Dealing with the Department of Home Affairs is notorious difficult - so here’s some advice that we’ve gathered from our community about how to navigate your appointments with more ease.

*Note - this information changes all the time, so make sure to confirm everything for yourself

We recommend going to the Wynberg or Stellenbosch locations as they are the closest with typically the shortest lines. Others have gone as far as Caledon or Grabouw (an hours drive) where there is nearly no line.

• Wynberg Home Affairs - protocol as of May 2021: Park in parkade under Maynard mall. Tell the security guards you have an appointment and they will direct you to an informal waiting area in the parkade. Then a home affairs official will come to you and guide you through the rest throughout the Home Affairs offices and various waiting areas

Some parents decide to arrive very early in the morning to get the first spot in line (some have gone as early as 3 am, most starting at 6 am) and then call the other parent to join when they are close to the front, but this only sometimes makes a difference.

Others have had success going later in the day - the offices stop accepting people at 2 pm, so arriving between 11:30-1:30 could mean a short queue

Sometimes having your newborn with you will help you to cut the line - or it may help to leave your baby with someone else while you are at Home Affairs - its your call.