South Africa's green ID book gets an official end date

South Africa: Green ID Book Becomes Invalid on 31 March 2028 — Production Ends a Year Earlier

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber set 31 March 2028 as the green ID book’s last valid day; production ends in 2027 and 14.7 million people must switch.

South Africa's green ID book gets an official end date

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has announced the official date when green ID books will stop being a valid identity document.

South Africa Digital ID: How the new system works

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has unveiled the first working prototype of South Africa’s new Digital ID system, offering a glimpse of how identity services could eventually move from Home Affairs branches to smartphones. Schreiber demonstrated the system on October 1, 2026, at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg during the launch of the department’s “Quantum Leap” […]

Green ID Book’s Final Days: South Africa Sets 2028 Deadline for Millions

South Africa’s long-standing green barcoded identity book is approaching its final chapter, with Home Affairs announcing when the document will stop being recognised as valid identification. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced the new timeline on Thursday, 1 October 2026, during the launch of the department’s Quantum Leap programme. Under the plan, existing green ID […]

First Digital ID is here as Minister confirms end to Green ID book

  Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber hosted an event at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Thursday, 1 October, as he laid out a vision for the future of the Department, saying Home Affairs is about to take a “quantum leap” forward.   Schreiber unveiled the prototype Digital ID (his own) and also confirmed that the production of the green ID book will end on 31 March 2027.   There will be a 12-month transition […]

SOUTH AFRICA UNVEILS FIRST DIGITAL ID – HERE’S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

Thu 01 October 2026: The Department of Home Affairs introduced South Africa‘s first operational digital identity document during an event held in Johannesburg on Thursday, 1 October 2026. Government plans to use digital IDs to give South Africans access to services from multiple departments through a single online platform on their smartphones. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the digital […]