The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has announced another major milestone in its digital transformation strategy as Absa officially went live with digital Smart ID applications.

This rollout marks Absa as the fourth major financial institution to participate in the department's new Digital Partnership Model, joining Capitec, Standard Bank, and First National Bank. The partnership significantly expands the footprint of secure, dignified, and convenient government services across South Africa.

With Absa integrated into the system, South Africans can now access critical Smart ID services through a network of 296 participating bank branches nationwide. The immediate rollout includes 12 enabled Absa branches, with an aggressive expansion plan to activate a further 60 Absa branches before the end of 2026.

To bridge the gap in remote areas, Absa is also introducing "Bank on the Move". This innovative mobile service component will extend secure Home Affairs services directly to underserved communities. Full details of this mobile initiative will be unveiled at the official rollout event.

The Digital Partnership Model has already demonstrated massive success, processing more than 385 000 Smart ID applications in just four months. This rapid adoption highlights surging public demand for streamlined digital services.

It also accelerates the national effort to replace old, fraud-prone green barcoded ID books with highly secure Smart ID cards.

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, praised the initiative as a core pillar of the department's ongoing modernisation.

"The rapid expansion of our Digital Partnership with the banking sector demonstrates the success of our vision to fundamentally transform Home Affairs service delivery through digital innovation," Schreiber stated. He noted that the high volume of applications proves South Africans are eager to embrace faster, safer, and more convenient service channels.

This expansion is part of the broader Home Affairs @ home reform programme. The initiative aims to scale the digital partnership network to 750 participating bank branches by the end of this year. Combined with mobile innovations such as Bank on the Move, the DHA is successfully bringing secure, high-quality identity services directly to the doorsteps of everyday citizens.