With your passport collection - you state that you were called at 13.25 yet you say that you left the centre at 12.45. These times do not stack up. Something is incorrect with your times.

 

Thank you for the detailed report. Its much needed and I'm sure it will help many. Can I ask if you perhaps have any information on marriage certificate Apostille. I had mine done in 2014 when i changed my passport to my Married name. I still have the Apostille of 2014 stuck on my English Marriage certificate. Just wondered if I have to re-do it again or can use that one.

 

Hi there, quick question - did you have to make a copy of your original certificate with the apostille? If so how did you get it certified? Slightly confused by the rules in the UK as apparently copies of marriage certificates can’t be certified in the same way as other documents because of some law. The only way is get an “official” copy from the registry and get an aspotille attached if needed.
Your help would be sincerely appreciated

 

HI,
I am having trouble using the link to book an appointment at VFS. Did you have any trouble?

 

I had a lot of frustration with setting up the account and booking. In the end, I got round to booking much quicker by email: info.sapasportsinuk@vfsglobal.com

 

Hi, I have not booked my app yet. Only going to get my documents certified at postoffice this week then will start that

 

Thanks for letting me know

 

Charliehagon & Skyfelt, not sure how you are both getting on, but just to let you know that our marriage certificate was apostilled in 2012 and was accepted and we also had trouble booking an appointment at Manchester so ended up going to Edinburgh for my husband's passport.

 

Hello, I renewed my SA Passport on the 5th January at the VFS office in Edinburgh the advisor told me it would take 4-6 weeks I have now been told 2-6 MONTHS! As you can imagine I am not happy, anyone else experiencing this poor service? It's absolutely ridiculous, not even Australia has such long delays!!!

 

My husband renewed his SA passport in Edinburgh.
His appointment was on 16th Feb and we have just had an email today to say it's ready for collection. So in total it's taken only 3 weeks and 1 day !

 

My husband renewed his SA passport in Edinburgh.
His appointment was on 16th Feb and we have just had an email today to say it's ready for collection. So in total it's taken only 3 weeks and 1 day !
[/QUOT

My husband renewed his SA passport in Edinburgh.
His appointment was on 16th Feb and we have just had an email today to say it's ready for collection. So in total it's taken only 3 weeks and 1 day !

Thank you for letting me know, they have clearly lost mine!

 

Hi. Does anyone know if a marriage certificate is necessary if my name has already been changed back home and all my documentation is in my new surname?

Also, does anyone know what documents are needed in order for me to receive a new passport as my passport and marriage certificate were both stolen.

 

Did you ever get an answer to this? I also need to know if I have to submit my UK marriage certificate again even if I had done it previously

 

Hello, I renewed my SA Passport on the 5th January at the VFS office in Edinburgh the advisor told me it would take 4-6 weeks I have now been told 2-6 MONTHS! As you can imagine I am not happy, anyone else experiencing this poor service? It's absolutely ridiculous, not even Australia has such long delays!!!

Hi do you need certified copies of ID, marriage certificate etc? Or will they be able to do it there?

 

 

Thank you for your experience. I want to apply for passport renewal, but other that the Application Form and the Citizenship determination, I cannot see what other documents I need to bring (with certified copies)?

 

I’m a South African citizen with ILR in UK.

I’d like to share my experience of applying for new passport here.

You can apply for it at 3 VFS Global centres: Manchester, London, Edinburgh. Dept of Home Affairs launched new application process in June 2022, with VFS as official outsourcing partner. They promised this would speed up the wait times for new passports.

Prior to that you had to apply via South African House in London and could apply in person or by post. You had to request a unique form with barcode for your fingerprints in writing in advance and wait good few months just to receive that (according to the few posts I could find). I read you have to apply about 12 months before it’s due to expire as it takes long for the application to be processed etc.

It is no longer possible to apply via South African house and you must make appointment at VFS office.

On the VFS website it has 2 forms you need to download and print and complete. They give you the other form with barcode for fingerprints at the centre during your appointment, there is no way to get this form before that (more about this form and fingerprints later)

I was able to get appointment for the next day. You don’t pay when you book, you pay for everything at the centre during your appointment. The cost is £107.50. This includes appointment, processing, the form for taking of fingerprints and photo’s. They didn’t even ask me if I had photo’s, they take it there and that’s how it’s done.

Documents you need to take:
The 2 completed application forms - make sure you make note of your parents and spouse’s ID numbers, date of their marriage etc as you need it for those forms and again once they’ve taken those forms from you! (More about that further down!)

Current passport
Current ID book /card

If married - original marriage certificate, signed letter stating if you want passport in married or maiden name

If you are divorced or have dual nationality there are other documents needed.

I recommend contacting them via email to check beforehand. They take 2 days to reply, but helpful replies. There is also premium phone number, but it’s very expensive and try keeping you on phone longer.

You need 2 certified copies of each document you submit (excluding application forms) - can be certified at post office, by solicitor or accountant etc. I also noticed while at the centre that they did it there for some people.

Now, more about appointment. My appointment was on 01/12/2022. As I said, I went to Manchester centre. The centre is not conveniently located and bit far out for those using tram or train. I got an uber, noticed many did the same.

Be prepared for a long wait!

You can only enter centre from 20 mins before your appointment time. My appointment was early morning and it was cold that day. Had to wait outside until 20 mins before time.

when you check in, you are given barcoded number. Let’s say my number was ABC03. You then wait for your number to flash on the screen and off you go.

Each country is served by different counter and I noticed different number sequences for each.

I’d been sat down for 15 mins and heard number ABC01 being called, I though oh okay, they are probably like 30 mins behind. That applicant’s appointment lasted about 45 mins! Then I heard they were given a form and told to complete it in waiting area and when they are done to return it to counter. Okay, so I thought maybe they didn’t have all the forms filled out before appointment.

Then, I number ABCA01 was called, I was expecting ABC02 to be called. That applicant had their 45 mins of fun and then next number was ABC02, then ABCA02 and finally ABC03 (me!, more than 2 and half hours after appointment time!) I realised it must be that they do one passport application, then one visa application appointment.

So, when you are at the counter they ask you for all the documents, then you need to roll your own fingerprints in black ink and press your fingers down on the fingerprints form with barcode on. The same form you can only get during the appointment time and not before, the same form that you then need to take to the waiting room to complete after paying your £107.50 and having your photo taken by camera with blinding flash!

Remember I said to make sure you have another note of parents and spouse’s ID numbers? You will need to enter this information, again, on this form that now has your inky fingerprints (in my case smudged prints) on, while trying your best not to smudge them more. Once you’ve completed the form, you need to hand it back at same counter you were seen and the polite thing is to wait until they don’t have an applicant there, you will end up waiting even longer! All in all I was inside the centre from 9:40 - 12:50…

i was told it takes about 3 months for the passport to be ready for collection, but it can take a lot longer, like up to 9 months. I was also told that if my fingerprints are rejected that I will need to return to the centre, redo them etc! You are told to hold onto the payment receipt and your current passport and that you will need to bring that when you collect it. They will inform you by SMS and email. I only got emails from them.

Timeline:
Application ref forwarded to VFS London on 01/12/2022

application ref received at VFS London on 02/12/2022

Application ref dispatched from VFS London to manchester on 05/01/2023

passport ready for collection on 16/01/2023


Collection day:
i need to mention the email stated collection is only 16:00 -17:00, however the website stated 12:00 - 13:30. When you get the collection email, contact them to clarify the time so it’s not wasted journey. For me, the centre is 3 hour drive

I sent an email asking for clarification as didn’t want to be turned way if too early or come too late. They confirmed website time 12:00 - 13:30 is correct.

when you arrive, you are once again given a number and told to wait. I had number ABC01, which would suggest I was first. It should only take about 10 mins at most, right? I arrived at 12:18 and was only called at 13:25. When I sat down at counter it was at least another 5 mins before anyone appeared to help me. Took another 5 mins for them to find my passport and then I had to sign document saying I received it etc. Left the centre at 12:45. Again, be prepared for a long wait.

The processing passport was quick, but appointment and collection experience could be improved.
[Hi

Thanks for helpful info. I would like to know the following for my SA passport renewal.
.
1. I dont my parents id number oe marriage date only date of birth. they have both deceased and there are no family members to know this info. what should i do?
2. do i need to make a copy/copies of my SA divorce doc.?
3. do i need to make a copy/copies of my passport, which pages?
4. do i need proof of SA and UK residence addresses
thankyou
CONNIE]

 

Hi

Thanks for helpful info. I would like to know the following for my SA passport renewal.
.
1. I dont my parents id number oe marriage date only date of birth. they have both deceased and there are no family members to know this info. what should i do?
2. do i need to make a copy/copies of my SA divorce doc.?
3. do i need to make a copy/copies of my passport, which pages?
4. do i need proof of SA and UK residence addresses
thankyou
CONNIE

 

For those that have been waiting a long time...

I applied for my South African passport renewal at the Edinburgh center on 2 February 2023 and was told that it would take approximately 6 weeks but could take up to 6 months. I thought I would share my experience for others in the same position.

On 12 July 2023 I sent an email to info.sapasportsinuk@vfsglobal.com to enquire about the status. The next day I received a canned response that the application is being processed and I would be notified when the passport is ready for collection.

On 3 August 2023 I sent another email to the same address as well as to SA Home Affairs at HACC@dha.gov.za. VFS responded on 11 August 2023 with the same canned response as before. I then sent a follow up email asking for a more meaningful response which seemed to result in a support ticket being raised on their side.

On 16 August 2023 I received a response from SA Home Affairs saying that they had received the application but sent it back on 23 March 2023 because of unclear fingerprints!

I sent this information to VFS and the over the following month I kept requesting updates on the status and they kept saying that they are working on it. I also tried sending complaints to VFS through various web pages but nothing came from this (they do not make it easy).

Eventually I just pitched up at the Edinburgh VFS center on 7 September 2023 and told the person at reception the situation. After waiting for approximately an hour, they retook my fingerprints and assured me that they would resubmit it. The agent also gave me another email address (info.saedinburgh@vfshelpline.com) that I could use to send an enquiry.

On 23 October 2023 I sent a follow up email to South African Home Affairs to hear whether they had received the updated application. On 30 October 2023 I received a response from them saying that they had completed the application and sent it to DIRCO on 24 October 2023.

On 6 November I received an email from VFS to say that my passport was ready for collection.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience, James. It is shocking and disheartening when big organizations obtain such critical contracts but are incapable of providing efficient services. That is appalling that you had to contact the SA Home Affairs directly for any human response.

Also, why can they not ensure the fingerprints are done correctly to save a massive amount of time and admin if they are already clearly understaffed?

Thank you, again. I need to decide which office I'll go to. I'm never in South Africa long enough to do it. I believe you can get it done in 3 weeks there.

 

I’m a South African citizen with ILR in UK. I’d like to share my experience of applying for new passport here. You can apply for it at 3 VFS Global centres: Manchester, London, Edinburgh. Dept of Home Affairs launched new application process in June 2022, with VFS as official outsourcing partner. They promised this would speed up the wait times for new passports. Prior to that you had to apply via South African House in London and could apply in person or by post. You had to request a unique form with barcode for your fingerprints in writing in advance and wait good few months just to receive that (according to the few posts I could find). I read you have to apply about 12 months before it’s due to expire as it takes long for the application to be processed etc. It is no longer possible to apply via South African house and you must make appointment at VFS office. On the VFS website it has 2 forms you need to download and print and complete. They give you the other form with barcode for fingerprints at the centre during your appointment, there is no way to get this form before that (more about this form and fingerprints later) I was able to get appointment for the next day. You don’t pay when you book, you pay for everything at the centre during your appointment. The cost is £107.50. This includes appointment, processing, the form for taking of fingerprints and photo’s. They didn’t even ask me if I had photo’s, they take it there and that’s how it’s done. Documents you need to take: The 2 completed application forms - make sure you make note of your parents and spouse’s ID numbers, date of their marriage etc as you need it for those forms and again once they’ve taken those forms from you! (More about that further down!) Current passport Current ID book /card If married - original marriage certificate, signed letter stating if you want passport in married or maiden name If you are divorced or have dual nationality there are other documents needed. I recommend contacting them via email to check beforehand. They take 2 days to reply, but helpful replies. There is also premium phone number, but it’s very expensive and try keeping you on phone longer. You need 2 certified copies of each document you submit (excluding application forms) - can be certified at post office, by solicitor or accountant etc. I also noticed while at the centre that they did it there for some people. Now, more about appointment. My appointment was on 01/12/2022. As I said, I went to Manchester centre. The centre is not conveniently located and bit far out for those using tram or train. I got an uber, noticed many did the same. Be prepared for a long wait! You can only enter centre from 20 mins before your appointment time. My appointment was early morning and it was cold that day. Had to wait outside until 20 mins before time. when you check in, you are given barcoded number. Let’s say my number was ABC03. You then wait for your number to flash on the screen and off you go. Each country is served by different counter and I noticed different number sequences for each. I’d been sat down for 15 mins and heard number ABC01 being called, I though oh okay, they are probably like 30 mins behind. That applicant’s appointment lasted about 45 mins! Then I heard they were given a form and told to complete it in waiting area and when they are done to return it to counter. Okay, so I thought maybe they didn’t have all the forms filled out before appointment. Then, I number ABCA01 was called, I was expecting ABC02 to be called. That applicant had their 45 mins of fun and then next number was ABC02, then ABCA02 and finally ABC03 (me!, more than 2 and half hours after appointment time!) I realised it must be that they do one passport application, then one visa application appointment. So, when you are at the counter they ask you for all the documents, then you need to roll your own fingerprints in black ink and press your fingers down on the fingerprints form with barcode on. The same form you can only get during the appointment time and not before, the same form that you then need to take to the waiting room to complete after paying your £107.50 and having your photo taken by camera with blinding flash! Remember I said to make sure you have another note of parents and spouse’s ID numbers? You will need to enter this information, again, on this form that now has your inky fingerprints (in my case smudged prints) on, while trying your best not to smudge them more. Once you’ve completed the form, you need to hand it back at same counter you were seen and the polite thing is to wait until they don’t have an applicant there, you will end up waiting even longer! All in all I was inside the centre from 9:40 - 12:50… i was told it takes about 3 months for the passport to be ready for collection, but it can take a lot longer, like up to 9 months. I was also told that if my fingerprints are rejected that I will need to return to the centre, redo them etc! You are told to hold onto the payment receipt and your current passport and that you will need to bring that when you collect it. They will inform you by SMS and email. I only got emails from them. Timeline: Application ref forwarded to VFS London on 01/12/2022 application ref received at VFS London on 02/12/2022 Application ref dispatched from VFS London to manchester on 05/01/2023 passport ready for collection on 16/01/2023 Collection day: i need to mention the email stated collection is only 16:00 -17:00, however the website stated 12:00 - 13:30. When you get the collection email, contact them to clarify the time so it’s not wasted journey. For me, the centre is 3 hour drive I sent an email asking for clarification as didn’t want to be turned way if too early or come too late. They confirmed website time 12:00 - 13:30 is correct. when you arrive, you are once again given a number and told to wait. I had number ABC01, which would suggest I was first. It should only take about 10 mins at most, right? I arrived at 12:18 and was only called at 13:25. When I sat down at counter it was at least another 5 mins before anyone appeared to help me. Took another 5 mins for them to find my passport and then I had to sign document saying I received it etc. Left the centre at 12:45. Again, be prepared for a long wait. The processing passport was quick, but appointment and collection experience could be improved.

Hi, so when you are applying for a new passport you can hold onto your current one? Need to renew mine so need to know. Thanks

 

I lost my SA ID book. Can I apply for a replacement whilst in UK?
​

 

Hi does anyone know what to do in this case. I got married legally here in the UK but I didn’t change my surname. I kept my birth surname. one of the requirements to do the passport is to provide a marriage certificate. Is this compulsory?

 

Yes ...

 

I need to renew a passport. Can I not do the application online and they just post me the new passport. It would be so much easier.
it would also only take around 2 to 3 weeks.

 

Hi, does anyone know if you need to hand in your current passport when renewing? I need to renew mine but have some upcoming trips, and would prefer to keep my passport if possivble?

 

Hi everyone,i would like to ask if anyone knows that if your passport is delayed and you manage to go to South Africa can you be allowed to apply another passport.

 

Hi everyone, does anyone have advice regarding getting an appointment from VFS global? Their booking system is currently on a loop and when finally I did manage to open a booking screen it was for Italy and then Lithuania!
Please help I need to get my passport sorted asap.

 

I told them about this but kept telling me that it was my device that was the problem I ended up emailing info.sapasportsinuk@vfsglobal.com directly and they booked me a manual appointment. Felt like I was going crazy because I tried for a few months and it just wouldn’t work. There is clearly a problem with the SA passport renewal booking and they refuse to fix it?

 

info.sapasportsinuk@vfsglobal.com to book an appointment if the app dosnt work