SA ID number verifier
Check whether a South African ID number is valid: a real date of birth, the right structure and a correct check digit. It reads the number out for you too. The numbers you check never leave your browser.
Need numbers to test with?
The generator makes valid-format, entirely fake ID numbers for testing FICA and KYC flows: one at a time, in bulk, or every number for a year.
Questions people ask
What makes a South African ID number valid?
It has 13 digits, the first six are a real date of birth (YYMMDD), and the last digit is the correct Luhn check digit for the first twelve. The 11th digit is 0 for citizens or 1 for permanent residents, and the 12th is usually 8.
Can this tell me whether an ID number belongs to a real person?
No. It checks that a number is correctly formed. Only the Department of Home Affairs can confirm that a number was issued and who it belongs to; businesses that need that for FICA use verification services connected to Home Affairs. If you’re building that kind of check, we can help you test it.
Why does a number fail the check digit?
Almost always a typo. The Luhn check digit catches every single mistyped digit and most swaps of two neighbouring digits. If the first twelve digits are right, the verifier tells you what the last one should be.
How do I work out someone’s age or date of birth from their ID number?
The first six digits are the date of birth as YYMMDD. Because the century isn’t stored, 050214 could mean 14 February 2005 or 1905. The verifier shows both when both are possible, along with the age for each.
Is it safe to type an ID number here?
The verifier runs entirely in your browser. The numbers you check aren’t sent to Digifend or anyone else, and they aren’t stored. Still, an ID number is personal information, so treat lists of real ones with care.