Renewals and re-issues of the card may incur a fee. Smart ID cards are free for first-time applicants and takes approximately six to eight weeks to process.

The Smart ID card contains a photograph, fingerprints and a signature, and it is valid for ten years. Smart IDs also more durable and convenient to carry, as it is the size of a credit card and can fit easily into a wallet.

It is more secure and difficult to forge, as it contains a microchip with the cardholder's biometric information, including their fingerprints and a photograph. The Smart identity document card has several advantages over the previous green bar coded ID book. It is a biometric identification system that uses smart card technology to store an individual's personal and biometric information. A Smart ID is a form of identification that was introduced by the Department of Home Affairs in 2013 for a South African citizen to use.