NEW passport application and travel document fees

The new prices for passports and other travel documents have officially kicked in as of 1 November – here’s how much you will be paying…

As of 1 November 2022, the price increase for passports and travel documents has officially taken effect.

The amended fees were published in Government Gazette No 47256 on 6 October.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, this is the first time since 2011 that the prices of travel documents have increased.

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WHAT PROMPTED THE CHANGE IN FEES?

The Department said that the changes were informed by the outcome of a bench-marking exercise with other countries.

The above found that the tariffs in SA were up to three times lower than the rest of the world.

In addition to this, the Department noted that the production costs were much higher than what people pay for passports.

“We believe that the people who are able to travel out of the country are financially better off than ordinary citizens and they don’t need to be subsidised in the manner we have been doing,” said Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

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WHAT ARE THE NEW PRICES IN SOUTH AFRICA?

The fees payable in respect of applications for a South African are as follows:

• Adult passport: R600 (previously R400);
• Maxi adult passport: R1 200 (previously R800);
• Child passport: R600 (previously R400);
• Official passport: R600 (previously no charge);
• Diplomatic travel document: R600 (previously no charge);
• Document for travel purposes: R600 (previously R300) and;
• Crew member certificate: R600 (previously R350).

The fees payable in respect of applications for a South African the following documents made outside of the Republic, at Missions, Embassies or Consulates, are as:

• Adult passport: R1 200 f(previously R400);
• Adult maxi passport: R2 400 (previously R800);
• Child passport: R1 200 (previously R400) and;
• Emergency travel certificate: R140 (stays the same).

EMERGENCY PASSPORTS DO NOT EXIST

The Minister reminded South Africans that there is nothing called an emergency passport.

Motsoaledi noted that an emergency travel certificate is a document that is only available to South Africans who are stranded abroad.

The emergency travel certificate allows the stranded South Africans to come home and once they are back, the document’s usefulness lapses.

“There is no emergency travel certificate for South Africans who need to travel abroad”,

said Minister Motsoaledi.

By: Reeshni Chaslyn Chetty