Explainer: How TymeBank will help South Africans apply for smart IDs and passports
TymeBank expands services: Smart IDs and passports coming to kiosks across South Africa.
South Africans will soon be able to apply for Smart ID cards and passports through TymeBank kiosks, following a landmark partnership between the digital-only bank and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The initiative is part of the government’s modernisation programme aimed at expanding access to essential identification services and reducing long queues at traditional Home Affairs offices.
What the TymeBank–Home Affairs partnership means
TymeBank has become the eighth financial institution to join the DHA’s expanded rollout of Smart ID and passport services. The agreement signals a major step forward for digital transformation in South Africa, as it shows that even banks without traditional branches can play a role in delivering essential government services. By leveraging its wide kiosk network inside retail stores, TymeBank is helping extend access points for millions of South Africans.
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How South Africans can apply for Smart IDs and passports at TymeBank kiosks
TymeBank operates more than 1,450 kiosks across the country in Pick n Pay, Boxer, and Foschini Group stores. Soon, these kiosks will allow customers to complete their Smart ID and passport applications. The process involves staff capturing biometric details such as fingerprints and photos, verifying identity information in real time, and securely transmitting applications to the DHA database. Once approved, applicants will collect their IDs or passports from the same kiosk where they applied, cutting down on travel and waiting times.
Why TymeBank’s approach is different from traditional banks
Unlike established banks such as FNB, Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, and African Bank—which are extending services through their branch networks—TymeBank relies entirely on its kiosk system. This model brings Smart ID and passport services directly into supermarkets and retail stores where South Africans already shop. For many, this approach could be more convenient than visiting a traditional banking hall, making access easier for customers in both urban and semi-urban areas.
When the rollout of DHA services at TymeBank kiosks will begin
The first rollout phase will launch in Johannesburg before expanding to other regions nationwide. Customers will be notified once their nearest TymeBank kiosk is equipped to handle Smart ID and passport applications. By the end of 2025, more than 100 bank-linked service points are expected to be live across the country, with hundreds more added in subsequent years.
The future of digital ID and passport applications in South Africa
The long-term vision of the DHA is to create a fully digital application system, with banks and kiosks serving as the backbone of the rollout. By 2029, more than 1,000 service points are expected to be operational. TymeBank and Discovery Bank are also working on integrating the application process into their mobile apps, allowing citizens to apply digitally without visiting a kiosk. Looking further ahead, the DHA aims to offer home delivery of Smart IDs and passports, giving South Africans even greater convenience.
In the short term, the TymeBank–Home Affairs partnership represents a turning point in how South Africans access government services. By combining digital innovation with essential public infrastructure, the programme promises shorter queues, faster processing, and easier access to identification documents for millions across the country.
