The eDRS Rollout Timeline: Phases and the Dual-Registration Period

As at June 2026. This page is a living tracker. We update it as each phase of the Electronic Deeds Registration System (eDRS) rollout is published, because the timeline is a moving target rather than a single fixed date. Where the future is not yet confirmed, we say so plainly and describe what is expected rather than guessing at exact dates.

If you just want the short answer to "is it switched on?", the headline is this: the legal framework is in force, the system has been brought into operation, and the country is now working through a long, deliberately gradual transition. Nothing about it asks ordinary property owners to do anything today.

The timeline so far

Here is the sequence of milestones that brought eDRS to where it is now.

• 2019 — the law is passed. Parliament passed the Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Act 19 of 2019 (the EDRSA). This is the legal foundation that allows deeds to be lodged and registered electronically, with the same standing as paper.
• 1 April 2025 — brought into full operation. By proclamation, the Act was brought into full operation. This is the moment eDRS moved from "law on the books" to "live system being switched on", and the phased rollout formally began.
• 2025 onward — phased releases begin. Rather than flipping a switch for the whole country at once, the system is being introduced in stages. Early releases cover a limited set of transaction types, with more added over time.
• 2025 onward — the dual-registration period. For a multi-year window (about five years), paper and electronic registration run side by side. Conveyancers may use either route, at their discretion, before paper is gradually phased out.

For a fuller status check on what is and isn't switched on right now, see is eDRS live yet?, and for the bigger picture of what the system is and why it exists, start with what is eDRS?

What "phased rollout" actually means

A phased rollout has two practical dimensions, and both are expanding over time.

Electronic lodgement is the conveyancer's side: the attorneys who handle property transfers and bonds prepare and submit deeds electronically instead of physically delivering paper to a deeds office. The first releases support only certain kinds of transactions. More complex or less common transaction types are folded in as later phases are released, so the menu of "what you can do electronically" grows step by step.

Information provisioning is the records side: the electronic provision of deeds information and lookups. This too is being broadened in stages, so that more of the registry's information becomes available through the electronic system over time.

Because both sides are being widened gradually, you should read any phase as "a limited set first, expanding later" rather than "everything, all at once". That is why we are cautious about pinning exact future dates to specific features — the order and timing of later phases can shift as the rollout progresses. For more on the mechanics, see how electronic deeds registration works.

The dual-registration period: the part that matters most to owners

The single most important thing to understand about the timeline is the dual-registration period. For roughly five years, manual (paper) registration and electronic registration are designed to operate at the same time. During this window, it is the conveyancer who decides which route a particular transaction takes. Only after this period does paper get phased out.

This long overlap is deliberate. It gives the profession, the deeds offices and the supporting systems time to adjust without forcing a hard cut-off that could disrupt property transactions. For you as an owner or buyer, it means there is no sudden deadline, no scramble, and no action required on your part. Whether your transfer happens on paper or electronically during this period, the legal outcome is the same.

It also means the timeline you see today is genuinely provisional toward the end. The start (2019 and 1 April 2025) is fixed history. The dual period is well-defined in principle. The exact point at which paper is finally retired is best treated as "expected, later" rather than a confirmed calendar date.

Does any of this change your ownership?

No. eDRS changes how deeds are registered, not who owns what. Every existing paper title deed remains valid, and an electronically registered deed carries the same legal force as a paper one — it is a valid original, not a copy. You do not need to convert, re-register or apply for anything because of the rollout. To dig into that specific point, see is my title deed going digital?

How to keep tabs on a property while the system transitions

Because the rollout is gradual and the official channels are login-gated and built around conveyancers, ordinary owners sometimes find it awkward to do a quick, plain-English check on a property. If you want a fast, no-login way to pull consolidated deeds information on a property or owner — without navigating the official portal yourself — you can run a search at DeedsCheck and get a readable, plain-English result. It is a convenient way to stay oriented while the registry itself moves through its phases.

Frequently asked questions

When did the eDRS rollout officially start?

The Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Act 19 of 2019 provided the legal basis, and the Act was brought into full operation by proclamation on 1 April 2025. That date marks the formal start of the phased rollout, with releases being introduced in stages from then on.

How long will paper and electronic registration run side by side?

The transition is designed around a multi-year dual-registration period of roughly five years. During this window, conveyancers can choose either manual or electronic registration at their discretion, and paper is only phased out gradually after that. Treat the exact end point as expected rather than a confirmed fixed date.

Why doesn't this page list firm dates for every future phase?

Because the rollout is genuinely phased and the order and timing of later releases can change as it progresses. We date-stamp this tracker (As at June 2026) and frame unconfirmed items as expected or phased, so you are not misled by dates that have not been finalised. We update the page as new phases are published.

Do I need to do anything because of the rollout?

No. The timeline affects how deeds offices and conveyancers work, not your ownership. Your existing paper title deed stays valid, electronically registered deeds have the same legal force as paper ones, and there is nothing you need to apply for, convert or re-register as the phases roll out.