How to Book a Home Affairs Appointment Online (BABS Guide)

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) operates the Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS) to minimize waiting times and prevent long early-morning queues outside civic offices across South Africa.

What Services Can You Book on BABS?

BABS is currently used to schedule:

• Smart ID Card applications: First-time applications (free for 16-year-olds) and replacements (R140).
• South African Passport applications: Standard 32-page adult passports (R600) and child passports.
• Biometric collections: Collecting documents after receiving confirmation that your card or passport has been printed.

Step-by-Step BABS Booking Process

Step 1: Open the Official Portal

Visit the official booking portal at services.dha.gov.za/babs. Ensure you are on the legitimate .gov.za domain.

Step 2: Personal Identification

Enter your 13-digit South African ID number, your full legal names, and an active mobile phone number. An OTP will be dispatched to confirm your identity.

Step 3: Select Location & Service

Choose the province you reside in and select your preferred branch. If you bank with one of the participating commercial banks (FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, ABSA, Discovery, Investec), you can select an eHomeAffairs bank branch.

Step 4: Select an Available Date & Time Slot

Available appointment slots are highlighted on the calendar. Select a morning or afternoon slot that fits your schedule.

Step 5: Save Confirmation

Upon confirming, you will receive an SMS and an option to download your confirmation slip as a PDF. Print this slip or keep the SMS on your phone to present to security at the branch entrance on the day of your appointment.