A temporary ID certificate is the document Home Affairs issues when you need to prove your identity but do not have a valid ID book or Smart ID card with you. It costs R70. It is also one of only three documents the Electoral Commission accepts for voting in the local government elections on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
If you have lost your ID, had it stolen, or are waiting for a Smart ID that will not be ready in time, this is the document to apply for.
What a temporary ID certificate is
A temporary identity certificate (TIC) is an official identity document issued by the Department of Home Affairs under the Identification Act. It is a paper certificate with your photo and details. It covers you for a short period while you apply for a new ID or replace a lost one. It does not replace a Smart ID card.
People typically apply for one when:
- their green ID book or Smart ID card is lost, stolen or damaged
- they have applied for an ID that will not arrive before a deadline, such as an election, an exam or a job start date
- they need to prove their identity urgently, for example at a bank
What it costs and what you need
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | R70 |
| Where to apply | A Home Affairs office |
| What to bring | Your ID number and two ID photos |
| Verification | Your fingerprints are checked against the population register |
The R70 fee appears on the Home Affairs fees page, which was updated in August 2026. Government’s official services page lists your ID number and two ID photos as the requirements. Home Affairs checks your fingerprints before issuing the certificate, so you must apply in person.
Some Home Affairs offices take ID photos on site. Home Affairs charges R40 for a frame of four photos taken for ID applications. Call your office first to check whether it offers the service. Our guide to Home Affairs services and fees covers the department’s other documents.
Using a temporary ID certificate to vote
The Electoral Commission accepts three forms of identification for voting:
- a green barcoded ID book
- a Smart ID card
- a valid temporary identity certificate issued by Home Affairs
The word “valid” matters. A temporary ID certificate has an expiry date. Check that yours will still be valid on 4 November, because an expired certificate will not be accepted.
A temporary ID certificate does not register you to vote. You must already be on the voters’ roll. Voter registration for these elections closed in August, so the certificate helps registered voters who have lost their ID, not people who never registered.
In local government elections, you can only vote at the voting station where you are registered. To check your registration, send your ID number by SMS to 32810.
Our local government elections 2026 guide covers what to expect on the day. If you cannot get to your voting station on 4 November, see our guide to the special vote application.
Temporary ID or a new Smart ID?
If you have time, apply for a replacement Smart ID card instead of, or alongside, a temporary certificate. A Smart ID re-issue costs R140, and a first Smart ID is free. The Smart ID is the long-term document. Home Affairs is phasing out the green ID book, so a Smart ID is the document you will need in future.
The temporary certificate makes sense when:
- you need proof of identity before your Smart ID will be ready
- an election, exam or other deadline is close
- your Smart ID application has been delayed
You can apply for a Smart ID re-issue at a Home Affairs office or at a participating bank branch. Our guide to getting a Smart ID at your bank explains the bank route. Temporary ID certificates are issued at Home Affairs offices.
Before you go
- Report a stolen ID to the police and keep the case number, because some institutions ask for it.
- Get two ID photos if your office does not take them.
- Check your office’s hours. Home Affairs offices are open from 8:00 to 15:30 on weekdays, and from 9:00 on the last Wednesday of each month.
- Take R70, and ask your office which payment methods it accepts.
- When you receive the certificate, check your details and the expiry date before you leave.
Where to check
Current fees are on the Home Affairs fees page. Government’s apply for an identity document page lists the temporary ID certificate requirements. The Home Affairs Contact Centre is on 0800 60 11 90. For voting rules, contact the Electoral Commission on 0800 11 8000 or visit elections.org.za.
HOW WE REPORTED THIS CROSS-CHECKED
- Built from the Home Affairs fees page, updated August 2026, which lists the R70 certificate fee, the R140 ID re-issue fee and the R40 photo fee
- Requirements came from gov.za's apply for an identity document page, and fingerprint verification from the Western Cape government's services page
- Accepted voter identification came from SAnews reports of Electoral Commission briefings in May and June 2026
- Office hours and the contact centre number came from the Home Affairs homepage
- No comment was sought from Home Affairs or the Electoral Commission
