Education · Support
CAO Application Status Contact Details
All Education contactsComplaints & escalation
To contact CAO Application Status, call 031 268 4444 (CAO call centre), or email paymentscao@cao.ac.za (Payment queries).
The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes applications to its member universities and colleges in KwaZulu-Natal, but it does not decide who gets a place. Checking your CAO application status therefore answers two different questions: whether the CAO has your application and payment, and what each institution has decided. This page covers where to check, what the status messages mean, and who to contact for each. The details were read from cao.ac.za and the CAO 2027 Entry FAQs on 14 September 2026.
ContactDetails.co.za is an independent directory and cannot see your application. For the CAO in general, see CAO contact details.
Official task/support route
| What it is for | Contact |
|---|---|
| Check your application status online | Check My Application on www.cao.ac.za |
| CAO call centre | 031 268 4444 (from outside South Africa +27 31 268 4444) |
| After-hours self-help | 031 268 4444 |
| Payment queries | paymentscao@cao.ac.za |
| Postal address | Private Bag X06, Dalbridge, 4014 |
The call centre works Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 16:30 and Friday 08:00 to 14:00, excluding public holidays. The CAO offices at Gate 11, Central Services Complex, UKZN, Mary Thiphe Street (formerly Cato Manor Road), Durban, are open for face-to-face help from 2 March to 30 November 2026.
What you need before contacting
- Your CAO number, or the ID or passport number you applied with. Check My Application accepts any of the three.
- The surname exactly as you typed it on the application, if you need a new password.
- Access to the email address or cellphone number on your application, because a reset password is sent there. If those have changed, use Update My Details first; changing them is free.
- Your proof of payment and CAO reference number for any payment query.
Step-by-step contact process
- Go to www.cao.ac.za, click Check My Application, enter your CAO, ID or passport number and click Submit. The same screen shows your EasyPay number if a fee is outstanding.
- Read the status against each programme choice. The CAO explains them as follows: Waiting for a Decision means the institution has not yet considered you; Awaiting Results means it wants further results, such as June or trial marks; a Conditional Offer depends on your final results; a Firm Offer is a place; Short-listed, Standby or Wait-listed means still under consideration; Refer for a decision means you must contact the institution.
- If you cannot log in, click Login on the CAO site and follow the link below the box. A temporary password is sent by email or SMS and lasts 24 hours, so set a permanent one straight away.
- If the status has not moved, call 031 268 4444 during office hours with your CAO number ready.
If a choice shows Regret Unsuccessful, you can submit a Change of Mind online as a second-chance application. Where the institution has discontinued a programme, the CAO says that change is free; other changes carry the Change of Mind administration fee.
Escalation route
Selection decisions belong to the institutions, not the CAO. If you disagree with a decision, or have been offered a place, deal with that university or college directly. Accept or decline an offer with the institution, and pay any acceptance fee to the institution only. The CAO warns applicants not to send that money to it. Institution contact details are listed in the CAO 2027 Entry Handbook.
For help choosing a course or an alternative route, the CAO points applicants to the Department of Higher Education and Training career helpline: 086 999 0123, careerhelp@dhet.gov.za, or an SMS or Please Call Me to 072 204 5056.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CAO Application Status contact number?
The number listed on this page for CAO Application Status is 031 268 4444 (CAO call centre).
What is the CAO Application Status email address?
The email address listed on this page is paymentscao@cao.ac.za (Payment queries).
Where is CAO Application Status located?
The Postal address listed on this page is Private Bag X06, Dalbridge, 4014.
How do I know these CAO Application Status details are correct?
We only list details read from the official website or channels of CAO Application Status, and this page shows the date they were checked. Confirm on the official site before you share personal information or make a payment.
Sources
- cao.ac.za contact page, read 14 September 2026
- CAO 2027 Entry FAQs published on cao.ac.za, read 14 September 2026