PASSPORT

The South African Passport and Travel Documents Act of 1994 regulate the issuing of South African passports and travel documents.

We advise you not to make travel reservations before obtaining your passport.

Passport applications may take up to 6 months to be finalized. Applicants are requested to bear in mind that applications are referred to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa for processing.

Applicants can contact mail our office in the event of the passport taking longer than 6 months.

Different types of South African passports and their requirements.

• Tourist Passports ( Ordinary Adult passport)
• Child Passports (Persons younger than 16 years of age)
• Maxi Passports (Adult or Child)
• Temporary Passports (Adult or Child)
• Emergency Travel Certificates (Adult or Child)

Passport Applications (Adult or Child)

Persons must apply for a first or new passport when the passport has reached the full validity, or if the passport has no more blank visa pages available. New passports have a validity of 10 years for adults and 5 years for children. Please note that these passports cannot be extended once they have reached the expiry date - a new application must be lodged. An application for a new passport can be submitted approximately 6 months before an expiry date.

The Department of Home Affairs has now introduced a "maxi passport", which contain 48 visa pages instead of 32 pages. These passports are available to persons who travel extensively. In order to apply for a maxi passport, indicate this on the application form and pay the correct fee.

Please note: Do not make travel reservations before obtaining your passport.

Passport Requirements (All passport types)

• Form BI-73 - Passport application form.
• Form BI-529 - Determination of Citizenship Status.
• Form BI-9 - Although this form is mainly used for ID applications all passport applications of applicants 16 years and older MUST include the fingerprints therefore applicant must submit the applications in person.
• Police statement if your passport is lost or stolen.
• A copy of your old / current passport OR identity document OR birth certificate and originals.
• Photographs Two (2) recent, clear professionally taken colour photos of full face of applicant, showing only head and shoulders measuring 35mm X 45mm.
• If you are a naturalized South African, a copy of your Naturalization Certificate.

A PASSPORT OR TRAVEL DOCUMENT CAN BE ONLY ISSUED TO AN APPLICANT WHO IS IN POSSESSION OF AN IDENTITY NUMBER. IF THERE IS NO IDENTITY NUMBER A PERSON MUST APPLY FOR IDENTITY DOCUMENT ALONG WITH A PASSPORT APPLICATION.

General Notes

Children are no longer endorsed on parent's passports. Minors under the age of 18 years must have the consent of both parents on form BI-73, signed at the Embassy.

• Dual Citizenship: A South African citizen, who is also a citizen of another country, must all times use their South African passport when entering or departing South Africa.
• Applicable to women: If you want your passport to be issued in your maiden / married surname, a formal letter of request must also be included together with a certified copy of your divorce / marriage certificate.

Emergency travel Certificate Application

NB: Applicants applying for temporary passports to accommodate their travels to foreign countries are urged to check with the respective countries' representative whether a emergency travel certificate may be used to enter their country before lodging an application with this Mission (also when flying to the RSA as there are no direct flights from Poland to South Africa).

At this stage the following countries do not recognize the South African temporary passport as a valid document to enter these countries:

The United Kingdom, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, Italy, Saudi Arabia, China, Canada and certain states in the USA.

Processing period is approximately 5 working days.

Emergency travel Certificate are valid for maximum 10 days from the date of issue.

Emergency Travel Certificates (Adult or Child)
 
An Emergency Travel Certificate is valid for only one single journey direct to South Africa and is issued only to South African citizens who are returning directly to South Africa in extreme emergency cases.

Once back in South Africa, the applicant may then apply for a Tourist passport.

NB.

• Payments will only be VALID AFTER the Consular Section has requested the applicant to make the necessary payments.

SOUTH AFRICAN IDENTITY DOCUMENT

Identity Document application (first time applicants)

Identity documents can only be issued to South African citizens aged sixteen years or older.

The following documents are to be filled out, clearly printed in black ink:

1. Fully completed BI-9 / a full set of fingerprints to be taken at the Embassy.
2. Completed BI-529 (citizenship questionnaire), sections A & B regarding your personal particulars. (Note: Question 9 is the last permanent date of departure from South Africa). Sections C & D requires your parents' particulars, i.e. their names, dates & places of birth and detail of residence in South Africa.
3. Certified copy of Marriage Certificate (female applicants only).
4. Certified copy of full SA Birth Certificate or a copy of SA Registration of a Foreign Birth.
5. Two (2) passport photographs, 35mm X 45mm, in colour showing full facial features of the applicant (head and shoulders). (Photographs taken at photo booths are not acceptable).
6. First applications for Identity Documents are issued free of charge.

Identity Document reapplication

Identity documents can only be issued to South African citizens aged sixteen years or older.

The following documents are to be filled out, clearly printed in black ink:

1. Fully completed BI-9 / a full set of fingerprints to be taken at the Embassy.
2. Completed BI-529 (citizenship questionnaire), sections A & B regarding your personal particulars. (Note: Question 9 is the last permanent date of departure from South Africa). Sections C & D requires your parents' particulars, i.e. their names, dates & places of birth and detail of residence in South Africa.
3. Certified copy of Marriage Certificate (female applicants only).
4. Certified copy of full Birth Certificate. Where a name change has taken place, a copy of the approval letter or new amended certificate from the Department of Home Affairs.
5. Two (2) certified passport photographs, 35mm x 45mm, in colour showing full facial features of the applicant (head and shoulders). (Photographs taken at photo booths are not acceptable).
6. Previous ID.
7. Fee applicable: payable in cash on application by bank transfer.

Payment must be in Polish Zloty (PLN)

Payments must be in Polish Zloty (PLN) made out to the “South African Embassy” by means of Bank transfer; personal cheques, debit or credit cards are NOT accepted.

 The Department of International Relations and Cooperation offers a voluntary registration service for South African citizens that are travelling or residing abroad. This service is provided in the event there is a need to contact them to offer urgent advice on a natural disaster or civil unrest or a family emergency.

The information submitted by a South African citizen via the ROSA Online Registration form may be used by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation:

To contact South African citizens and their families; for any other reasonable purpose, as may be deemed appropriate, to ensure the protection and well-being of South African citizens abroad and in order to provide them with the necessary assistance; and with due regard to any South African citizen’s right to privacy in accordance with South African law.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and firewall technology to protect your data.

VISA

Note: E-Visa services not available

Who needs to apply for a visa?

* Polish citizens who wish to visit South Africa for tourism or commercial purposes are exempt from visa requirements for a maximum period of 30 days for tourism purpose only. All visitors to South Africa must be in possession of return/onward ticket and a valid visa.

* Polish citizens who wish to work or study in South Africa need to apply for a work / study permit at the South African Embassy in Warsaw at least 8 weeks before departure.

In order to ascertain whether you require a visa, we URGE you to contact the Embassy.

Alternatively, click on the following link: www.dha.gov.za

N.B. Individuals who are already in South Africa and intend to extend their stay beyond the period of 30 days need to apply for extension at the Department of Home Affairs. (Those staying for a period of 30 days and longer need to apply, in South Africa, for an extension.) More information can be found at the Department of Home Affairs website.

Policy procedures at the Consular Section of the South African Embassy

All applicants are requested to send an email to warsaw.dha@dirco.gov.za and copy ngcaim@dirco.gov.za requesting the list of required document, visa application, additional forms relevant for the type of visa, proposed date and time of appointment. Clearly indicate the type of visa in your application.

NO WALK IN WILL BE ALLOWED

Turn-around times for Immigration service.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

Yellow Fever

A person seeking to enter the Republic of South Africa may be required to produce an international health certificate containing details of vaccination.

Immunization for yellow fever is a requirement if the journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America. The following countries fall within the belt:

Africa

Angola
Burundi
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central Africa Republic
Chad
Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gambia
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zaire
Zambia

South America

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
French Guyana
Guyana
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Surinam
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuela

E-mail: warsaw.dha@dirco.gov.za