DHA to Phase Out Green Barcoded IDs under Identification Act

Posted 15 June 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Regulatory

Brought to you by SAnews: The Department of Home Affairs is accelerating the decommissioning of green barcoded identity books and transitioning to secure smart ID cards to combat identity fraud.

In terms of the Department of Home Affairs’ mandate under the Identification Act, No. 68 of 1997, government has initiated a progressive phase-out of legacy identity documents. Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, confirmed that approximately 16 million green barcoded ID books remain in circulation. Due to systemic vulnerabilities—specifically the ease of physical photo manipulation and identity theft—these documents are being systematically replaced with biometric-enabled smart ID cards.

To facilitate this transition, the department is expanding its public-private partnership with the banking sector. This digital partnership allows citizens to apply for and collect smart IDs at designated bank branches. The service is currently operational across 178 bank branches nationwide, with a regulatory target to expand the footprint to 750 branches by the end of 2026.

Intelligent Population Register and TRN Reforms

Alongside the ID phase-out, government has announced broader migration and identity management reforms, which include:

  • The establishment of an Intelligent Population Register that will consolidate and secure biometric data for every individual residing in South Africa.
  • The introduction of new regulations designed to prevent the misuse of Traffic Registration Numbers (TRNs), which have historically been exploited to bypass standard immigration and licensing controls.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: You should proactively transition from a green barcoded ID book to a smart ID card via the eHomeAffairs portal or an authorized bank branch to secure your personal identity data against biometric fraud.
  • For your business: Human resources and compliance departments must review internal onboarding and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) processes to prepare for the eventual decommissioning of the green barcoded ID as a valid form of identification.
  • For your clients: Fiduciary, legal, and financial service providers should advise clients to audit their customer databases and prompt any stakeholders still utilizing green barcoded IDs to upgrade, ensuring uninterrupted compliance with FICA and other statutory verification requirements.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/work-continues-replace-green-barcoded-ids

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