Temporary passports discontinued

Johannesburg - No more temporary passports will be issued from September 1, the home affairs department said on Thursday.

"[The] temporary passport was initially issued as an interim travel document due to longer turnaround times taken to issue a permanent tourist passport," it said in a statement.

"This turnaround time has improved drastically, rendering the issuance of temporary passports redundant."

The department said it became aware that South Africans travelling abroad and to neighbouring countries were refused entry if they had temporary passports.

"In this regard, only an emergency travel certificate (ETC) will be issued to an applicant under circumstances of emergency travel purposes... to countries that accept ETCs for purposes of assisting family members in distress or if a family member is deceased."

Home Affairs advises that Travellers should make contact with the respective Embassy or High Commission for the destination they will be travelling to in order to check whether the Emergency Passport will be accepted.

What you need to apply for an emergency passport:

- Original Id book
- two photos
- R140. 

The department of home affairs stressed Emergency Passport are only issued to assist the families who are in distress.