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South Africans in Germany

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    Adult 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 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 offices
    • 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.

    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

    Social Networks

    Düsseldorf

    Reach them through

    • Tonhallen Strasse 14-15, 2nd Floor, 40211, Dusseldorf
    • 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 on the South African Embassy website; refer to them as your primary sources.
    On the VFS Website, in the Consular Services dropdown, select Adult Passport and open the Documents Required tab.

    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.
    • The official application form from the DHA is the BI-73 / DHA-73
    • You must also fill out the Determination of Citizenship form BI-529 / DHA-529
    • VFS will provide a BI-9 form (or DHA-9), which is a mandatory South African Department of Home Affairs document for applicants aged 16 and older, primarily used to collect a full set of fingerprints for ID and passport applications
    • The photo specifications can be found on the Embassy website

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

    How to Apply via VFS Global — Step by Step

    Here are some tips on the application process

    01

    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.

    02

    Register online.

    Create a user account on the VFS Global site to begin your application process.

    03

    Book your appointment.

    Log in to your account and choose a date and time at the VFS Service Centre
    Walk-ins are accepted, but booking online will save you time (and nerves).

    Good to know:

    📌 If you book for one person, the available time slots are visible.
    📌If you try to book for more than one applicant, the system won’t show time slots.
    📌In practice, you can usually book one appointment for multiple people (for example, both children) and submit all applications during that visit—just be sure you have complete documentation for each person.
    📌If there are no appointments available for passports, select another type of appointment. Feedback from VFS is that it does not really matter what type you choose

    📅 Appointment availability
    Passport appointments via VFS Global in Germany are released periodically, often monthly. Check the booking system regularly—persistence pays off.

    Small but crucial tip:
    If your passport has already expired and the system rejects the “Valid until” date, select a future date to proceed.

    04

    Download the relevant forms from

    Download the relevant forms from the VFS Website, print them and fill them out

    05

    Attend your appointment in person.

    Bring your original documents, application form, pay the required fees, and have your biometric data captured.
    Location information on the VFS Website

    06

    Wait for processing.

    Your application is securely forwarded from VFS Global to the South African Department of Home Affairs for verification and issuance.
    The online tracking tool is currently not working. VFS sends emails with status changes. Please make sure to check your spam emails.

    07

    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.

    Fees & payment

    • All fees must be paid at VFS and not the Embassy
    • 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.
     
    Payment can be done at the VFS offices, card facilities are available

    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.

    Contact & further information

    • Visit the official VFS Global page for the South African passport service in Germany for detailed instructions.
    • Their Contact info for DE/SA can be found on this page
    • 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 Consulate in Munich processes applications directly via the traditional Department of Home Affairs system.
    • VFS Global manages its own online booking and submission system for its Service Centres.

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

    Updates on your application process

    If you’re applying for a South African passport in Germany, it’s important to note that the Consulate cannot track your application’s progress until it receives the diplomatic bag from Home Affairs in South Africa.
    The VFS Tracking system is also not linked to the DHA, so you cannot track your application. You will get emails with the progress from VFS as they receive it.  
    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 or +27 12 338 8000 from outside South Africa. You will need some patience, but most callers eventually get through
    Responses via email may take some time, with some applicants reporting a reply after about a month.

    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

    Share Your Experience & Help Others

    Every application tells a story — the waiting, the surprises, the small victories when things finally move forward. If you’ve gone through the child passport process, your experience could make the road a little smoother for someone else.

    We’ve created simple, easy-to-complete forms where you can share your timeline and what the process was really like for you. It doesn’t take long, but it can make a real difference to another South African family trying to find their footing far from home.

    Shared Experiences from the Community

    No two applications unfold exactly the same way. Some move quickly, others test your patience, and many come with unexpected twists along the way. Reading about other families’ experiences can help you prepare, avoid common mistakes, and feel a little less alone in the process.

    Below you’ll find stories, tips, timelines, and lessons shared by South Africans in Germany who have already gone through the child passport application journey. Sometimes the most helpful advice comes from someone who has just stood in the same queue.

    References

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    SA Consular and Embassy services

    Embassy Berlin Reach them through Tiergartenstraße. 18, 10785 Berlin +4930220730 +493022073190 berlin.consular@dirco.gov.za Social Networks SAEmbassyBerlin @SAEmbassyBerlin Website Consulate Munich Reach them through Sendlinger-Tor-Platz 5, 80336 Munich +49892311630 49 89 231 163 53 munich.consular@dirco.gov.za Social Networks Consulate in Munich Website 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

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