South African nationals living in the UAE can now renew their passports at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Wafi City, Dubai. This follows a new agreement with the South Africa Department of Home Affairs, making VFS Global the official outsourced service provider in the UAE from July 2025.
No need to visit consulate
Applicants are no longer required to visit the South African Consulate General in Dubai. They can submit renewal requests at the VFS Global centre in Dubai or at the South African Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Monaz Billimoria, Regional Head – UAE at VFS Global, said: “We are excited to be offering passport renewal services for South African nationals living in the UAE. We thank the Department of Home Affairs for their steadfast faith in our services over the last 15 years that we have worked with them across the globe. We are confident that applicants will enjoy an enhanced customer experience when they visit us at the world’s largest centre here in Dubai.”
Applicants must book an appointment online at VFS Global’s website, prepare the required documents, and visit the centre on the selected date for submission and biometric enrollment. Passports are processed in South Africa and returned to the Dubai centre.
The Department of Home Affairs recommends applying at least 12 months before the current passport expires. Processing takes approximately 8 to 10 weeks from the date of application.
Optional services available
Additional paid services include Premium Lounge access, form-filling assistance, photocopying, SMS/email status updates, and Prime Time appointments outside regular working hours. These extras do not affect the processing time or outcome.
Currently, VFS Global offers passport renewal services for South African citizens in four countries and handles visa services in 19 countries.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
