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It is important to apply for your new passport well in advance, at least a year before the expiry date.
Germany has a “Passpflicht” law.

(1) Foreigners may enter or stay in the federal territory only if they possess a recognised and valid passport or passport substitute unless they are exempt from the passport requirement by virtue of a statutory instrument.
For the purpose of residence in the federal territory, possession of a substitute identity document also suffices in order to meet the passport requirement (section 48 (2) “To meet the obligation to have and present identification papers, it is sufficient for a foreigner who neither possesses a passport or passport substitute nor can reasonably be expected to obtain one to carry the certificate confirming a residence title or the suspension of deportation, if this document contains the foreigner’s personal details and a photograph and is marked to indicate that it is a substitute identity document.”

(2) In justified individual cases, the Federal Ministry of the Interior or the body designated by it may permit exemptions from the passport requirement for the purpose of crossing the border before the foreigner enters the federal territory, and for a subsequent stay of up to six months.

A valid passport is a prerequisite for issuing and extending a residence permit, Section 5 Paragraph 1 No. 4 and Section 8 Paragraph 1 Residence Act. The passport requirement in accordance with Section 3 of the Residence Act is, ahead of the obligation to have a residence permit, one of the most fundamental obligations in immigration law.

Disclaimer:
The information on this page is not to be seen as legal advice. We are not immigration agents and can only present information that is available from official resources. 

What to do if your passport expired?

Currently, it can take a long time to get an appointment to apply for a new passport at the South African embassy or consulate. After application, it can take between 6 – 12 months to get your new passport.

Implications of an expired passport:

  • You cannot travel outside Germany without a valid passport or emegency travel certificate, see next point
  • You can apply for an emergency travel certificate that allows you a one-way travel back to SA, where you can apply for a new passport. 
  • Your German residence card is linked to your passport and may become invalid.  Without a valid residence card or Fiktionsbescheinigung, you cannot travel back to Germany. See Section 4 (Residence title requirement) of the Residence Act
  • If the foreigner no longer has a valid passport, the settlement permit can be revoked (§ 52 Abs. 1 Satz 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG).
  • Non-possession of a valid passport for foreigners is punishable by a fine (§§ 95 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 , 98 AufenthG).
You have two options to get a new passport.
  1.  Request an appointment at the South African Embassy or Consulate, and apply for your passport in Germany
  2. Apply for an emergency travel document from the South African Embassy and travel to South Africa to apply for a new passport
 

Implications on your residence status (Aufenthaltserlaubnis )

Residence Title vs Residence Card

  • The validity of your residence TITLE (Aufenthaltserlaubnis). This can be valid longer than the validity of your passport. A temporary residence title has a valid to date. A permanent residence title is valid for as long as you fulfill the requirements for example staying in Germany for longer than 6 months in a 12 month period.
  • The validity of your electronic residence CARD (eAT) will never be longer than the validity of your passport. The card is linked to your passport and the CARD will be invalid if your passport expires.  The card is proof of your Residence Title

Temporary Residence Title

Befristete Aufenthaltserlaubnis
Granted for a limited time and a specific purpose and as a rule will not be valid for longer than your passport expiry date.
Show More

Permanent Residence Title

Nierderlassungserlaubnis
The validity of your electronic residence card (eAT) is linked to your passport. Your residence title is still valid, only your card expired. 
Show More

Steps to take

  •  The Ausländerbehörde should be your first point of contact!! Keep them informed of your challenges. They are there to assist you. You should visit them in person and prove that you are in the process of applying for a new passport. 
  • Even if you do not have an new valid passport yet, you can apply for Temporary proof of German Residence (Fiktionsbescheinigung), and when you receive your new passport, you can apply for the extension of your residence permit again. The issuance of a Fiktionsbescheinigung will depend on your type of residence title, and whether you fulfil the requirements.
  • If you need to apply for an extension of your residence title, do so in good time. 
  • Temporary Residence Title – even if your passport and your residence permit have expired, your stay in combination with the expired documents and the valid Fiktionsbescheinigung is legal and therefore sufficient until you receive the new residence permit. Therefore it is so important to contact the Ausländerbehorde in good time.
  • Permanent Residence Title – This stays valid as long as you fulfill the requirements. Your stay is still legal in combination with your expired passport and the permanent residence permit and is considered sufficient legitimation.  But do take note! If the foreigner no longer has a valid passport, the settlement permit can be revoked (§ 52 Abs. 1 Satz 1 Nr. 1 AufenthG). Again contact the Ausländerbehörde as soon as possible.
  • If you travel, for example back to SA to apply for a new passport, with a valid Fiktionsbescheinigung it is important that you also have your expired documents (passport, residence permit) with you.
Temp Aufenthalt

Temporary Residence

A Visa allows you to enter Germany, but your stay is limited to no more than 90 days in a 180-day cycle.If you want to

Permanent Residence

Permanent residence in Germany is called a Niederlassungserlaubnis and may be granted in the form of a Settlement permit or Permanent EC residence permit. Very important!!

Option 1 - Apply for your passport in Germany

Step 1 - Make an appointment

When you apply for your new South African passport in Germany, you have to apply at either the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, depending on where you live.
Please find the official information on the Consulate’s website

After submitting your application, the documents are sent to South Africa, and when your new passport is sent back to Germany you will get a notification that you can come collect your passport. Important! – The South African embassy or consulate cannot influence the processing time.

Applying for your passport in Germany

When you apply for your new South African passport in Germany, you have to apply at either the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, depending on where you live.  Official information can be found on the Consulate’s website. The Embassy has taken great care to document all the relevant information, that can be downloaded from their website.  After submitting your application, the documents are sent to South Africa for processing. The new passport

Step 2 - Visit the Ausländerbehörde if needed

If required, apply for Temporary proof of your German Residence Title (Fiktionsbescheinigung).
The Ausländerbehörde might ask for proof that you are in the process of applying for a new passport.

Relevant Gesetze §3, §4 and §13 AufenthG Art 5

Option 2 - Apply for your passport in South Africa

Step 1 - Get an emergency travel certificate

You can apply for an emergency passport (Travel certificate), and with this, you can travel to South Africa but cannot travel back to Germany.

  • South African citizens who have to travel urgently for reasons of death, sickness or other emergency / urgent matter e.g. loss or theft of passport while overseas, are entitled to an emergency passport (travel certificate), which is valid for a maximum period of nine (9) months,
  • The emergency travel certificate is for a single journey only, to return to the Republic of South Africa
  • An emergency passport (travel certificate) can only be issued to applicants who have 13-digit identity numbers and whose fingerprints have been previously classified on the National Population Register.

We also want to emphasize the following appeal from the consulate:

The embassy and consulate are overloaded with travel for “emergency” applications or enquiries that it becomes difficult to class exactly which cases are an emergency. On emergency travel, our appeal is that we are contacted will real cases of emergency so we can help. What has been happening is people writing to us about “emergencies” only to overload us and we end up dealing with cases under the guise of “emergency”. What this does is delay resolving real cases of emergency because we are suddenly flooded with “emergencies” as a way for people to travel. This becomes unfair in so far as attending to real cases of emergency is concerned.

Step 2 - Visit the Ausländerbehörde if needed

Make sure you have proof of your German residence. If your Residence card is still valid – “Re-entry to Germany is easy if your residence permit is still valid and you still have the old passport.”
If your residence title is no longer valid, you must apply for a Fiktionsbescheinigung as soon as possible

Take your old and new passports and your residence permit with you on your trip.
Relevant Gesetze §3, §4 and §13 AufenthG Art 5″

Step 3 - Travel to South Africa

Travel to South Africa and apply for a new passport in South Africa. If you do not have a valid residence permit or Fiktionsbescheinigung, you will have to contact the German Embassy in South Africa and apply for a visa to travel to Germany.
You can book an appointment to apply for a new passport before travelling to South Africa.

Passport – Applying in South Africa

Applying for a new Adult Tourist passport in South Africa can be done online via the Department of Home Affairs E-Services. This service allows you to fill in the application form online and make an appointment for your biometrics.  Biometrics can be done at participating banks. You do not need to be a client of the selected bank.  You can collect your passport at the selected bank. The current turnaround time for an adult Tourist

Step 4 Apply for new residence card

When you are back in Germany, visit the Ausländerbehörde, and apply for a new Residence card linked to your new passport.
The Ausländerbehörde and Bürgeramt are not always connected, therefore it is advised to also update your details at the Bürgeramt.

Dual passports

Please be aware that it is illegal to enter and exit South Africa on another passport if you are still a South African citizen. You can be fined for doing this.

“In terms of the South African Citizenship Amendment Act of 2004, which came into effect on 15 September 2004, it is now an offence for a major (over 18 years of age) South African citizen to enter the Republic or depart making use of the passport of another country.
Furthermore, it is also now an offence for such a citizen, while in South Africa, to use his or her foreign citizenship or nationality to gain an advantage or avoid a responsibility or duty.
Essentially, the Amendment Act provides that an adult South African citizen, who has dual citizenship or nationality, can freely use his or her foreign passport outside South Africa. However, they must use their South African passport to depart from or enter South Africa.”

Children under 18

There is no requirement to enter and leave South Africa with your South African passport. See section 26B of the South African Citizen Act

Info on the web

  • General information about South African passports is available on the website of the Department of Home Affairs
  • Dual Passport rules from the South African Embassy in Germany
  • Residence Act Germany
  • BAMF Electronic Residence permit
  • Document form the Remscheid Ausländerbehörde, explaining what the implications are when you do not have a valid passport.

Related content

My SA Passport is stolen or lost

One of the worst things that can happen to you while in a foreign country is having your passport stolen or lost. Germany has a “Passpflicht”

Questions and Answers

Here are some of the questions from our community  and the answers from the Consulate in Munich

SA Consular and Embassy services

The Embassy is in Berlin.Physical Address:Tiergartenstr. 18, 10785 Berlinberlin.consular@dirco.gov.zaTel.: +49-30-22073-0Fax: +49-30-22073-190Facebook page Consulate  in MunichPhysical Address:Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5,80336 Munich,Germanymunich.consular@dirco.gov.za+49 89 2311630 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Currently the

Here are some of the questions from our community  and the answers from the Consulate in Munich

QuestionAnswer
If one applies for a new SA passport but it has not been issued or arrived on time till departure to SA what are the consequences on the SA side? Can you show them you have applied for the new SA passport but not received yet?Traveling with an expired passport is not allowed. So it will not be possible to depart with an expired document. The only option is to get an emergency travel document (for real emergencies, with an appointment confirmed) for entry into ZA, but to come back to Germany, one will still need a valid passport. We encourage everyone to apply for passports well on time (months before they expire) especially now with COVID as services everywhere are affected.
Once one gives up their SA citizenship we get permanent residency status. What does this mean in terms of our rights? Do we have to apply for the new ID? Can we do this at the Munich Consulate? Can we enter into SA with this permanent resident status?When one receives the renunciation confirmation letter, it comes with an ID number on it. Then one can apply for an ID at the Consulate. They do not need a visa to enter ZA for 90 days, anything more is applied for as per guidelines on the website
When are Citizen services offered in the same timely manner as at home affairs offices in South Africa. Technology should now be implemented at embassies and consulates abroad without the need to wait months for the reissue of passports! Waiting time for a passport in South Africa 1 week – via consular services abroad between 10 to 12 months!The comment is noted. While this can be frustrating, kindly note that we use systems made available to us in missions aboard. Services in missions abroad do have the same waiting times as the ones in ZA (on site) because there are processes and procedures we first follow internally before sending applications to ZA at specific periods for their processing
I am a naturalised German citizen and have been issued with a permanent resident ID number during the renunciation process.
How do I approach it formally if I want to “return” to SA based on my permanent residency?
– do I have to apply for a SA Id document with the new ID number before travelling to SA on my German passport?
– can I enter SA on my German passport and apply for an ID document based on the “permanent resident ID number” that I have been assigned in SA directly (from an Home Affairs office in SA)
– if I need a permanent resident permit (visa sticker) can I have this permanent resident permit issued into my German passport from within SA or must I have it issued by the consulate up front?
What is the correct process to follow here?
Kindly note that when you travel, you need both the permanent resident permit and a valid German passport. We don’t issue any stickers at all.

You can apply for an ID at the Consulate or in South Africa. The information about the ID application is available on the website.
How long is the turn around time for long stay Visas for German citizens at the moment? Myself and my girlfriend are looking at having her move and work in South Africa and we want to know the turn around time at the moment so we can plan accordinglyThe turnaround times for long stay visas is up to 8 weeks.

This information is also available on our website.
Some questions around the diplomatic bag:
– how often is a diplomatic bag sent from Munich to South Africa
– I understand that the diplomatic bag from Munich first goes to the embassy in Berlin and is then sent onwards to SA
– how is the diplomatic bag processed in SA once it arrives (maybe this helps us understand why it takes so long?)
– why does the diplomatic bag take so long to reach SA (and get back to Germany)
– is there a faster way to handle my applications than via the diplomatic bag (direct courier for example)
– why does it take so long for Munich to get its diplomatic bag from Berlin on the “return route”? (Friends of mine in Berlin received their documents nearly 14 days before me here in Munich after being sent at the same time from SA, in the same diplomatic bag as far as I could tell)
Many thanks for the transparency to help us understand better the processes (and hopefully irritate you less with dumb follow up enquiries since we can better judge the time the process takes in this way)
The Consulate appreciates all questions sent to us and understand that sometimes, the processing times can be slow or longer for various reasons. We do understand that this can be frustrating. We send our sincere apologies in this regard.

While we understand that the questions come from a good place, we are however unable to answer the questions about the diplomatic bag, its handling and the processes involved due to the safety, security and protection of the many contents it carries which incl personal documents belonging to the people. We deal with the diplomatic bag very cautiously; follow and respect the strict processes involved to protect it.
I am moving to Germany from the US in October and will need to renew my passport next year as it expires in July 2023. I want my passport to be done in my married name, I have a US marriage certificate therefore it’s in English, do I need to have it apostilled? The Embassy in the US doesn’t mention anything about it being apostilled but the embassy in Germany does. I look forward forward to your response It is always better to ensure that the document is issued with an apostille by the issuing authorities. This makes things easier and you’re on the safe side in case it is needed apostilled.

Please make sure that you start the process of renewing the passport 6 months or more before it expires.
I would like to register my sons birth but one of the forms I can only get when my husband and I appear in person at the embassy for the birth registration appointment. We live in Berlin and are unable to get an appointment. What does the consulate recommend for birth registrations?
Thank you for your help.
Our recommendation is that people must continue to try and scheduled an appointment. Going to the Embassy or Consulate without an appointment is not allowed currently due to COVID. So show ups are not permitted.

The truth is appointments get booked fast. For instance, the Consulate is currently sitting with appointments of up to Oct 2021 as we speak. So it is busy and that’s why we encourage people to schedule appointments and avoid disappointments of just showing up and not being allowed in or assisted. Where an appointment is not immediately available, an automated response is sent to sender and once the next available appointment slot is open, those who sent their appointment request emails are contacted/receive a message. Obviously, real cases of emergencies are dealt with differently.

We always advise that:

For CIVIC:

Schedule an appointment, no show ups allowed due to COVID.

For VISA:
Post your application first and wait for the Consulate to contact you (we don’t confirm receipts of applications due to the heavy load of applications we receive. If the right process if followed when using the Post Office, the Consulate will receive the application).
Question regarding citizenship of minors if parent renounces RSA citizenship: minors with dual citizenship, born in South Africa to a South African mother and German father. If the South African parent renounces RSA citizenship, do the minors also lose their RSA citizenship? If yes, do the minors also receive a new ID Number with permanent residency in SA? Regarding the enquiry, since you refer the children as minors, they are below 18 years and will therefore automatically lose their citizenship too as no other parent will be South African. However, they have the same rights ie: ID number with permanent residency in ZA.
How do I go about applying for his new passport if both parents cannot be present in Germany It is important to know where the family is residing in Germany. This will help as an email for the relevant mission (Berlin or Munich)or official will be needed in ZA.

The father, who is in ZA, will need to go to Home Affairs offices in ZA for this application or proper process to follow for renewing the passport. The HA official who will be assisting will require the email address of the relevant mission this side to send and process further documents. I hope this helps

The South African Consulate in Munich offers citizen services to South Africans living in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The form below can be used to contact the Consulate in Munich via our website. 
Before using this form, first visit the Embassy’s website to search for answers to your questions.

Only when you cannot find answers or solutions on the Embassy website, or by emailing the Consulate at either munich.consular@dirco.gov.za or Munich.CivicApp@dirco.gov.za  or the Consulate in Belin at  berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za, can you submit your question on via this form. We will forward it to a contact at the consulate in Munich.
Answers will be shared on our website

Additional Contact information:

Rules for using the contact service

  • For case-specific issues, please follow the usual channels, this form is for general questions only.
  • Please do not misuse this service.
  • The admin of the South Africans in Germany website will be able to read your submissions, so please do not add too many personal or private details.
  • Answers will be sent back to us and not to you directly.
  • We would like to build a Frequently asked questions page related to the questions you asked. No personal details will be shared on the website.
  • Abusive submissions will not be forwarded. We reserve the right to not forward your submission at our own discretion.
  • Submissions will not be forwarded on a daily basis but at regular intervals.
  • Submissions will be deleted from our mailbox after a 30-day period.
  • There is also an option for sending compliments for excellent service.
  • We cannot guarantee that the Consulate will answer your questions

Related content

Questions and Answers

Here are some of the questions from our community  and the answers from the Consulate in Munich

Applying for a new Adult Tourist passport in South Africa can be done online via the Department of Home Affairs E-Services.

  • This service allows you to fill in the application form online and make an appointment for your biometrics. 
  • Biometrics can be done at participating banks. You do not need to be a client of the selected bank. 
  • You can collect your passport at the selected bank.
  • The current turnaround time for an adult Tourist passport is around one work week

Keep in mind

You can fill out the application while still in Germany, but you have to do the Biometrics in person in South Africa. If you want to apply for your passport in Germany, please refer to the links below. 

As a rule, you have to surrender your old passport when collecting the new one. You can ask them if it is possible to still keep your old one if you need it to travel back to Germany. Your Residence card is linked to your old passport. 

During the appointment, they will take your fingerprints and there should be a photo booth for digital photos.  To be on the safe side, take passport photos with you.

Application Form Tips

  • You need a South African mobile number to register on the Department of Home Affairs E-Service site. The OTP is sent to your mobile number.
  • You must type in the dates and not use the drop-down calendar to get appointments. Until I did that I couldn’t get available dates.”
  • They asked me why I want a new passport, as my current passport was still valid and had open pages. During your online application, you have to specify your reason for applying and I choose “passport full” as it was the only option that made sense. It told the lady that I live in Germany and that I do not often travel to South Africa, so I would like to apply while I am here. This was sufficient for her and her supervisor approved the application. I did not have to hand in my current passport.

Collection of Passports

Announcement by the department on 12 August 2022:

“Today, we are announcing the first of three steps to be taken by the Department to secure the integrity of our passport and make it foolproof against fraudulent acquisition.

The following measures will have to be followed:

  • A passport can only be collected strictly from the office where it was applied for.
  • Only the person who applied for that passport can come and collect it by activating it through a fingerprint. By the way, this is nothing new. This is a method that is being used to collect Smart ID Cards. 
  • For minor children, their parents or guardians who helped them to apply for that passport will be the only ones allowed to come and collect it and activate it using their own fingerprints.

We also wish to advise passport holders to check passports for expiry at least once a month or for frequent travellers, every fortnight. 
I wish to take this opportunity to dispel the myth of an emergency passport.
There is nothing called an emergency passport for any South African travelling to another country. The so-called emergency passport is actually a handwritten document available only to a South African who is stranded in another country. This document allows them to return home and when they arrive, its usefulness comes to an abrupt end. “

German residence permit linked to your old passport

Regarding travelling with a new passport, but still having your residence permit or visa linked to your old passport, I found this on the Berlin Welcome Centre website:
“Re-entry to Germany is easy if your residence permit is still valid and you still have the old passport.
Take your old and new passports and your residence permit with you on your trip.
However, we recommend that you enquire about the entry and exit conditions of the country you are visiting before you travel abroad (for example at the embassy of the country you are visiting)
Legal basis –  Gesetze §3, §4 and §13 AufenthG Art 5

Fiktionsbescheinigung – Probationary permit, a temporary proof of your German residence permit

If you applied for a new German residence card and have not received it yet, you can request a Fiktionsbescheinigung, or Temporary proof of German Residence.
With this you can travel from and to Germany.
Roughtly translated “With a fiction certificate (from the Latin fictio ‘acceptance’, ‘fiction’), foreigners in Germany prove the existence of a provisional right of residence, which often arises with the application for the issue or extension of a residence permit submitted to the immigration office.
The fiction certificate is regularly issued for the period in which the immigration office is examining the application for a residence permit.
The term “Fiktionsbescheinigung” refers to the legal fiction of the continuation of the previous right of residence as long as the application for a residence permit is examined and has not yet been approved.
In this phase, the stay is still legal after the expiry of the previous residence permit or the previously permit-free stay;
From now on, however, the right of residence is only a provisional one and therefore no longer guaranteed.“

Temporary proof of German Residence

To stay in Germany longer than 90 days in a 180 period, you will need a residence permit. Qualifying for a residence permit will depend, among other things, on the type of visa you applied for. Your long-stay visa allows you to travel to Germany. Within two weeks after arrival in Germany, you need to register at your local town office and  Immigration authority. See Registering at the local town office. You will receive a Meldebestätigung

Info on the web

Related content

The Embassy is in Berlin.
Physical Address:
Tiergartenstr. 18,
10785 Berlin
berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za
Tel.: +49-30-22073-0
Fax: +49-30-22073-190
Facebook page

Consulate  in Munich
Physical Address:
Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5,
80336 Munich,
Germany
munich.consular@dirco.gov.za
+49 89 2311630 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Currently the Munich office are experiencing problems with their telephone lines, which will hopefully be working soon.
Facebook page

Honorary Consuls

The Honorary Consuls are tasked with the promotion of the South African export trade, serve as contact persons for visiting South African business people, distribute general information on South Africa and represent South Africa at functions and receptions.

IMPORTANT: Honorary Consuls are not mandated to deal with ANY Consular-related matters, e.g., certifying documents, processing of visa applications or travel restrictions. ONLY the South African Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General in Munich are charged with this. You can find a list of honorary consuls here

Appointments

All South African citizens / applicants requiring civic services, and who reside in Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thüringen shall approach the South African Embassy in Berlin: Tiergartenstr. 18, 10785 Berlin 
All South African citizens/applicants requiring civic services, and who reside in Bayern and Baden-Wuerttemberg shall approach the South African Consulate-General in Munich: Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5, 80336 Munich 

To schedule an appointment at the Consular in Munich please send an email to Munich.CivicApp@dirco.gov.za  and for the embassy in Berlin, use berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za 

All requests for appointments must contain the following information:

  1.  The subject line of the email: Appointment request
  2. Applicant’s first name and surname
  3. Applicant’s date and place of birth
  4. Applicant’s South African identity number
  5.  Application type e.g. passport
  6.  Contact details (Address + mobile phone number)
Reference – SA Citizen Services Consular Business hours for civic services
For more information see the SA Citizen Services page of the Embassy
 
Tip: Check your email spam folder as the reply email from the embassy might end up there

Certification and signing of documentation before a South African Commisioner of Oaths

Documentation may be certified or signed before a Commissioner of Oaths either at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin or at the Consulate General in Munich.

 The relevant documentation to be certified and photo identification e.g. passport or identity document must be submitted in person and an appointment made for this purpose by contacting the Embassy in Berlin (Tel. 030 22073 0; Email: berlin.admin@dirco.gov.za) or the Consulate General in Munich (Tel. 089 231 1630; Email: munich.admin@dirco.gov.za).

Emergency Number

The emergency number – 00491728676194 is for South Africans in distress during any emergency which includes but is not limited to natural disasters, national security emergencies, etc.  You may call this number only if you are in an emergency during non-working hours (i.e. between 4:30 pm and 8:00 am).

SA Citizen Services

The embassy as well as the consulate in Munich offers a variety of Citizen Services for example the renewal of passports or emergency travel documents to travel back to South Africa.
They are also responsible for birth registrations, and citizen issues like renunciation of your South African citizenship.
Additional services include a commissioner of Oaths, Apostille, and registering the death of a SA citizen in Germany.  For a complete list of services, visit the  South African Embassy in Germany website.

International relations

The Department of international relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
Part of their mission is to provide consular services to South African nationals abroad.
They assisted in the repatriation of South Africans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

What to do if you have issues with appointments, service or documents

  • Use the Presidential Hotline (17737 or president@presidency.gov.za(link sends e-mail))  which was established in 2009 to create an interactive, accessible and responsive government. Members of the public can use the toll-free hotline to lodge queries or complaints relating to government services. The hotline is supported by a network of public liaison officers in national departments, provinces and municipalities. There is also an online Contact Us form

Certain documentation for example unabridged birth certificates, marriage certificates and confirmation of marital status can be obtained via 3rd party companies. The following companies are listed on our website.

Apostil

Get South African apostilles, police clearances, birth/marriage certificates, legalisations and much more quickly and efficiently through our legal service. We have helped thousands of people

Doc Assist

Embark on a hassle-free journey with our comprehensive document services. Whether you’re planning to travel, work abroad, or need vital documents, Doc Assist is here

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My SA Passport is stolen or lost

One of the worst things that can happen to you while in a foreign country is having your passport stolen or lost. Germany has a “Passpflicht”

My SA passport has expired

It is important to apply for your new passport well in advance, at least a year before the expiry date.Germany has a “Passpflicht” law. (1)