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
JavaScript is disabled in your browser. The filtertool can therefore not be displayed. Enable JavaScript and open this page again. You will then see the filtertool.
Step 2: Make an appointment
Once you have gathered all of your documents and ensured they meet all the required conditions, make an appointment at the application location. If you are applying for a passport and an ID card, make a separate appointment for each application. Make separate appointments for any additional documents you want to apply for. If you want to apply for a passport or ID card together with your spouse/partner and/or children, indicate that multiple people will attend the appointment together.
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.
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.
After you submit your application you will receive a track & trace code to track the status of your application. You will receive an email when your new passport or ID card is ready.
Are you applying for your passport with VFS Global? Then you will receive a reference number with which you can track your application through VFS Global's website.
Step 4: Collect your passport or ID card or have it sent to you
It usually takes 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. You will be contacted if there are documents missing from your application. In this case, it will take longer than 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. You must collect your new passport or ID card within three months; after three months it will be destroyed.
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.