How Many Types Of Passports Are there In South Africa

What is Passport?

A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person’s identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the personal identity and nationality of its holder.

How Many Types Of Passports Are there In South Africa

There are six types of South African passports:

Regular passport

These passports are issued to citizens who are 16 years of age or older and are intended for occasional travel, such as vacations and business trips. They contain 32 pages and are valid for 10 years. Regular passports are not renewable – when they expire, new passport applications have to be filed.

Maxi passport

Similar to regular passports, they contain 48 pages to cater to frequent travelers. Like regular passports, they are issued to citizens aged 16 and older, are valid for 10 years, and are non-renewable. Like the regular passport, when a maxi passport expires, a new passport application must be filed.

Child passport

These passports are issued to citizens who are 15 years of age or younger. They are valid for five years and are non-renewable

Official passport

These passports are issued to officials attached to government institutions who have to travel on official business. They are valid for five years and are issued to officials free of charge by the Department of Home Affairs

Diplomatic passport

Issued to diplomats and consuls for work-related travel, and to their accompanying dependants.

What type of passport do I have in South Africa?

Regular South African passports are issued to South African applicants who are 16 years old and older. They are valid for 10 years and are not renewable. When South African passports expire, new passport applications will have to be filed. Child passports are issued to children who are fifteen years and below.

Can you have 3 passports in South Africa?

South Africans are allowed to hold more than two nationalities. It is, however, crucial that persons protect their South African citizenship before taking on any other nationality through naturalization.

What Colour is a South African passport?

South African passports are green in color, with the South African coat of arms emblazoned in gold in the center of the front cover.