South Africans will soon have far greater access to Smart ID and Passport services, thanks to a new partnership between the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and two major banks, Capitec and First National Bank (FNB).

The two lenders are the first to sign up to the DHA’s new digital partnership model, which will expand services from the current 30 bank branches to hundreds more across both urban and rural areas. For the first time, citizens will also be able to apply and reapply for these documents via secure banking apps.

Standard Bank has also since come onboard.

The move is part of a Cabinet target in the Medium-Term Development Plan to expand Home Affairs services to 1,000 bank branches by 2029.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber says the reform will help end long travel times and queues, and phase out the old green ID book — which is vulnerable to fraud — in favour of secure Smart IDs.

Massive news: #TeamHomeAffairs is proud to announce Capitec and FNB as the first banks signed up to our new digital partnership model that will expand access to Smart ID and Passport services to 100s more bank branches across urban and rural areas – and to banking apps! 🇿🇦

On 30… pic.twitter.com/lpA1eTpfSc

— Leon Schreiber (@Leon_Schreib) August 11, 2025

FNB says the expansion will build on its decade-long partnership with the department, which has already seen more than 570,000 Smart IDs and passports issued through seven branches.

The new offering will allow customers to reapply via the FNB Banking App or the DHA’s online system, with options for home delivery or branch collection. Capitec is expected to announce similar rollout plans in the coming months.

FNB CEO Harry Kellan says the bank is “proud to extend our decade-long partnership with the DHA while supporting the government’s digital and modernisation agenda.”

CEO of FNB Points of Presence, Zibu Nqala, adds that the service will eventually be available at all branches, with a focus on reaching communities that have historically struggled to access Home Affairs services.

The DHA has urged other banks, including ABSA, Nedbank, TymeBank, Discovery Bank, African Bank, and Investec, to join the initiative to ensure all South Africans can access these essential services in their own communities.

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