did the application in March 2025. Since the end of June I’ve been trying to orange farm number to see if there an updates, but have never gotten through to them . Yesterday after waiting 45 minutes I got through to homeaffairs help line. They told me her application had missing documents ) which they can’t tell what it is ) and I need to ask orange farm ( which no one’s answers). I suspect it’s the prp verification letter which my daughter never had because she got her prp in early 2012. The orange farm staff told me it’s not needed

I have an allotment at VFS later this week to do the application. Does anyone know how long it takes to get the verification once you do the applucation

thank you

 

I double checked and called home affairs again today and now they are saying it's still in processing. I am very confused whether it's out or not and the office is quite far from me so it's not a simple process to just check in whenever I wish.

Question i have a friend who lives in Mabopane am I allowed to ask him to just check for me at the Home Affairs if it's out or not? Then if it is i'll come collect it? Is that allowed

 

You can delegate (power of attorney) someone to collect your visa/permit from VFS, but you 100% cannot do the same for your ID book.
I would suggest you show up, still. Once there, you will be given accurate information. You might find that it HAS been received and it's on site, but the delivery/feedback system hasn't been properly updated.

 

Guys a bit of a weird situation. So as I said I applied for my Green Book ID in December after I got my PR. Now for the past 7 months I have been occasionally (every 2 weeks) calling Home Affairs to check on the status of my ID and they would say it's stage 1.

I called today and to my suprise they told me it's ready for collection at Mabopane and arrived there on 17 January 2025. I don't understand if it's been ready all this time howcome they kept telling me it's stage 1? and also that would mean it only took 1 month which i'm skeptical

 

Oh that's so bizarre. I am in the same situation. I applied at the end of November and have been calling every two weeks too - also keep getting told that it is at stage 1, or 'not yet at stage 1', even.

When I saw your message just now I wanted to call but they are closed of course. I'll try on Monday! Perhaps they have started clearing the backlog 🤞

 

Any news about Green Book IDs being issued? I've been waiting 7 months since December 202

 

I called home affairs call centre they say my ID application is suspended, l went to the branch where l applied they told me not to worry its something to with verification which will be done by the branch and thereafter they will send back the application to head office was left confused......

 

hey guys i wanna ask is it possible to get drivers without ID? I have my PR and am still waiting on my ID at Home Affairs. I might have the oppurtunity to study overseas in a country that has a reciprocal agreement with SA meaning it would be easy to trade license to that countries one wheras i'd be paying an arm and a leg to do the proces from beginning that side

 

as far as I know any foreigner legally residing in ZA can get a driver's license, you need a traffic register number first and the rest is just the usual process, using a TRN instead of an ID number:

Apply for a traffic register number | South African Government

About What you should do How long does it take How much does it cost Forms to complete Who to contact

www.gov.za

 

Hi guys,

What is happening with first-time Green ID Applications? I have seen this on Facebook Group and also heard from grapevine that "the issuing of first time green ID books has been put on hold until further notice by the Minister" PRP Holders have been waiting for IDS since October 2024 and when they enquire they're told that 'ID still on the 1st stage'

 

I went to Mabopane, where I applied since October 2024 as well. I was told that all PRPs are suspended/cancelled and are being verified first. I was told that the applications are being sent back for verification before they can be printed. I do not really understand what the process is anymore. I have been waiting for more than 6 months now. The staff there have no idea how long the verification will take as well.

 

I thought they had gotten rid of the ID backlog. mine has been processing for 5 months now and still on Stage 1( so no ID number assigned yet) is there something wrong?

 

If you are married it may take longer depending on how quickly your home country responds with verification of your marital status in your home country.

 

I think it means that the system has successfully verified your mom based on existing green book id number so no additional documents are required. But to be honest i am just thinking here.
Maybe the best way is you continue with the process and let us know how it goes?

 

Okay just got off the phone with Home Affairs and confirmed some things.
1) I myself can only get a SmartID once my Physical Green-ID Book comes out not after Stage 1 when they assign a ID number.

2) It's probably as you said because the lady said eHomeAffairs would not allow My Mom to upload any docs and she should bring the originals to her bank branch appointment. Will update as the process goes on

 

Anyone who's used eHomeAffairs to apply for SmartID? I filled in the form and all for my Mom and submitted but when on the tab for uploading supporting documents it said 'None Required' I'm worried whether that is normal. I'm yet to pay so can't book an appointment at a bank branch yet.

 

Hey mate, maybe you could help me. I registered on home affairs and trying to complete the form but I am not getting lucky to proceed. Could you help me how you managed to navigate the following when you were completing the form:

• How are you a citizen: Here I selected Other and put Non citizen
• Then below there is a tab that says Create Application products, 1sty it was grayed out but when selected How are you a citizen and put non citizen I was able to click this. However when I click Create Application Products, nothing happens on the form
• Then also when I registered online I received this email and would you explain what this means? Does this means I must first visit home affairs offices in person to activate the profile? This is the email I got:
• Thank you for registering as an eHomeAffairs Citizen. Your eHomeAffairs "Temporary" profile details are as follows:
  LOGON NAME:
  PASSWORD: "As selected by yourself during temporary registration". If you have forgotten your password please use the "Password Reset" function on the eHomeAffairs.
  As a temporary registered Citizen, you are still required to visit your local Home Affairs branch to activate your "Permanent" profile. This activation can only be done as part of your 1st application captured and submitted via the eHomeAffairs.

 

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/594231-good-news-for-people-who-could-not-get-smart-id-cards.html

Good news! We can start applying for SmartID from tomorrow.
Im wondering since I have a pending Green Book ID im waiting for will I have to wait until that comes out to apply for SmartID

 

I'm wondering the same thing. I'm still waiting for my Green ID Book (actually, I'm on hold to the Home Affairs Contact Centre as I type this haha) - but I'd love to apply for a Smart ID as soon as I can. It's frustrating that I don't know my ID number, though - so there's no chance of using eHomeAffairs.

 

Good day, congrats on your PrP and ID application. Do you mind sharing more information on the documents required and which office did you apply for? What was the experience? How long did they take to attend to you? How were the queues? Is there a separate queue for PrP ID applications or there is inly one queue including SA citizens?

And also i see posts about Proof or verification of PrP , is this something required because we received just one copy of permanent residence this year, there was no other copy. Is this document required or just a certified copy if the PrP? Thanks