Department of Home Affairs (South Africa) - Duties

Duties

The department is responsible for:

• Maintenance of the National Population Register (the civil registry), including the recording of births, marriages/civil partnerships and deaths.
• Issuing identity documents and passports.
• Issuing visas for visitors to South Africa (although visa applications pass through embassies or consulates which are part of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation).
• Managing immigration to South Africa and naturalization of permanent immigrants.
• Handling refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa.
• Controlling ports of entry at land borders, seaports and airports.