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
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:
📂 Check Your Spam Folder: Some responses may end up in spam, so be sure to check there before resending your request..
⏳ Processing Delays: The embassy/consulate is currently understaffed, so processing emails is taking longer than usual. Please be patient.
🚫 Avoid Sending Multiple Emails: If you don’t receive a response right away, resist the urge to send follow-ups. Sending multiple emails only adds to the backlog and slows things down for everyone.
📄 Required Documentation: Before booking, check the list of required documents on the embassy website under SA Citizen Services to ensure you have everything needed.
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 must made for this purpose by contacting:
Depending on your needs, you may require documents to be authenticated, certified, or have certified copies made Document authentication South Africa and Germany are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention. This means that if you need to authenticate a South African document for use in Germany, you can have it
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.
To ensure a smooth and secure experience for everyone, all visitors to the South African Embassy are kindly asked to observe the following protocols:
Check-In Procedure
Upon arrival, all visitors must present a valid form of identification at the reception desk. In exchange, a visitor’s card will be issued. This card must be worn or carried visibly throughout your time on the premises. Upon departure, please return the visitor’s card to reception in order to retrieve your ID.
House Rules – What’s Not Allowed:
For the safety, security, and comfort of all guests and staff, the following items and behaviours are not permitted on Embassy grounds:
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).
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, commonly known as DIRCO, is dedicated to providing comprehensive consular services to South African citizens who find themselves outside the country’s borders. Through its diplomatic missions and embassies across the globe, DIRCO is committed to advocating the country’s interests on the international stage. As a responsible and accountable government agency, DIRCO strives to ensure that South Africa’s foreign policy objectives are met through collaboration with stakeholders both within and outside the country. Part of their mission is to provide consular services to South African nationals abroad.
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.
Our services for you: All Unabridged Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates and also the Vault Birth Document Foreign Birth Registration in SA Foreign Death, Marriage and Divorce registrations Unabridged Birth and Marriage certificates from Zimbabwe Retention of SA Citizenship letters Police Clearances Apostille at DIRCO or High Court Procuring Divorce Decrees at the courts in SA
We are a document procumbent company assisting South Africans with the admin if dealing with Government Entities Divorce orders Foreign death registration Foreign divorce registration Foreign marriage registration Marital status amendments Police Clearance Certificat Retention of South African Citizenship Unabridged Birth Certificates Notary Services Apostille Unabridged Marriage Certificates Determination of Citizenship status See our website for a full list of services
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 obtain and authenticate South African documents. Apostilles Police Clearance Home Affairs Documentation Attestation Second phone number – +27 11 083 9830
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Applying for a South African ID in Germany If you’re a South African citizen aged 16 or older and currently living in Germany, you can apply for your ID through the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate-General in Munich. This includes first-time applicants, those replacing lost or damaged IDs, citizens updating personal details, or women changing surnames after marriage. Green ID BOok When you apply at the South African Embassy or Consulate, you will be issued with a green ID Book Smart ID Card When you apply in South Africa you will be issued with a smart ID card Attention A person, who has previously been issued with a smart card ID may not be issued with a green bar-coded identity book afterwards. The Embassy therefore strongly urge all applicants to apply for a smart card ID during their next trip to South Africa instead of applying for the green bar-coded identity book at a South African mission abroad – SA Embassy Berlin Where to apply 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. 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 embassy or consulate cannot influence the processing time. Please remember that appointment openings fill up very quickly, and your application appointment can be a month or two after you send an appointment request. Booking your appointment 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 BerlinAll 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 Munich Consulate, please send an email with the information below to: Munich.CivicApp@dirco.gov.za To schedule an appointment at the Embassy in Berlin, please send an email with the information below to berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za Email Format Subject line of email: Appointment request Full name of the applicant Applicant’s date and place of birth South African 13-digit identity number, if applicable/available Contact details (Address + mobile phone number) Application type e.g. passport TIP! 📂 Check Your Spam Folder: Some responses may end up in spam, so be sure to check there before resending your request. The embassy will email you to confirm receipt of your request for an appointment. They will then manually schedule an appointment and send you a second email with your appointment date. Checklist of what documentation you need A complete list of what is needed for the application can be found on the South African Embassy Website, under the Identity Document Section Frequently asked Questions These are the most common questions and practical answers gathered from our vibrant South Africans in Germany WhatsApp group. These FAQs are based on real experiences, shared wisdom, and guidance from people who’ve navigated the maze of embassy applications. We’ve also had input from knowledgeable folks familiar with official processes, so while it’s not legal advice, it’s as close to the inside scoop as you’ll get without standing in the queue yourself.Most information is also available on the documentation provided by the Embassy Do both parents need to accompany a minor when applying for a South African ID document As a rule, both parents or legal guardians must be present when a minor applies for a South African ID.However, there are exceptions depending on individual circumstances. It’s best to contact the embassy or consulate directly to clarify your specific situation and ensure you have the correct documentation. Do I need to collect my ID document in person, or will it be mailed to me? Once your newly issued South African ID document arrives at the mission where you applied, it will either be mailed to you using the self-addressed envelope you provided during the application, or you’ll be notified to collect it in person. Make sure your contact details and return envelope are accurate to avoid delays. Will I be issued with an ID Card or ID Book When applying in Germany, you will be issued with an ID Book, see the section at the top op this page. How long does the process take After your application is sent to the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria, it may take up to 6 months for it to be finalised and for your ID document to reach the embassy or consulate where you applied. Please note: The South African mission abroad does not provide status updates during this processing period. If you’d like to check on the progress of your application, you can contact the Department of Home Affairs Contact Centre directly at hacc@dha.gov.za. Can I apply for a passport at the same time as my first South African ID Yes, you absolutely can! There’s no need to wait—applications for your first ID and passport can be submitted together at the embassy or consulate. It’s a smart move to get both sorted in one go. Can someone collect my ID on my behalf No, you can choose to receive your documents by post or collect at your convenience (for which you will need an appointment) Stolen or lost Documents When your South African Identity document is stolen or lost, you must report it to the police and attach the police report detailing the loss or theft to your application. The Police report does not need to be translated into English. Updates on your application process If you’re applying for a South African passport in Germany, it’s important to note that the embassy cannot track the progress of your application until they receive the diplomatic bag from Home Affairs in South Africa. This means they are unable to provide updates
.One of the worst things that can happen to you while in a foreign country is having your passport stolen or lost. If your passport is stolen in Germany, immediately report the theft to the local police and obtain a police report. Germany has a “Passpflicht” law – which means Foreigners may only enter or stay in the federal territory if they have a recognized and valid passport or passport substitute unless they are exempted from the passport requirement by statutory order. For your stay in the federal territory, you must fulfil the passport requirement by possessing a substitute ID (Section 48 (2)). This means you must report a stolen or lost passport to the authorities and apply for a new one as soon as possible. You have to apply for a new passport at either the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, depending on where you live.Please also refer to the official information on the South African Embassy website. Handy Tips Losing your passport can be an incredibly stressful experience. Here are some handy things to keep in mind to help you locate your passport or to find information about your documentation easily. Smart Tags Consider adding a smart tag to your Passport holder. There are card/tile type smart tags on the market. Smart Tags Consider adding a smart tag to your Passport holder. There are card/tile type smart tags on the market. More information Electronic copies Keep electronic copies of all your travel and identification documents. on a safe cloud space. You can also encrypt it for extra safety Electronic copies Keep electronic copies of all your travel and identification documents. on a safe cloud space. You can also encrypt it for extra safety Information from DIRCO According to the department of international relations and cooperation – DIRCO If your passport is lost or stolen while you are traveling abroad, report the loss/theft immediately to the local law enforcement agency (e.g. police station). Take a copy of the police report to the nearest South African High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate-General where you will apply for an emergency travel document. There is a fee attached to the application for an emergency travel document. Please note that all passport applications are forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa for processing and issuance of new passports. The waiting period to receive a new passport abroad can be several months. In emergency situations, the South African Diplomatic or Consular Mission is in a position to issue you with an Emergency Travel Certificate, which will allow you only to travel directly back to South Africa. To apply for a new Passport or an Emergency Travel Certificate, you must: Complete an application form. Be fingerprinted. Produce written evidence of your South African citizenship (e.g. a birth certificate, identity document, a certified copy of passport, driver’s license). Where available. Provide a copy of the police report. It does not need to be translated (in the event of loss or theft) Present two photographs. Pay the prescribed fee (as determined by the Department of Home Affairs). I need to travel, what do I need to do? These instructions relate only to those who need to travel urgently but whose passport is lost or stolen. If you have no urgent reason to travel, you must apply for your new passport in Germany. This can take a couple of months. For normal applications (Passport expiring) see the following pages: My SA passport expired Applying in South Africa Applying in Germany Step 1. – Report it Report the loss/theft immediately to the local law enforcement agency (e.g. police station). Take a copy of the police report to the nearest South African High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate-General when you apply for an emergency travel document. There is a fee attached to the application for an emergency travel document. See more on the DIRCO website Step 2. – Apply for an emergency travel certificateYou can apply for an emergency 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 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. Step 3. Inform the Ausländerbehorde (not a requirement but a suggestion) Visit the Ausländerbehorde, and inform them that your passport was stolen and that you have a new emergency passport that you will use to travel to South Africa to apply for a new passport. Remember your residence card is linked to your passport. Confirm with them that re-entry to Germany is possible, and whether additional documentation will be required for re-entry Relevant Gesetze §3, §4 and §13 AufenthG Art 5″ Step 4. Travel to South Africa and apply for a new passport in South Africa, see more about applying for your passport in South Africa here. Take your Emergency travel certificate, a copy of the police report, your residence permit, and any other documentation the Ausländerbehorde listed as necessary with you on your trip. Step 5. Travel back to Germany You will have to show your German residence card in South Africa before you can board a plane. You might have additional checks at Passport control when arriving in Germany, so make sure all your paperwork is in order. Remember your residence card is linked to a specific passport. I recommend taking a copy of the police report (if your passport was lost or stolen) with you. It could also be helpful to bring proof of your residence. 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
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 South African Embassy website. The Embassy has taken great care to document all the relevant information, which can be downloaded from their website. After submitting your application, the documents are sent to South Africa for processing. The new passport is then sent back to Germany. Once the passport arrives at the South African Embassy or Consulate it would be mailed to the applicant in the self-addressed envelope provided, or the applicants would be duly notified. In the case of passport applications, the applicant would be requested to return his or her current valid tourist passport for cancellation; cancelled passports would thereafter be returned to applicants together with their new passport.Apply for your new passport at least a year before the expiry date. The embassy or consulate cannot influence the processing time. Take into account that appointment openings fill up very quickly and your application appointment can be a month or two after you sent an appointment request. Booking your appointment 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 BerlinAll 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 Munich Consulate, please send an email with the information below to: Munich.CivicApp@dirco.gov.za To schedule an appointment at the Embassy in Berlin, please send an email with the information below to berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za Email Format Subject line of email: Appointment request Full name of the applicant Applicant’s date and place of birth South African 13-digit identity number, if applicable/available Contact details (Address + mobile phone number) Application type e.g. passport You will get an email from the embassy to confirm receipt of your request for an appointment. They will then manually schedule an appointment and send you a second email with your appointment date. Check your email spam folder as the reply email from the embassy might end up there. Checklist of what documentation you need The most up-to-date information is always available on the Embassy website, here is the link for an Adult passport (over 16 years of age). Please note that you need to take your current passport with you, as well as copies (See links above). Your current passport will be returned to you. The following statement is on the application checklist. The applicant’s original passport must be submitted regardless of whether the current passport is full or expired or the applicant’s forename and/or surname has been amended – the original passport will be given back to the applicant The applicant may continue to use her or his current passport during the processing of the new passport. Child passports The list for a child passport can be found here. Information about who should be present and sign the application is available on the Department of Home Affairs website. As a rule, the child and both parents should be in attendance when the application is submitted. They don’t accept a power of attorney. More information on the link above. You cannot renew a passport, only apply for a new one Good to know Important Info Here are some important things to remember in order to make the process of applying for your passport as smooth and stress-free as possible. 01 Confirmation Email As mentioned above you will get a confirmation email that your email to the Embassy or Consulate was received. 02 SPAM Check your email spam folder for emails from the Embassy or Consulate 03 Have some patience Allocating appointments is a manual process. You will get an email with your appointment date as soon as it is allocated to you. 04 thoughfullness Inform the Embassy or Consulate if you cannot make your appointment so that they can allocate it to someone else. Inform them of any change of address. 05 Come prepared Make sure you have all the documentation required for your passport application. 06 Plan ahead Last but not least, apply for an appointment well in advance, do not wait until your passport has expired. South African citizens are entitled to hold two tourist passports concurrently. Persons wishing to apply for a second passport must provide a written motivation. German residence permit linked to old passport I found information with regards to traveling with a new passport, while your residence permit is linked to your old passport, on the Berlin 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 Updates on your application process If you’re applying for a South African passport in Germany, it’s important to note that the embassy cannot track the progress of your application until they receive the diplomatic bag from Home Affairs in South Africa. This means they are unable to provide updates on processing times. However, applicants with civic status enquiries can follow up directly with Home Affairs by emailing hacc@dha.gov.za. Some applicants have also had success obtaining updates by calling Home Affairs at 0800 60 11 90 from South Africa. Responses via email may take some time, with some applicants reporting a reply after about a month. A document listing the average processing times can be found on the Embassy website download document References SA Citizen Services Consular Business hours for civic services For more information see the SA Citizen Services page of the Embassy
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, Fiktionsbescheinigung (ask for a Fortgeltungsfiktion), or other official proof of your residence status, you cannot travel back to Germany. See Section 4 (Residence title requirement) of the Residence Act. If you hold permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Germany, it remains valid even if your residence card expires or becomes invalid. The expiration of the card does not affect your permanent residence status; it simply means that you need to renew the physical proof of your status. A Fiktionsbescheinigung can help you proof your status. 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. Request an appointment at the South African Embassy or Consulate, and apply for your passport in Germany 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 ) A residence title is a general legal term for any official document that grants a foreign national permission to reside in Germany for a specific period and purpose. These include Temporary residence permits (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) and Permanent residence permits (Niederlassungserlaubnis) A residence card is proof of your residence title. It is used to identify you You can use it for online identification on official websites if your card allows it. Validity The validity of your residence title (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) may extend beyond the expiration of your passport. A temporary residence title has a specific expiration date, while a permanent residence title remains valid as long as you continue to meet the necessary conditions, such as not being absent from Germany for more than 6 months within a 12-month period. The validity of your electronic residence card (eAT) will never exceed the validity of your passport. Since the card is linked to your passport, it becomes invalid when your passport expires. The card serves as proof of your residence title, but this does not mean your residence title itself becomes invalid—only the official proof of it does. 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
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