There are various types of passport:

• tourist passport
• child's passport
• official's transport
• emergency transport
• temporary passport
• document for travel purposes

Visitor's passports are issued to South African citizens over the age of 16.

To apply you need to complete form BI-73 and submit it at a Home Affairs domestic office or, if you are oversees, at a South African embassy or mission.

You must also:

• have proof of your identity
• supply two passport photographs
• have your fingerprints taken
• pay the fee of R165.

It will take about six weeks to process the application and issue the passport.

This passport is valid for ten years.

This passport is issued to South African children under 16.

To apply, you need to complete form BI-73 and submit it at a Home Affairs domestic office or, if you are oversees, at a South African embassy or mission.

You must also:

• have proof of your identity
• supply two passport photographs
• have your fingerprints taken
• pay the fee of R125.

It will take about six weeks to process the application and issue the passport.

This passport is valid for five years.

This passport is issued to South African officials who are travelling on official government business.

To apply you need to complete form BI-73 and submit it at a Home Affairs domestic office or, if you are oversees, at a South African embassy or mission.

You must also:

• have proof of your identity
• supply two passport photographs
• have your fingerprints taken.

This passport is valid for five years.

This document can be issued to South African citizens who need to travel urgently and there is insufficient time to process a passport application.

To apply, you need to complete form BI-73 and submit it at a Home Affairs domestic office or, if you are oversees, at a South African embassy or mission.

You must also:

• have proof of your identity
• supply two passport photographs
• have your fingerprints taken
• pay the fee of R76.

It will take about one week to process the application and issue the certificate.

This certificate is valid for nine months and can only be used for a single journey.

This passport is issued to South African citizens who must travel urgently for a valid reason and cannot wait for their proper passports to be issued.

To apply you need to complete form BI-73 and submit it at a Home Affairs domestic office or, if you are oversees, at a South African Embassy or Mission.

You must also:

• have proof of your identity
• supply two passport photographs
• have your fingerprints taken
• pay the fee of R96.

It will take approximately one week to process the application and issue the temporary passport.

This certificate is valid for 12 months.

Please note that a fee of R12 is payable for faxing fingerprints if urgent verification is required.

This document is issued to people with permanent residence in South Africa who cannot get travel documents from their own countries, for example refugees and stateless persons lawfully residing in South Africa.

To apply, you need to complete form BI-73 and submit it at a Home Affairs domestic office or, if you are oversees, at a South African embassy or mission.

You must also:

• have proof of your identity
• supply two passport photographs
• have your fingerprints taken
• pay the fee of R120.

It will take about six week to process the application and issue the temporary passport.