FNB To Launch Smart ID And Passport Applications Via Banking App By 2026

First National Bank (FNB) is set to become the first South African bank to let customers apply for smart ID cards and passport renewals directly through its mobile banking app.

The bank confirmed to MyBroadband that the new digital channel will launch “shortly” after March 2026. This follows the rollout of services to 15 additional branches, starting in October 2025.

FNB is one of seven banks partnering with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to expand access to smart ID and passport services across the country. The move builds on the eHomeAffairs platform, first launched in 2016, but goes further by enabling banks to use their own systems and staff to issue official documents.

150 Bank Branches to Offer DHA Services by 2026

By early 2026, FNB, Absa, African Bank, Capitec, Discovery Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank are expected to operate around 150 bank branches where customers can apply for IDs and passports.

In addition to the physical expansion, the major innovation will be mobile app integration. Customers will soon be able to order their smart ID card or passport without setting foot in a branch.

Zibu Nqala, CEO of FNB Points of Presence, explained: “The service would allow customers to apply for and get their documents delivered to their homes.”

How FNB’s Mobile ID and Passport Service Will Work

For the system to process applications digitally, users must already have an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-standardised photograph stored on the DHA system. These photos meet strict requirements for machine-readable IDs and passports.

During the application, the system will verify the presence of such a photo. If no compliant image exists, customers will need to visit a participating branch, where staff will assist with capturing the required photograph.

Nqala added: “If a customer does not have a compliant photograph, they will be able to visit one of our selected branches, where we will assist in capturing the required image.”

The upcoming feature will work much like FNB’s popular licence disc renewal service, which has already seen widespread adoption.

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Although other participating banks also plan to support digital ID and passport applications through their apps, FNB is leading the rollout. For now, their competitors are prioritizing expanding physical branch access before moving to app-based services.

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