Question NW3480 to the Minister of Home Affairs
13 November 2023 - NW3480
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) was the total number of Home Affairs applications received at the SA embassies and missions abroad for (i) passports and (ii) identity documents in (aa) Quarter 1 and (bb) Quarter 2 of the 2023-24 financial year, (b) what is the advertised and/or target turnaround time expressed in weeks for the applications of the specified documents and (c) what is the average turnaround time in weeks for (i) passport and (ii) identity document applications, from the date of submission to the date of return to the relevant embassy or mission abroad?
Reply:
(a) The total number of applications received by Home Affairs from SA Embassies and missions abroad per requested categories are as follows:
(i) Total number for passports applications is 29 126
(ii) Total number for identity documents received is 2 358
(aa) Quarter 1: The total number of passport applications is 12 265 and for identity documents is 1 264
(bb) Quarter 2: The total number of passport applications is 16 861 and for identity documents is 1 094
(b) The agreed upon turnaround time with Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is 5 months which translates to approximately 20 weeks. This includes the shipping of consignments via the diplomatic bag and DHA is considering to automate application process for passports and IDs at missions working with DIRCO.This will lessen the turnaround time to process and dispatch.
(c)(i)(ii) The average turnaround time for both products is 5 months, which translate to approximately 20 weeks, depending on the frequency with which the diplomatic bag is sent from and to SA embassies and missions abroad.
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