Last checked against official sources: 26 June 2026.
Quick Answer
For a Home Affairs status check, use official Home Affairs channels only. The Department of Home Affairs status page currently says the online Status Verification service is suspended until further notice and directs users to the Home Affairs call centre on 0800 60 11 90. (Department of Home Affairs)
There is no verified public Home Affairs status check USSD code confirmed from the official sources checked for this page. Do not enter your ID number, passport number, OTP, banking details, or copies of your documents into an unknown USSD menu, WhatsApp number, SMS link, or social media inbox.
For the safest next step, use the route that matches your situation:
- For online ID or passport applications, use the official eHomeAffairs platform.
- For branch bookings, use My Home Affairs Online.
- For status help when the online status page is unavailable, call Home Affairs on 0800 60 11 90 / 0800 601 190.
- For more help, see Home Affairs USSD code, Home Affairs contact number, and eHome Affairs login.
Current Verified Status
The verified position is simple: the old DHA online status-check page is not currently available for public use. The official page says the Status Verification service has been suspended until further notice and gives the Home Affairs call centre number as the alternative route. (Department of Home Affairs)
That means users searching for an ID application status check or passport status check should be careful. A website, SMS, WhatsApp message, or social media post may claim to offer a quick Home Affairs status check, but the route is not official unless it appears on a verified Department of Home Affairs, gov.za, eHomeAffairs, or My Home Affairs Online page.
The official eHomeAffairs service is still relevant for selected ID and passport application journeys. The platform says it allows South African citizens by birth to submit ID and passport applications online, make online payments for applications, and make bookings where allowed. (Ehome)
My Home Affairs Online is also an official Department of Home Affairs e-portal for selected citizenship and identity-related services, and the old Branch Appointment Booking System page says branch bookings have moved to My Home Affairs Online. (myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za)
Verified route summary
| Need | Use this route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Home Affairs status check | Home Affairs call centre | The suspended DHA status page points users to 0800 60 11 90 |
| ID application status check | eHomeAffairs or call centre | Use your official application details |
| Passport status check | eHomeAffairs or call centre | Use the same official route used for the application |
| Branch appointment status | My Home Affairs Online | The branch booking system has moved there |
| Home Affairs USSD status check | Not verified as a current official status-check route | Do not use an unverified code |
How to Use the Service
Start by identifying what you are trying to check. “Home Affairs status check” can refer to different things, including a Smart ID Card application, passport application, branch appointment, citizenship-related application, certificate application, or another Home Affairs service.
Step 1: Check where you applied
If you applied through eHomeAffairs, go back to the official eHomeAffairs login route and use the same details you used for your application. The eHomeAffairs login page asks for a user name or ID number and password, and it uses a one-time PIN sent to your cellphone. (Ehome)
If your issue is a branch booking, use My Home Affairs Online because the official Branch Appointment Booking System page says bookings and appointment management have moved to that platform. (services.dha.gov.za)
If you did not apply online, or if your online status does not show, use the Home Affairs call centre.
Step 2: Prepare your details before checking
Before you try to check your status, prepare the information that can help Home Affairs identify your application:
- Your South African ID number
- Your passport number, if checking a passport-related matter
- Your application reference number, if you received one
- Your full names and surname as used on the application
- The cellphone number or email address used during the application
- The date you applied
- The branch, bank branch, online platform, embassy, mission, or service channel used
Only use these details on official platforms or when speaking to the verified Home Affairs call centre. Do not send them to a random WhatsApp contact, Facebook page, Telegram account, or “agent”.
Step 3: Know when to stop
Stop immediately if a page, code, or message asks you to:
- Share your OTP with another person
- Enter your banking PIN
- Upload your ID document through WhatsApp
- Pay a “release fee” to get your ID or passport
- Click a shortened or suspicious link
- Send card details, CVV, or online banking login details
- Pay someone to “speed up” your Home Affairs status
A real Home Affairs status check should help you confirm progress. It should not pressure you into unsafe payments or private-information sharing.
Step 4: Use the call centre if the online route is unavailable
If the online status route does not work, call the official Home Affairs call centre. Gov.za lists the Home Affairs hotline as 0800 60 11 90, and the eHomeAffairs contact page lists the Contact Centre number as 0800 601 190 with the email address [email protected]. (Government of South Africa)
When you call, say clearly what you need, for example:
- “I want to check my Smart ID Card application status.”
- “I want to check my passport application status.”
- “I want to confirm my Home Affairs branch appointment.”
- “I need help because my online application is not showing.”
- “I need to confirm whether my document is ready for collection.”
Documents, Eligibility, or Reference Numbers Needed
A Home Affairs status check usually depends on matching your identity to the correct application. The exact information needed can differ by service, but you should have your ID number, reference number, contact details, and application date ready.
For an ID application status check, prepare your South African ID number, application reference, cellphone number, and the location or online route used for the application.
For a passport status check, prepare your ID number, passport application reference, appointment information, and the branch or bank branch where your biometrics were captured.
For an appointment check, use the official My Home Affairs Online route and the email address or profile used when booking. The Branch Appointment Booking System notice confirms that appointment booking and management has moved to My Home Affairs Online. (services.dha.gov.za)
For citizenship-related online services, My Home Affairs Online describes itself as the official DHA e-portal for selected citizenship and identity-related services. (myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za)
This page can guide you to the safest status-check route, but it cannot confirm the final result of your application. Only Home Affairs or the correct official application platform can confirm whether your ID, passport, appointment, certificate, or other application is ready.
Official Alternatives if USSD Is Not Available
Because there is no verified public USSD code for a Home Affairs status check from the official sources checked, use these safer alternatives.
eHomeAffairs
Use eHomeAffairs if your status check relates to an online Smart ID Card or passport application. The official eHomeAffairs page says the service allows users to submit ID and passport applications online, make online payments, and make bookings where allowed. (Ehome)
This is usually the best first route if you started your ID or passport application online.
My Home Affairs Online
Use My Home Affairs Online for services that have moved to the newer DHA e-portal, including branch appointment booking and selected citizenship or identity-related services. The official My Home Affairs Online homepage describes it as the Department of Home Affairs e-portal, and the old appointment booking page directs users there for bookings and appointment management. (myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za)
Home Affairs call centre
Use the Home Affairs call centre if you cannot check your status online or if the official status page is unavailable. The official DHA status page gives 0800 60 11 90 as the alternative, while the eHomeAffairs contact page lists 0800 601 190and [email protected] for the Contact Centre. (Department of Home Affairs)
Home Affairs branch
Visit a branch if the call centre or official online platform tells you to do so, or if your application cannot be traced through the usual route. Take your ID, reference number, proof of application, and any official messages you received.
Before travelling, confirm the branch or office details through the official Home Affairs website or gov.za. Gov.za says Home Affairs office contact details can be found on the departmental website and lists the call centre as 0800 60 11 90. (Government of South Africa)
VFS or permit-specific tracking
Some visa, permit, and immigration applications may use a separate tracking route. Do not assume that an ID or passport status-check route applies to every Home Affairs matter. Use the official route given on your application receipt, official portal, or verified Home Affairs communication.
Home Affairs Online vs Call Centre
Use Home Affairs online channels when you have an active online account, your application was submitted online, or you need to manage an appointment.
Use the call centre when the online status page is unavailable, your application does not show, you cannot log in, your ID number is not accepted, or you need a human agent to confirm which route applies.
The My Home Affairs Online FAQ says users should contact the Home Affairs Contact Centre on 0800 601 190 or email [email protected] if an issue persists with their ID number on the system. (myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za)
In practice, the safest order is:
- Check the official platform you used to apply.
- Confirm whether the DHA online status page is available.
- Call the official Home Affairs call centre if the online route does not work.
- Visit a branch only when the official route tells you to or when the issue cannot be resolved remotely.
Public-Service Safety and Scam Warnings
Home Affairs status checks involve sensitive personal information. Criminals can use fake public-service messages to steal ID numbers, documents, banking information, and OTPs.
Be suspicious of any message that says:
- Your ID or passport is blocked unless you pay immediately
- Your Home Affairs document can be released for a fee
- You must click a link to avoid cancellation
- You must send your ID document through WhatsApp
- You must share an OTP with an agent
- You must enter banking details to check a government status
- A private person can speed up your Home Affairs application
Never share:
- Banking PIN
- Card CVV
- Online banking password
- OTP
- Full card number
- Copies of ID documents through unsafe channels
- Passport scans through unofficial channels
- eHomeAffairs login details
If a menu, link, or support number does not appear on an official Home Affairs, gov.za, eHomeAffairs, or My Home Affairs Online source, do not treat it as official.
Related Guides
Use these related guides for the next step:
- Home Affairs USSD code — use this if you want to confirm whether any Home Affairs USSD route is currently verified.
- Home Affairs contact number — use this if you need the call centre, branch, or verified support route.
- eHome Affairs login — use this if you applied online or need help with the official online platform.
FAQs
Is there a verified USSD option for Home Affairs status check?
No verified public Home Affairs status check USSD code was confirmed from the official sources checked on 26 June 2026. The official DHA status page says the Status Verification service is suspended until further notice and points users to the call centre instead. (Department of Home Affairs)
Can I check my ID application status online?
If you applied through eHomeAffairs, start by logging back into the official eHomeAffairs platform. The platform supports selected ID and passport applications, online payments, and bookings where allowed. (Ehome)
Can I do a passport status check online?
Yes, if your passport application was submitted through an official online Home Affairs route, start with that same online account. If the status is not available or the system does not work, contact the Home Affairs call centre.
What should I do if the USSD option does not work?
Do not keep trying random USSD codes. Stop, verify the route, and use the official alternatives: eHomeAffairs, My Home Affairs Online, or the Home Affairs call centre. Use Home Affairs USSD code if you need to check whether a USSD route is currently verified.
Is the Home Affairs call centre official?
Yes. Gov.za lists the Department of Home Affairs hotline as 0800 60 11 90, and the eHomeAffairs contact page lists the Contact Centre number as 0800 601 190. (Government of South Africa)
What information should users never share when checking Home Affairs status?
Never share your OTP, banking PIN, online banking password, card CVV, full card details, or eHomeAffairs login details. Do not send ID or passport copies through unverified WhatsApp numbers, private social media pages, or SMS links.
How can users tell whether a Home Affairs status check message is fake?
A message is suspicious if it asks for money, uses pressure tactics, sends you to an unofficial link, asks for OTPs or banking details, or claims that a private agent can speed up your ID or passport. Confirm the instruction through an official Home Affairs channel before taking action.
Where should users confirm the latest public-service details?
Confirm the latest details on official Department of Home Affairs, gov.za, eHomeAffairs, or My Home Affairs Online pages. Home Affairs services, online platforms, call-centre processes, and appointment routes can change, so always verify current details before using a code, number, or link.