Renewing your Dutch passport or ID card, or applying for one if you live in South Africa
If you live in South Africa and want to renew your Dutch passport or ID card or apply for one for the first time, follow this step-by-step plan.
Step 1: Gather your documents (checklist)
You need a number of documents to apply for a passport or ID card. Answer the questions in the checklist to find out which documents you need to take to your appointment and what conditions apply. Please print the checklist and bring it with you to your appointment.
Checklist for applying for a Dutch passport of ID card
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Step 2: Make an appointment
Once you have gathered all of the documents on your checklist (step 1) and ensured they meet all the required conditions, you can make an appointment in South-Africa or in the Netherlands. If you are applying for a passport and an ID card, make a separate appointment for each application.
Bring all the documents on your checklist with you to your appointment. Print out the checklist and bring it with you. We cannot help you if any of these documents are missing:
- Application form for passport or ID card (completed, printed and signed)
- Declaration of consent from parent / guardian for minor applicant(s). Are you applying for a passport for your child under 18? Or an ID card for your child under the age of 12? And are you or the other parent unable to attend the appointment? Then the absent parent must complete and sign the declaration of consent. And provide a copy of their passport or ID card. The copy must be dated and signed by the absent parent.
- Passport or ID card. Bring all your Dutch and/or foreign passports and ID cards, including any that have expired.
Make an appointment online with the embassy in Pretoria
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
Bring all the documents on your checklist with you to your appointment. Print out the checklist and bring it with you. We cannot help you if any of these documents are missing:
- Application form for passport or ID card (completed, printed and signed)
- Declaration of consent from parent / guardian for minor applicant(s). Are you applying for a passport for your child under 18? Or an ID card for your child under the age of 12? And are you or the other parent unable to attend the appointment? Then the absent parent must complete and sign the declaration of consent. And provide a copy of their passport or ID card. The copy must be dated and signed by the absent parent.
- Passport or ID card. Bring all your Dutch and/or foreign passports and ID cards, including any that have expired.
Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in Cape Town
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
VFS Global Cape Town
You can also make an appointment at VFS Global in Cape Town. VFS Global is an external service provider. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
You can make an appointment at VFS Global in Durban. VFS Global is an external service provider. Please be aware that a service fee will be charged on top of the consular fee.
You can also submit your passport or ID card application at a border municipality in the Netherlands or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Step 3: Go to your appointment
You must submit your passport or ID card application in person. Even applicants under 18 must appear in person.
Bring all the documents on your personal checklist. For every document the checklist will show you whether you need to provide the original and/or a photocopy.
If you needed to have documents legalised and/or translated, bring the legalised and translated versions with you as well.
The overview of consular fees in South Africa tells you how much you will have to pay for a passport or ID card and which payment methods are accepted.
Applying for a passport or ID card at a Dutch border municipality or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will cost you less.
No. If you need your current passport or ID card while your application is being processed, you can retain it for the time being.
When do I have to hand in my old passport or ID card?
If you are collecting your new passport or ID card in person, you should hand in your old one when you come to collect it.
If you are having your passport or ID card sent to you, you will need to first send your old one to the embassy or consulate-general. Only then will your new passport or ID card be sent to you. This means that there will be a period when you have no passport or ID card. If you want your old passport or ID card back, inform the embassy or consulate-general.
I have a residence permit or visa in my old passport, what should I do?
If your passport contains visas or a residence permit and you want to keep those pages intact, inform staff of this when you submit your old passport.
Step 4: Collect your passport or ID card or have it sent to you
You will receive an e-mail when your new passport or ID card is ready. You must collect your new document within 3 months or have it sent to you. After that, it will be destroyed.
On the page How long is the application process for a Dutch passport or ID card abroad you can read more about the processing time of a passport or ID card.
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the embassy in Pretoria on the following days:
- Monday: 10:00 – 12:00
- Tuesday: 10:00 – 12:00
- Wednesday: 10:00 – 12:00
- Thursday: 10:00 – 12:00
You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the consulate-general in Cape Town on the following days:
- Monday: 09:00 – 12:00
- Tuesday: 09:00 – 12:00
- Wednesday: 09:00 – 12:00
- Thursday: 09:00 – 12:00
- Friday: 09:00 – 12:00
You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.
You cannot have your new passport or ID card sent to you. You will need to collect it from the embassy in Pretoria or the consulate-general in Cape Town.
You are a South African national and you want to travel abroad
If you hold South African citizenship, you must enter and exit South Africa on your South African passport. You will not be able to leave or enter South Africa using your Dutch passport.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.