We all knew the day would come. The day when South Africa’s iconic green ID book would be utterly phased out in favour of the shiny new Smart ID cards Home Affairs has pushed in recent years. Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber confirmed that the ID book would no longer be recognised as valid identification from 31 March 2028.
End of an era
Production of the green ID Book will officially end on 31 March 2027. After that, the machines that print the books will be put out of commission, according to Schreiber. Previously, the plan was for green ID books to stick around ’til 2029, at least. Schreiber cites increasing fraud cases regarding the revised date.
“The continued use of the green ID book is irreconcilable with the functioning of a modern society,” he said.
Before 31 March 2027, the DHA will extend Smart ID cards to naturalised citizens, permanent residents, and South Africans living abroad. This subset was forced to rely on the older form of identification as they were unable to apply for a Smart ID card. Schreiber says this will change since there’s no alternative on the horizon.
South Africa has worked to make the once-arduous process of obtaining a Smart ID exceedingly easy. In August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) unveiled a ‘digital partnership model’ that saw the country’s biggest banks lend their branches to the Smart ID rollout. The rollout has moved fast — with more than 500 branches now offering Smart ID services locally. FNB, Absa, Capitec, and Standard Bank are all involved.
That number will only increase over time. Schreiber reckons more than 1,000 bank branches will offer Smart ID services before 2026 is over. This means nearly anyone can easily replace their current ID without trudging up to the nearest Home Affairs office. Unfortunately, enrolled branches currently don’t support first-time ID applicants, though Schreiber mentioned that this process is in the works.
