South Africans who still use the green barcoded ID book are being encouraged to switch to the Smart ID card as the Department of Home Affairs moves towards phasing out the decades-old identification document. The move forms part of government’s broader push to modernise South Africa’s identification system and strengthen the security of identity documents.
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed in June that the green ID books will be progressively discontinued. He said the Department of Home Affairs will set a date after which green ID books will no longer be recognised. (DIRCO) However, Home Affairs has not yet announced a final date for the green ID book to become invalid. Claims circulating online suggesting that a specific deadline has already been confirmed should therefore be treated with caution.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said in May that around 16 million South Africans were still using green ID books. The department is working to make Smart ID applications more accessible so that citizens can make the switch before the green book is eventually no longer recognised. Home Affairs has described the green barcoded ID book as vulnerable to fraud and identity theft, while the Smart ID uses biometric technology as part of the identification process.
Access to Smart ID services has been expanded through a partnership between Home Affairs and participating banks. As of August 2026, 372 participating bank branches were offering Smart ID services, with the department saying more than half a million South Africans had applied for Smart IDs through the banking partnership since its launch in March. Home Affairs has also launched an online service that allows residents to find participating bank branches offering Smart ID services.
For now, residents who still have a green ID book should not panic or assume that their document has suddenly become invalid. The official position is that the green ID book is being phased out, but the government still needs to announce the date from which it will no longer be recognised. Residents can, however, make the switch to a Smart ID ahead of the eventual deadline rather than waiting until the final date is announced.
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