South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) has introduced a new security feature — a passport stamp with traceable numbers — as part of efforts to stop illegal immigration and identity fraud.
South Africa’s BMA rolls out new stamp to curb passport fraud
According to BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato, the updated system aims to protect the integrity of South African passports, which recently ranked among the top 50 strongest in the world for the first time since 2014.
A country’s passport strength is measured by how many countries its citizens can visit without needing a visa. A visa is official permission to enter another country. The fewer visas required, the more travel-friendly the passport.
In the 2025 Henley Passport Index, South Africa’s passport ranked 48th globally. This means South Africans can travel to 103 countries without applying for a visa in advance, including destinations where they get a visa on arrival or apply online.
How the new BMA stamp works
The BMA says the old passport stamps have been replaced with new ones. These new stamps are designed with strong security features, including the BMA logo and images of the Big Five — a term used for South Africa’s five iconic wild animals: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo.
Each immigration officer has been issued a stamp with a unique number that can be traced back to them, which helps prevent misuse.
“We collaborated with our colleagues in the government printing works and designed a new stamp with the highest security standards,” said Commissioner Masiapato.
Masiapato revealed that 14 passports were recently confiscated after authorities found that the stamps in them were fraudulent. He said this shows why better security measures are needed.
The new stamp rollout started on Friday, 1 August 2025, and includes other special-purpose stamps in areas like health, agriculture, and the environment.
Travellers are also being reminded to check their passport pages. According to the BMA, some people offer the last page of their passport for stamping — a practice that is not allowed in South Africa.
Masiapato said South African travellers with full passports won’t be allowed to travel out of the country. He advised citizens to renew their passports if pages are running out.
The BMA’s updated strategy is part of a broader plan to secure South Africa’s borders and support the global reputation of its passport.