South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs is aiming to reduce Smart ID application times to as little as three minutes by 2026, according to Minister Leon Schreiber.
Addressing Parliament during the 2026 State of the Nation Address debate, Schreiber said processing times for Smart IDs and passports were cut by 66.7% in 2025. He attributed the improvement to upgrades in the department’s online verification systems and internal technology platforms.
Home Affairs issued four million Smart ID cards last year, nearly twice the previous annual average, the minister told lawmakers.
The department is now preparing for a broader digital identity rollout, described by Schreiber as its flagship reform for 2026. Core biometric systems are already operational through the citizenship portal, with work shifting toward developing an enhanced user interface.
As part of its digital expansion, Home Affairs has introduced an electronic travel authorisation platform that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to process online visa applications.
The department has also concluded a new partnership framework with commercial banks to expand access to Smart ID and passport services through bank branches.
If the planned digital ID reforms proceed as expected, Schreiber said, application times for Smart IDs could soon be measured in minutes rather than weeks.
Source: South African Parliament debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address.
Image: file
