The aim of the Department of Home Affairs is to protect and regulate the interests of the inhabitants of South Africa, in respect of their individual status, identity and specific rights and powers. It issues and controls most documents that citizens need, such as birth certificates, IDs, passports and marriage certificates.

The Department offers a multitude of services to the citizens of South Africa, as well as foreigners who wish to visit or stay in the country. Some of these services include:

• identity documents
• travel documents
• citizenship
• birth registration and certificates
• adoption records
• marriage registration and certificates
• death registration and certificates
• population register amendments
• visas
• temporary residence permits
• permanent residence (immigration)
• refugee and asylum applications.