Shorter lines on the way! Home Affairs to open 20 new offices by 2026 to fast-track IDs and services. Picture Credit: The South African
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – South Africans could soon spend far less time waiting in queues, thanks to a major expansion of Home Affairs services planned for the next two years. At least 20 new Home Affairs-enabled branches are expected to open across the country by early 2026, following a new partnership between the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Standard Bank.
The DHA confirmed this week that Standard Bank has successfully secured the devices, systems, and technical infrastructure needed to begin rolling out the next phase of service centres. This expansion is part of a joint effort to modernise and decentralise essential services like Smart ID and passport applications.
For many citizens, particularly those living far from traditional Home Affairs offices, the move represents a significant step toward reliable, convenient, and time-saving public service access.
A Proven Collaboration, Now Scaling Up – Standard Bank has already partnered with Home Affairs for several years, allowing thousands of clients to apply for and collect Smart IDs and passports at selected pilot branches. The bank says the expansion will take this model to a national level.
Head of Client Experience for Personal and Private Banking, Marius Le Roux, said the newly secured infrastructure underscores a strong commitment to improving access.
“These pilot locations are critical as they allow the bank to refine the service and ensure all systems are robust and ready ahead of the full rollout,”
Le Roux explained. According to him, the new branches have been purpose-built for biometric enrolment, secure document handling, and seamless real-time integration with DHA systems — the backbone of efficient processing.
Two Pilot Sites Already in Testing – The DHA confirmed that two new branches are currently undergoing testing, where both system performance and customer experience are being assessed. If successful, these pilot sites will form the blueprint for the remaining 18 branches scheduled to open throughout 2025 and early 2026.
Government Praises the Momentum – Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber applauded the rapid progress, noting that partnerships like this help accelerate the department’s shift toward modern, customer-focused service delivery. “It is very encouraging to see the commitment of partners moving with real urgency to invest in this visionary digital service delivery model,”
Schreiber said.
A Win for Citizens Nationwide – The full rollout is expected to significantly reduce pressure on existing Home Affairs offices — a long-standing pain point for many South Africans who face hours-long queues for basic services.
While exact locations of the new branches will be announced once testing is complete, the DHA says the goal is to strategically expand into high-demand regions, ensuring more South Africans can access critical documents closer to home, with shorter waiting times, and in safer, more modern environments.
The first branches are expected to officially open next year, marking another step toward a more efficient, digitally connected Home Affairs system.
