How to Renew Your South African Passport in the UK
SA admin from the UKTo renew a South African passport in the UK, you apply in person at a VFS Global passport centre in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. You don't go to the High Commission, and you can't do it online. Book an appointment, bring your forms, current passport, ID and certified copies, and expect to pay £93 for a standard adult renewal (as of October 2026). The part that catches people out is time: plan for months, not weeks.
Who handles South African passport renewals in the UK?
The High Commission's Home Affairs page confirms that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has contracted VFS Global to take passport applications in the UK. That covers adults with a 13-digit barcoded ID book or smart ID card, and children whose birth is registered with Home Affairs and who have an unabridged birth certificate.
There are three centres (hours as of October 2026):
CentreAddressSubmissionsCollectionsLondon66 Wilson Street, EC2A 2BTMon to Fri, 08:30 to 14:30Mon to Fri, 16:00 to 17:30Manchester50 Devonshire Street North, M12 6JHMon to Fri, 08:30 to 14:30Mon to Fri, 12:00 to 13:30Edinburgh1 Rennie's Isle, Leith, EH6 6QTMon to Fri, 08:30 to 14:30Mon to Fri, 12:00 to 13:30
The South African High Commission in London (what most people call the SA embassy) still matters, just not for routine renewals. Its Home Affairs section at 15 Whitehall, not South Africa House on Trafalgar Square, handles first IDs and first adult passports, birth registrations, replacement ID books and emergency travel documents, by appointment.
When you can renew your South African passport in the UK
VFS says you can renew up to one year before expiry. The exceptions are a passport that has run out of pages, or a name change because of marriage or divorce.
Taking a spouse's surname or going back to a maiden name is simple: submit your marriage certificate or divorce decree with a written confirmation of the surname you want. Any other name change must be finalised on the National Population Register first, and the High Commission puts the average for that at 36 months. If you married outside South Africa, registering the marriage with Home Affairs is compulsory.
Documents you need for an adult renewal
VFS's step-by-step guide and its adult requirements list ask for:
Forms DHA-73 and DHA-529, printed and completed in black ink and block letters. Only small corrections are accepted at the centre.
Your current passport and ID (green barcoded ID book or smart ID card). An ID is mandatory from 15 years and 6 months.
Certified copies of your supporting documents, with the originals. A qualified UK professional can certify them; VFS offers certification only in London.
Marriage or divorce documents if relevant, plus your spouse's ID or passport if you married outside South Africa.
Proof of any other nationality, showing how and when you got it, such as a naturalisation certificate. A foreign passport doesn't count.
Your printed appointment confirmation.
UK documents such as a marriage certificate must be legalised (given an apostille) by the UK Legalisation Office before your appointment, and anything not in English needs a sworn translation. Photos are taken at the centre for £12; to use your own, the guidelines ask for six printed photos plus a digital version.
Renewing a child's South African passport in the UK
Children's renewals also go through VFS, with extra rules:
Both parents and the child must attend.
Bring the child's current passport and unabridged birth certificate, plus certified copies of both parents' IDs and passports.
If the child holds another nationality, bring proof such as a foreign birth registration or citizenship certificate, not a foreign passport.
If one parent lives outside the UK, they give consent on form DHA-73 at a Home Affairs office or South African embassy where they live. The High Commission also runs a consent service for parents in different countries (£10), so check which route applies before you book.
Watch the age cut-off: VFS's child guidance stops at about 15 and a half (the High Commission says 15 years and 9 months). Older teenagers who have never had an ID must apply for a first ID and passport at the High Commission. According to Home Affairs, child passports last five years and adult passports ten.
South African passport renewal fees in the UK
These are VFS's published fees as of October 2026, paid together at the centre:
ItemFeeOrdinary adult passport (32 pages)£58Maxi passport (48 pages)£115Child passport£58Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged passport£116VFS service fee (per applicant)£35Photos at the centre£12SMS updates (optional)£2.50Courier, standard or Courier Plus (optional)£25 or £30
A standard adult renewal costs £93, or £130 with photos and standard courier. VFS's guide says you pay by debit or credit card, with cash accepted except in Edinburgh and Manchester, so take a card. Don't pay anything into the High Commission's bank account for a VFS application: the High Commission warns it can't be refunded.
How to book and what happens on the day
Book online through VFS. Every person needs their own appointment, including each child.
Print the confirmation email and appointment letter.
Attend in person with your forms and documents. Nobody can submit for you.
Pay, and keep the receipt. Its reference number and your surname let you track the application online.
If you can't book online, VFS says you can walk in at any centre between 12:30 and 15:00, though submissions officially close at 14:30. Booking problems go to Passports.SAUK@vfsglobal.com.
How long does a South African passport renewal take in the UK?
Longer than you'd like, and official figures don't agree. As of October 2026, VFS's FAQ says a minimum of eight weeks, while its step-by-step guide says an average of six months. Home Affairs estimates at least six to eight months for applications lodged abroad.
So if you have a trip home planned, start as soon as you're within a year of expiry. You'll get an email when your passport is back at the centre, plus SMS updates if you paid for them.
Collecting your new passport
Collect it in person during your centre's collection hours, or pay for courier delivery when you apply. VFS says Courier Plus adds SMS updates and compensation of up to $500 if the passport is lost or damaged in transit. The High Commission notes that a DHA circular prohibits third-party collection, so go yourself.
Expired passport and you need to travel urgently?
The High Commission can issue an Emergency Travel Document: a one-way, single-entry document to South Africa, mainly for when an immediate family member has died or is seriously ill. As of October 2026:
It costs £17 for adults and £7 for children under 16, paid into the High Commission's account at least three working days before your appointment.
Average processing is five working days, with nothing issued on weekends or UK and South African public holidays.
You need a 13-digit ID number, proof of the emergency (such as a death certificate or doctor's letter), a motivation letter and provisional flights. Don't confirm tickets until the High Commission says so.
If you can't get an urgent appointment, email Milnet@dirco.gov.za or civic@dirco.gov.za.
The Border Management Authority has said a citizen whose passport expired abroad, and who couldn't get an emergency document, won't be refused entry if they carry a form of South African identity. Treat that as a safety net, not a plan.
Dual nationals still need a South African passport
Becoming British doesn't change this. Home Affairs states that under section 26(b) of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995, it is an offence for a citizen aged 18 or older to enter or leave South Africa on a foreign passport, and the High Commission confirms this covers dual citizens. In July 2025 the Border Management Authority dismissed viral claims of a new law with fines and arrests, while confirming the existing requirement stands.
The citizenship news is better. Following a Constitutional Court ruling, Home Affairs has restored citizenship to people who lost it under section 6(1)(a) of the Citizenship Act by taking another nationality (not to those who voluntarily renounced), and retention letters are no longer needed. Unsure of your status? DHA's online Citizenship Reinstatement Portal lets you check. The High Commission says to allow up to 10 weeks, then take the printed outcome to VFS. This is general information, not legal advice, so check your own case with the High Commission.
Tips that save you a second trip
Start early. A year before expiry is not too soon.
Apostille before, not after. VFS says legalisation must be done before your appointment.
Update your UKVI account. On a UK visa? GOV.UK says to update your UKVI account with your new passport so you can travel on it, though you can't change it while waiting for a visa decision. For advice on your own situation, use an adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority.
Official pages give you the rules; other Saffas can tell you how their appointment at Wilson Street or Leith actually went. To ask South Africans near you, download Howzit and start a chat. And if family are flying the other way to visit, our guide to UK visitor visas for South Africans covers their paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my South African passport online from the UK?
No. You book the appointment online, but Home Affairs requires passport applications to be made in person, so you'll need to visit a VFS centre in London, Manchester or Edinburgh.
How long does it take to renew a South African passport in the UK?
As of October 2026, VFS quotes a minimum of eight weeks and an average of six months. Home Affairs estimates at least six to eight months for applications from abroad.
How much does a South African passport renewal cost in the UK in 2026?
A standard adult renewal costs £93: the £58 Home Affairs fee plus the £35 VFS service fee. Photos and courier delivery are extra.
Can I travel to South Africa on my British passport if my SA passport has expired?
South African law requires citizens, including dual nationals, to enter and leave on a valid South African passport. If travel is urgent, apply to the High Commission for an Emergency Travel Document.
Do I need to go to the South African High Commission in London?
Not for a routine renewal, which goes through VFS. You'll need the High Commission for a first ID or first adult passport, an emergency travel document or a replacement green ID book.