South African High Commission Home Affairs Consular Section

I needed a Emergency Travel Certificate to return to South Africa. I contacted the phone number and received an appointment for the next day. I pre-filled in the forms as advised on the website and made the admin payment. When I went in I was helped to completed / finalise the forms and my biometrics were taken. It was explained to me that the biometrics would be sent to SA for verification and I could collect the docs in 5 working days. I was also told that the payment must reflect before docs were released. During the 5 days I was told the payment wasn't reflected and I escalated with my bank. When I phoned to check, everything was ok and I could collect. The whole process was tense, but worked efficiently. During all my interactions, the staff were friendly, kind and efficient. They knew their work and took it seriously.
Some notes:
Be patient when calling. It may take many tries to get through.
Read and listen and do as much pre-filling in as you can. Get photos and print out whatever you need before going in. You will be price-gouged if you need to print at a place nearby.
Some of the low reviews are from frustrated people who aren't prepared to follow the legal steps required.
Special mention to Michael at the door for seeing to the public at the door and getting them to the right place.

WOW what has suddenly happened as i arrived to collect my childs passport i was greeted at the door.
Allowed to enter earlier than stated.
The service at the desk was exceptional polite friendly and professional from the ladies handling passports. What a dramatic change well done.

Hello, we went to register our daughter and get the passport done at the same time. We arrive at about 8:30, the weather wasn’t very nice so they offered for my wife and daughter to be seated inside were they provided a changing area. I waited about 20 minutes and was then allowed in the building, once we were in everyone was helpful and accommodating. We read reviews about the person at the first window being very rude and unfriendly but we had all our documents in order and she was friendly to us. We did not wait long to go to the next section even though there were only two people working. We then went directly to pay the fee, all I can say is if you have your paperwork in order and make sure you have 2 copies of everything as the website states it is a pleasant experience.

I just want to Thank Ida and the gentlemen at the door (apologies for not getting your name) for their excellent service and being so understanding and helpful. My step son went to apply for his passport which expired but he was also over 18.
Even though the guideline documents stated he didn't need his Unabridged Birth certificates or our marriage and divorce certificates it was a requirement on the day. My son was really flustered and started to stress but Ida was brilliant and helped him and his aunt could go in and help this 18-year old!
I can only imagine the stress and rudeness you deal with on a daily basis but from us, Thank you for being patient and kind! It means the qorld to us

Booked via email
Arrived early and they let us in, so grateful after a long trip that they had clean toilets for us to use. The team were friendly and patient. Not at all what I expected

What a pleasure. In and out within 2 hours. Staff very friendly and very helpful. Got our son's birth registration and passport done. We downloaded the forms we could from website to save time and got the others from the office on the day. If you not sure they very helpful with forms needed or even just by giving them a call for some info.

The staff were friendly and very helpful.

Was an Interesting experience.... But everyone so helpful....

Friendly helpful efficient. Proudly South African!

amazing

I want to go this city

Waited for ages which was annoying as I originally arrived 40 minutes early to be told to come back later. But when my number finally appeared on the screen the staff were friendly, patient and helpful - far more so than I've experienced from a government department before (and not just SA).

Surprisingly excellent service. I had to apply for retention of citizenship.
I arrived at about 7h45 to a queue of about 10 others. Once opened an affable person asked what we were applying for and provided info and any docs required.
Inside once my number was called, I was assisted by another affable person who processed my application efficiently. She also provided additional information about other applications I had to make.
The only negative aspect was that I had to pay in cash.
After exactly an hour my certificate was issued.
Perhaps I was just fortunate to encounter the efficient staff and the right day.. Or perhaps they are finally getting organised.
After that I had to go to the Italian Consulate and the experience was dreadful...

They make u q outside, I arrived at 8.20am and stood in the q for over an hour before I got inside so be prepared for a long wait. Once inside though it was super quick and they were very nice and helpful. Make sure you check the web site and have all the documents you need as you do not want to restart the process.

My couple visits were not disappointing due to them but it is a major pity that for all the people applying, they had just 2 tellers available, despite saying they're shortstaffed.
Very helpful and efficient doorman though!

A very, very long wait, but the staff were friendly and helpful, once they finally got around to you.

Excellent service from efficient and polite staff.

Es la fachada del banco Gringotts de Harry Potter. El funcionamiento del edificio es la embajada de Sudáfrica de la cual desconozco el funcionamiento.