FillMeIn — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about FillMeIn.co.za — how it works, privacy and security, offline use, cost, and which South African forms are supported.
What is FillMeIn and what does it do?
FillMeIn.co.za is a free online tool that helps South Africans fill in forms correctly, quickly, and privately. It covers government forms, legal documents, and other commonly used South African forms across categories including Labour (Z83, UIF forms), Home Affairs (birth, death, marriage certificates, passports), Transport (DL1 driver's licence), Police (SAPS 91(a) clearance), Justice (J101 maintenance, sworn affidavits), and more. Instead of struggling with confusing paperwork, FillMeIn walks you through each field with clear instructions, validates your entries in real time, and generates a properly formatted PDF that you can print and submit.
Is FillMeIn free to use?
Yes, FillMeIn is completely free to use. There are no hidden fees, no premium tiers, and no charges for downloading your completed forms. Our goal is to make South African forms accessible to everyone, regardless of income. You can fill as many forms as you need and download unlimited PDFs — all at no cost.
Is my personal information safe on FillMeIn?
Yes. FillMeIn is built with a privacy-first approach. All your data stays on your device — nothing is sent to any server. While you fill in a form, your answers live only in your browser's memory; nothing is written to a server or a cloud account. We do not collect, store, or transmit your personal information. There is no user account system, no cloud storage, and no tracking of your form data. This means your sensitive information (ID numbers, addresses, employment details) never leaves your phone or computer.
Can I use FillMeIn offline or during load shedding?
Partly. Once a form page has loaded in your browser, filling it in and generating your PDF need no internet connection at all — that happens entirely on your device, so a dropped connection or load shedding mid-fill won't lose your work. Opening the site for the first time, or reloading the page, still needs a connection — full offline access (opening the app with no connectivity at all) is not available yet. Your in-progress answers are also saved on this device for up to 24 hours in case you get interrupted — see "Can I save my progress and come back later?" below.
Where is my data stored?
Your answers are stored locally on your device — never on an external server. While you're filling in a form, FillMeIn saves an in-progress draft to your browser's IndexedDB storage so you can pick up where you left off if you're interrupted (see "Can I save my progress and come back later?" below). That draft is kept even after you download your PDF, in case you spot a mistake and need to come back and fix it, but it's discarded automatically after 24 hours or immediately if you tap "Clear saved data". We don't yet support a reusable profile shared across different forms — that's a planned feature.
How does FillMeIn keep my information secure?
FillMeIn keeps your information secure through a client-side architecture. Since all processing happens directly on your device, your data never travels over the internet to our servers — because we have no servers storing your data. There is no database to hack, no API transmitting your personal details, and no cloud storage holding your documents. Your browser's built-in security protections apply to the locally stored data. For additional security, we recommend using a device with a screen lock and not sharing your browser with others.
Which South African forms does FillMeIn support?
FillMeIn currently supports 41 South African forms across six categories — Home Affairs, Labour, Transport, Police, Justice, and Social Development — including government forms, legal documents, and workplace forms. Most forms (like the Z83 government job application, UIF claims, and SASSA grant affidavits) let you fill online and download a completed PDF. Others provide a step-by-step preparation guide for forms that must be completed by hand or submitted through a government portal, such as the DHA-73 passport application via eHomeAffairs. See the full, current list on the Forms page.
How does FillMeIn generate the PDF?
FillMeIn generates your completed PDF entirely on your device using a client-side PDF engine. When you click download, the app takes the form template and fills in your answers at the exact positions required. The PDF is generated in your browser — no data is sent to any server for processing. The result is a properly formatted document ready to print and submit.
Can I use FillMeIn on my mobile phone or smartphone?
Yes. FillMeIn is designed mobile-first for South African users. It works on any smartphone with a modern browser, including budget Android devices like Samsung Galaxy A-series and Huawei Y-series phones. The interface is optimised for small screens with large touch targets, clear text, and minimal data usage. You can fill forms and download PDFs directly from your phone. FillMeIn also works on tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.
Can I save my progress and come back later?
Yes, within limits. If you're filling in a form and get interrupted — a dropped connection, a closed tab — your progress is saved on this device automatically. Come back within 24 hours and you'll see a prompt asking whether to resume or start fresh; your answers are never restored silently, so a shared or public device won't quietly show your previous session to the next person. Downloading your PDF doesn't clear the draft — if you spot a mistake afterward, your answers are still there to fix. The draft clears automatically after 24 hours, and you can tap "Clear saved data" at any time to wipe it immediately. A reusable personal profile (so details like your name and ID carry over between different forms) is still planned; this answer will be updated when it ships.
Is FillMeIn affiliated with the South African government?
No. FillMeIn is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any South African government department, including the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Department of Employment and Labour, or the Unemployment Insurance Fund. FillMeIn is an independent tool that helps you fill forms correctly. You are still responsible for submitting your completed forms to the appropriate office and verifying that all information is accurate and current.
What happens if a form changes or is updated?
FillMeIn periodically checks that form source URLs are still accessible. When a form is updated by the relevant department or authority, we update our form template and field mappings to match the new version as soon as we become aware of the change. However, forms can change without notice, so we recommend always checking with the relevant authority that you have the latest version before submitting. If you notice a discrepancy between our form and the official version, please let us know.
Related FAQ Pages
Find answers to specific questions about individual South African forms and processes.
Labour & Employment
Home Affairs
Ready to fill a form?
FillMeIn guides you through every field, validates your answers, and generates a properly formatted PDF — all on your device, completely free. No signup required.