Johannesburg – The issuing of the Green ID Book will stop at the end of March next year, the Department of Home Affairs has announced.
“Therefore, I am today announcing that the Department of Home Affairs will cease production of the Green ID Book by 31 March 2027,” Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber stated on Thursday, 1 October 2026.
“On this date, the machines that produce this booklet will be permanently shut down and decommissioned.”
Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber announced the move during his speech titled “Quantum Leap: A Vision for the Future of Government at Constitution Hill”.
He said the continued use of the Green ID Book is irreconcilable with the functioning of a modern society.
“Importantly, before 31 March 2027, the department will enable the remaining cohort of naturalised citizens and permanent residents, as well as South African citizens abroad, to also obtain Smart IDs,” the minister said.
“By including these groups that have historically been excluded, we will ensure that – for the first time ever, every single eligible person is finally able to obtain a secure Smart ID card.
“Following the end of Green ID book production in March next year, the 14.7 million South African citizens and permanent residents who still hold only a Green ID book will have a further 12 months to make the switch to the Smart ID.”
Minister Schreiber said first-time applicants, as well as applicants over 60 years of age, will remain exempt from paying the application fee for their Smart ID.
“Consequently, on 31 March 2028, the Green ID book will officially cease to be recognised as a valid form of identification in terms of section 25(1)(b) of the Identification Act,” Minister Schreiber stated.
“Over the past six months, we have already seen a dramatic increase in replacement rates thanks to our digital partnership.
“As a result, the number of people whose only form of identification is a Green ID book has already fallen from 16 million to 14.7 million today.
“We must now accelerate this progress to finally eliminate this source of fuel for identity theft and illegal immigration.”
Minister Schreiber said the department will roll out a major nationwide communication campaign to ensure that everyone is empowered with the information they need to make the switch.
“I am calling on all South Africans who still have only a Green ID book to help combat abuses such as identity theft, financial fraud and illegal immigration by visiting their nearest participating branch immediately to switch to the Smart ID,” Minister Schreiber said.
“Thanks to our digital reforms, it now takes as little as five minutes to make the switch at your local bank branch, and you don’t need any prior booking or paperwork for this new service.
“These are five minutes well spent to help secure our country.”
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