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South Africans in Germany

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Passport Application through VFS Global

There is a new, more convenient way to apply for your South African passport in Germany. In addition to the traditional route through the Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich, you can submit your application through the company VFS Global. For an additional service fee, you can now:

  • Start your application online
  • Book your biometric appointment through their system
  • Submit your application documents and biometrics at VFS (Berlin and Düsseldorf)
  • Have your new passport couriered straight to your doorstep.

This is a modern touch to the old process, designed to make life abroad a little easier.

VFS Global is a commercial company working in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs, South Africa, to operate an Application Centre that provides selected consular services to South African citizens in Germany. Visit VFS Global for full details

Who is eligible

  • South African citizens residing in Germany are eligible to apply for passports through the available channels.
    Applicants under the age of 16 must apply for a child passport, while those 16 years and older may apply for a standard (tourist) passport.
  • To qualify, applicants must be legally resident in Germany and comply with any residency requirements set by the South African consular services.

Birth registrations and Unabridged Birth certificate

  • You can register your newborn child at the South African Department of Home Affairs via the VFS System. Newborns: must bring a certified copy of their German birth certificate when applying. 
  • You can also apply for an unabridged birth certificate through VFS Global. (The old abridged version is no longer issued.)

Current VFS Global locations in Germany

There are currently two VFS Global offices in Germany where you can complete your biometrics for a South African passport

Berlin

Reach them through

  • Spaces Spittelmarkt GF, 1st Floor, Wallstr. 9, Berlin, 10179
  • +4991183799201
  • Online Form

Social Networks

Düsseldorf

Reach them through

  • Tonhallen Strasse 14-15, 2nd floor, 40211, Dusseldorf
  • +4991183799201
  • Online Form

Social Networks

✅ Documentation Requirements

When applying through VFS Global, make sure you prepare your documents carefully.
The most up-to-date list of required documents is always available on the
VFS Global website, and you should refer to that as your primary source.

That said, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

  • Original documents are required – every document you submit must be presented in its original form, along with a certified copy.
  • Translations matter – if your documents are not in English, you’ll need a sworn translation.
  • Legalisation or an apostille may be required for foreign birth, marriage, or divorce certificates.
  • A South African birth certificate is required if you don’t have a South African ID. Applicants who already have an ID can apply without providing a birth certificate.
  • If you bring your originals, the Application Centre can certify copies on the spot as true copies of the originals.

Always double-check your paperwork before booking your appointment — missing or uncertified documents can cause delays or rejection.

Child passports (Under 16 years of age)

The complete list of required documents for a child’s passport application can be found on the VFS Global website.
Under the Consular Services dropdown, select Child Passport and open the Documents Required tab. Applicants who are turning 16 years old must apply for an ID at the embassy/consulate and submit a copy of their ID along with their adult passport application at VFS Global

Additional details about who must be present and who should sign the application are available on the Department of Home Affairs website – Applying for Tourist Passports: Persons under 16 years

✅ How to Apply via VFS Global — Step by Step

  1. Pre-check your eligibility and gather your documents.
    Make sure you have all the required paperwork as listed on the VFS Global website.
    Double-check that originals, certified copies, and translations are in order before you start.
  2. Register online.
    Create a user account on the VFS Global site to begin your application process.
  3. Book your appointment.
    Log in to your account and select a date and time at one of the VFS Centres in Berlin or Düsseldorf.
    (Walk-ins are accepted, but booking online speeds things up.)
    Tip – if you want to book an appointment for an individual, you can see the available timeslots. If you try to book an appointment for more than one applicant, you will not see the available timeslots
  4. Download the relevant forms from the VFS Website, print them and fill them out
  5. Attend your appointment in person.
    Bring your original documents, application form, pay the required fees, and have your biometric data captured.
  6. Wait for processing.
    Your application is securely forwarded from VFS Global to the South African Department of Home Affairs for verification and issuance.
  7. Passport delivery or collection.
    Once your new passport is ready, it will be couriered to your address (fees apply) or made available for pickup, depending on the service option you chose.
  8. Track your application.
    Use the online tracking tool or notification updates on your VFS Global account to monitor your progress.

Fees & payment

  • You will pay a service fee to VFS Global for handling your application. Select the Fees Tab on the Passport information page on the VFS Website for the latest fees
  • You will also pay the usual government application fee for the South African passport itself.
  • A courier service within Germany is available for €34 per passport..

Processing times

To ensure that applicants receive their documents on time, they are advised to please book an appointment at least EIGHTEEN months before the expiry of their current passport to avoid any delays. Please do not make fixed travel arrangements before obtaining your passport.”

For urgent travel needs, plan ahead. Do not rely on last-minute scheduling.

Applying for a South African Passport in Germany — Embassy vs VFS Global

Step / Feature Embassy or Consulate VFS Global
Where to apply Embassy in Berlin or Consulate in Munich Apply online via VFS Global and attend your appointment at a VFS Centre in Berlin or Düsseldorf. Walk-ins are accepted, but booking online is preferred as it speeds up processing.
System used Traditional South African Department of Home Affairs process Digital process managed by VFS Global in partnership with Home Affairs
How to book Send an email request and wait for appointment confirmation Register online and choose your own appointment date and time
Documents required You must have a South African ID and supporting documents You must have a South African ID and birth certificate, plus documents listed on the VFS website
Biometrics Done in person at the Embassy or Consulate during your appointment Done at your VFS appointment
Courier / delivery Provide a self-addressed envelope if you want it sent by post Passport is couriered to your doorstep after processing (courier fee applies)
Processing time Timelines vary and depend on processing at Home Affairs in South Africa. No guaranteed timeframe is provided. VFS and Home Affairs do not currently commit to a specific timeframe. Applicants are advised to apply at least 18 months before their current passport expires.
Fees Standard government fees only Government fees plus VFS service and courier fees
Tracking your application No online tracking – you’ll be contacted once it’s ready Online tracking available through your VFS Global account. Note: Once the application is at Home Affairs in SA, VFS cannot track it again until the passport has been issued and is ready for collection.
Final destination of application Sent to the same processing centre in South Africa Sent to the same processing centre in South Africa

Both routes ultimately reach the same Home Affairs office in South Africa — but how you get there makes all the difference. The Embassy route follows the traditional system, while VFS Global offers online booking for biometrics, a digital application process, some tracking capability, and the convenience of courier delivery — with the hope (but not guarantee) of faster turnaround times.

Why some applicants choose VFS Global: While VFS cannot guarantee faster processing, it offers a more modern and transparent experience — you can book your appointment online, submit your biometrics in person, and track your application through an online portal. Many applicants find the structure, accessibility, and clear process worth the additional service fee, even though final processing still depends on Home Affairs in South Africa.

My SA Passport is stolen or lost

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. If your passport is stolen in Germany, immediately report the theft to the local police and obtain a police report. Germany

Applying for your passport in Germany via the Embassy/Consulate)

passport Application through the Embassy/Consulate When you apply for your new South African passport in Germany, via the Embassy or Consulate,  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

Passport – Applying in South Africa

Passport Application 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 can

Contact & further information

  • Visit the official VFS Global page for the South African passport service in Germany for detailed instructions.
  • If you encounter issues (appointment backlog, document queries), contact the VFS centre directly via their listed phone or email.
  • For policy questions (e.g., eligibility, legal residency implications), reach out to the South African Embassy or Consulate responsible for your region in Germany.

Important: The Embassy/Consulate and VFS Global are two separate application channels. They do not share systems, appointments, or records.

  • The Embassy in Berlin and Consulate in Munich process applications directly via the traditional Department of Home Affairs system.
  • VFS Global manages its own online booking and submission system with offices in Berlin and Düsseldorf.

The only connection between the two is that all applications are ultimately processed by the South African Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.
Submitting through one channel does not affect or update any application made through the other.

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

Testimonials

“Smooth but still finding its rhythm”
“I had my appointment for a passport renewal at the new VFS Center in Berlin today, and overall it was a quick, pleasant experience — about twenty minutes in total. The offices are still temporary, but the friendly clerk personally came to fetch me from reception. There’s currently only one clerk working there, and while very kind, he’s still learning the process. He wasn’t sure about the courier service, so I’ll have to wait and see how my passport arrives. I brought my original abridged birth certificate — he mentioned it’s not really required, but it’s good to have just in case. I also asked about applying for an unabridged birth certificate through them, though that seemed unclear at the moment. Two hours after my appointment, I already received confirmation that my application was being processed and sent to DHA Pretoria — much quicker than the old embassy route! The new VFS system still has a few kinks to iron out, but once it’s fully established, I think it’ll be a big improvement.”
Cara
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References

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