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 has a “Passpflicht” law, which means Foreigners may only enter or stay in the federal territory if they have a recognised 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 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 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 African Embassy website. The Embassy has taken great care to document all the relevant information, which can be downloaded from their website.  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. You cannot renew a passport. You can only apply for a new one The process explained Check where to apply.Depending on where you live, you’ll apply either through the South African Embassy in Berlin or the Consulate in Munich.(For example, residents of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg fall under Munich.) Request an appointment.Start by sending an email in the required format, as outlined below. You’ll receive a confirmation and appointment date once your request is processed. Prepare your documents.Gather all required originals, certified copies, and translations. Double-check that your paperwork is complete before your appointment. Missing or incorrect documents cause delays. Attend your appointment.Go to the Embassy or Consulate at your scheduled time to submit your application and pay any applicable fees. Processing in South Africa.Your application is forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa for verification and passport issuance. Passport delivery.Once your new passport arrives back in Germany, it will either be mailed to you in your self-addressed envelope or you’ll be notified to collect it. 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. Remember to take a long your proof of payment Remember the self-addressed envelopes with stamps Child passports The list for a child’s 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. 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.Bring a black ink pen with you in case you need it. 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

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

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 collect your passport at the selected bank. You have to collect your passport in person. The current turnaround time for an adult Tourist passport is around one work week, but this could be longer so keep that in mind when booking your flights.  Home affairs e-services Online Application tips How to use eHomeAffairs Mobile 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. Biometrics Digital biometrics can be captured at any Home Affairs office or at a Home Affairs-enabled Bank office, for which a booking is a prerequisite.   You do not need to make a booking to provide your biometrics at any of the Home Affairs offices. Dates You must type in the dates and not use the drop-down calendar to see available appointments. We suggest you use the YYYY-MM-DD format Appointments Slots open daily about one month ahead, so your search window is limited. Set alerts and go early: People say logging in right after midnight or at 5–6 AM gives you an edge Keep in mind You can complete the application while still in Germany, but you must 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 must surrender your old passport when collecting the new one. You can ask them if it is possible to keep your old one still 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. They asked me why I wanted 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 chose “passport full” as it was the only option that made sense. I 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. When applying for a new passport early, additional costs may be involved. The barcoded confirmation Letter (Printed)  as well as your ID Book (if available) must be taken with you when going to the branch or bank office”. After clicking on Download Confirmation, save the document to your PC and open it with a  PDF reader If you do not want or cannot make use of the E-Home Affairs site, you can also schedule appointments in South Africa via the BABS system.  The related application forms are filled out manually and not online.  For more information, visit the Department of Home Affairs website Do you need to be a client of the bank? To make the payment online, yes, you need to be a client of one of the participating banks ( Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Discovery Bank, Investec, and Capitec). Some people shared their experiences with us and said, you can, however, ask someone with one of the said banks to make the payment for you. To do the biometrics at the bank, you do not need to be a client of said bank. We are not 100% sure about this yet and are doing some more research You can also use the BABS system to book appointments at selected Home Affairs branches Hybrid Strategy: Use eHomeAffairs + BABS to get it done This is a suggested strategy if you cannot find appointment slots at the banks.  Fill in the online application for your passport or Smart ID Upload your supporting documents Pay online via EFT or internet banking (you’ll need this payment reference later) Do not book the appointment through eHomeAffairs—you’ll skip that step intentionally. Go to BABS Log in (or create an account) with your South African ID number Choose a Home Affairs office, not a bank Select a date and time from available slots   Collection of Passports An 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