The Department of Home Affairs will be open on the remaining Saturdays in May, to meet the growing demand for smart ID cards among naturalised citizens and permanent residents from visa-exempt countries.

This is part of the department’s plans to phase out the older green barcoded ID books in favour of the more secure ID cards.

Effective from 17 May and continuing until 31 May 2025, Home Affairs offices will open on Saturdays from 08:00 until 13:00.

This five-hour extension is specifically aimed at facilitating ID applications.

“The Department of Home Affairs will extend its operating period by five hours on Saturdays in May 2025 at front offices to assist naturalised citizens and permanent residents to apply for Smart ID Cards,” the department confirmed in a statement.

The department clarified that the extended hours will allow for the processing of Smart ID Card applications for people from 106 participating countries, including Zimbabwe, Malawi and the State of Palestine.

READ MORE: Listed countries

The department has strongly encouraged eligible individuals to take advantage of this opportunity.

“This will take us closer to fully adopting the more secure ID Card and doing away with the green bar-coded ID book.”

This follows the department’s 12 May announcement of the launch of the smart ID rollout.

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“Due to the extremely high volumes of applications being received… the process is currently only focused on applicants who are in possession of a green barcoded ID and are from visa-exempt countries.”