After years of frustration and lengthy delays, the Department of Home Affairs has taken a major step to assist South Africans living abroad. From the end of July, new international service centres will open to process passport and ID applications, promising a dramatically reduced turnaround time of just five weeks – a significant improvement from previous delays that often stretched beyond a year.

New international service centres launching end of July

According to the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, this initiative forms part of a phased rollout that will ultimately lead to a fully digital service model for South Africans across the globe.

The initial rollout will include:

• Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – from end July 2025
• France, Germany and the Netherlands – later in 2025
• United States and Canada – early 2026

“We are committed to restoring public trust by delivering reliable and accessible government services – no matter where our citizens find themselves in the world,” said Schreiber in an interview with News24.

Why does this matter

South African citizens living abroad have for years reported severe delays in renewing critical documents such as passports and IDs – with some waiting up to 18 months. These delays often result in missed travel opportunities, complications with visa renewals and administrative issues with schools or employers abroad.

The newly announced service centres aim to address these concerns by streamlining applications and significantly improving processing times.

A temporary solution with a digital future in mind

While this is a welcome development, the new facilities are just a temporary solution. The Department’s long-term goal is the launch of “Home Affairs @ Home” – a fully online and digital service model that will allow South Africans to apply for essential documents from anywhere in the world without needing to visit an embassy or consulate.

Rollout overview

What this means for the diaspora

This announcement brings long-awaited relief for South Africans abroad who have felt disconnected from core government services. It also signals a broader transformation within Home Affairs – from an inefficient bottleneck to a modern, citizen-focused institution embracing digital innovation.

“Our vision is to enable any South African, no matter where they are, to renew a passport or ID document from their home office — without enduring a months-long nightmare,” Schreiber said.

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Also read: Last wills and testaments across borders: What every South African emigrant should know – AfriForum Wêreldwyd