Although the winter holidays seems to have come to an end, consumers are already planning their holidays for the festive season. Planning ahead is particularly important for anyone planning to go overseas, due the fact that the Department of Home Affairs has been experiencing difficulties achieving the required passport output.

According to a statement released by the Department, this is due to the incorporation of new passport systems at Home Affairs and their dedication to improving their service delivery and the security features of passports.

An article on IOL Travel suggests that is best to simply apply for your passport as early as possible, regardless of whether you are applying for one for the first time or if yours has expired. To simplify the process, you can visit the Home Affairs website to find out what the passport requirements are.

If you would like to check the status of your application without having to contact the department’s Call Centre, you can also check the status of your passport application by sending an SMS containing the letter “P” followed by your ID number to 32551.