Check with the office. The official pages for this service leave out some details, or are older than a year. Use this page as a starting point and confirm fees and documents before you apply.
Passport for a South African child under 16, applied for with both parents present. Children over 15 1/2 apply for an adult passport and ID card instead.
Where to apply in Australia
DHA Services Centres in Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra (appointments via the VFS Global portal, notice of 21 September 2026); the civic documents page also says applicants in Perth (WA), Sydney (NSW) and Melbourne (VIC) apply through the VFS Global centre, while the High Commission in Canberra handles other applicants in Australia and citizens in PNG, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands and Micronesia.
Canberra (High Commission) takes in-person submissions by appointment only, Mon-Fri 08:30-12:00 (consular.canberra@dirco.gov.za); VFS applicants have fingerprints taken at their appointment and the High Commission cannot send them the DHA-9 form.
Contact details for every office are on the page of the embassy and consulates of South Africa.
How to apply
Book through the VFS Global portal (or email the High Commission for Canberra) | Parents and child attend with the forms and documents | Pay by card
Applications are handled through VFS Global - South Africa in Australia (DHA Services Centres and application centres), https://services.vfsglobal.com/aus/en/zap.
Documents you need
- Form BI-73 (page also refers to DHA-73; confirm which applies)
- Form BI-529 for the child
- Originals and copies of child's current SA passport, SA birth certificate and both parents' IDs and passports
- Four photos
- Both parents and the child attend; no fingerprints under 15 1/2
Fees and processing time
- Official fee: child passport AUD 103
- Service provider: VFS service fee AUD 115
Processing time: About 6 to 12 months.
Good to know
The VFS one-pager shows no date, so fees and times may have changed (page checked 2026-10-24); the High Commission civic page was last modified 17 August 2026. The VFS booking page (services.vfsglobal.com/aus/en/zap) did not load its content.
Official sources
- visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/southafrica/australia/passport-service…
- dirco.gov.za/canberra/2026/09/21/dha-services-centres-open-in-austr…
- dirco.gov.za/canberra/civic-documents-applications
Check before you apply
This page summarises information published by South Africa's official channels, last checked on 24 octubre 2026. Fees and requirements can change at short notice, so confirm with the office that will handle your case.
Spotted a change? Let us know.