Renewing My South African Passport via VFS Berlin
Date: 27 February 2026
Written by: Chris Potgieter, Bad Homburg
Who Am I and Why Am I Sharing This?
Hi, my name is Chris and I live in Bad Homburg with my family. I’m sharing my experience of renewing my South African passport through VFS in Berlin in the hope that it helps others prepare and feel a little less stressed.
Before I start, a big thank you to the South African community WhatsApp group for consistently sharing updates and information. It really makes a difference.
Booking the VFS Appointment
When did I book and how long did it take?
I booked my appointment online with VFS on 25 January for 18 February at 11:30.
This coincided with the school half-term break, which made it easier for me to travel without disrupting family routines.
Travel and Accommodation in Berlin
How did I get there and where did I stay?
Not trusting the German railways to behave themselves on the day, I travelled to Berlin the night before on the ICE.
I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Berlin Mitte, which I can recommend:
- About a 7-minute walk to the VFS office
- Around 10 minutes by Uber from Berlin’s main train station
Finding the VFS Office
Is it easy to locate?
I arrived early — 11:00 for an 11:30 appointment — and walked from the hotel.
A few things to note:
- The building has VFS Global signage and a green door
- You’ll see signs for “Canada Visa Application” — yes, it’s the same entrance
- Look for an A4 poster saying “DHA Service Centre” with the South African emblem
- Once inside, turn left and follow the smaller A4 signs
- The office door is around the corner, next to a kitchenette
The South African desk is shared with Nigerian visa processing — don’t let that throw you.
The VFS Staff Experience
What was the interaction like?
I was helped immediately as the staff member was free. She was friendly, professional, and calm.
She mentioned:
- She has been in the role since November 2025
- Around 200 passport applications have already been processed
- Early applications came back quickly, but few have returned since December (as of this writing)
Payment and Fees
What did it cost and when did I pay?
Before starting the document check, I was asked to pay.
The total cost was €151.28, which included:
- Passport renewal fee
- VFS administrative fee
- Courier delivery to my home address
You can pay by Card
Forms and Documents Checked
Which Forms were required?
She carefully went through everything, step by step.
- BI-73 (yellow form) — completed twice at home
- BI-529
⚠️ Important note on BI-529 Question 9(a):
You must enter the date you last physically left South Africa, not when you emigrated or first moved abroad.
I left SA permanently in 1999, but since I had been home for Christmas, the correct date was January. I double-checked this several times.
I handed over:
- My South African passport
- SA ID book
- UK passport
- UK naturalisation certificate
- Marriage certificate
- A certified copy of my wife’s German passport
(Certified at the Bad Homburg Rathaus for €3.20)
I also provided copies of everything.
Tip: VFS can make copies for free, but the quality isn’t great. It’s far better to arrive with everything already photocopied and correctly certified.
We were married in Austria after my last SA passport application, so the marriage was not registered in South Africa. If you were married abroad, double-check this well in advance.
Fingerprints and Biometrics
How strict is this part?
Very. The fingerprint process was taken seriously:
- I was instructed carefully and asked to concentrate
- The South African passport office is strict about acceptance
- Two sets of fingerprints were taken — one as a backup
Special Circumstances
Were there any extra requirements?
Yes — but these won’t apply to everyone.
- I was born in Namibia, so I had to complete an additional Namibian questionnaire
- I also had to prove I was living in South Africa in 1990
Most applicants will not need this.
What Happens After the Appointment?
Do you need to return to Berlin?
No — unless something goes very wrong. I was told:
- If anything is missing or unclear, the SA Embassy in Berlin will contact me by email
- Additional documents can be sent via email
- No need to travel to Berlin again
Application Status Update
Did I receive confirmation?
Yes.
Two days later, on 20 February, I received an email from VFS Global confirming that my application had reached the Pretoria Operations Centre and was being processed.
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