Frequently asked questions

Check ID SA (CheckID) is a South African ID structural validation service. You can check whether a 13-digit ID number is correctly formatted, decode the embedded birth date, age, gender, and citizenship indicator, and confirm the Luhn checksum — without querying Home Affairs or any government database. Try the free validator or read how SA ID numbers work.

Our system checks the structure and mathematical validity of the ID number according to the South African ID format. It verifies the Luhn checksum digit and extracts information such as date of birth, age, gender, and citizenship indicator. The check is instant and follows the published structural rules for SA ID numbers.

Not the free check. It performs structural validation only. A mathematically valid ID number does not prove that Home Affairs issued the ID, that the number belongs to a specific person, or that the ID is currently active. The free check does not look up names, biometrics, or government records. If you need official confirmation, you can order a separate paid Home Affairs verification after a valid result. It is completed manually and requires a signed-in account.

From the 13-digit number itself we can derive structural validity, encoded date of birth, age, gender, and citizenship indicator (SA citizen vs permanent resident). We cannot tell you who the ID belongs to or whether Home Affairs has issued that number to someone.

The Luhn algorithm (modulus 10) is a checksum formula used on South African ID numbers. The final digit is calculated from the first 12 digits. If the checksum does not match, the number is structurally invalid even if other digits look plausible. See our ID number guide for a visual breakdown.

No. Check ID SA is not affiliated with or endorsed by the South African Department of Home Affairs. We provide an independent structural validation service based on publicly documented ID number format rules.

Create an API key from your dashboard (or use the free test key for development), then call https://api.checkid.co.za with Bearer token authentication. Single validation uses GET /api/v1/validate/{idNumber}. See the developer guide and 5-minute tutorial for examples.

No for development: a free test API key is available without a subscription. API Starter includes 1,000 single production calls per month. Professional and Business add bulk API access and team features, subject to our fair usage policy.

We do not publish a fixed requests-per-second cap for normal business use. API Starter includes 1,000 single calls per month. Professional and Business plans include unlimited API access subject to our fair usage policy. Unusually high or abusive traffic may be throttled to protect platform stability; contact us if you need sustained high-volume production access.

Yes. Professional and Business plans include bulk validation via API (POST /api/v1/validate/bulk, up to 100 ID numbers per request) and through the dashboard bulk upload tool. The homepage validator is designed for individual checks. See the bulk validation guide.

No. CheckID validates ID numbers you already have; it does not look up numbers by name. That would require Home Affairs or credit-bureau access and appropriate lawful consent.

If you want to check whether a given ID number is structurally valid, you are in the right place. If you want to track the progress of an ID application you submitted to Home Affairs, contact Home Affairs directly — CheckID cannot access application status.

No. CheckID tells you whether a given ID number is structurally valid; it does not generate new ID numbers.

Yes. ID numbers you check are sent over TLS, processed in memory on our servers, and not stored, logged, or retained. Single web checks are unlimited and do not require an account. We do not send ID numbers to analytics or error-tracking tools. The only exception is a paid Home Affairs verification you choose to order, which keeps the ID until the order is completed. Read our privacy policy for full detail.

Yes. All requests use TLS encryption in transit. Validations run in memory and ID numbers plus decoded results are discarded immediately — never written to disk, logs, databases, or third-party systems.

CheckID is designed with data minimisation in mind: we process only the ID number you submit, retain nothing on our servers, and support workflows where a structural check is enough without building a personal-data repository. Your organisation remains responsible for lawful basis, consent, and any records you keep locally. See our POPIA guides.

We monitor the published SA ID number format and update our algorithm when structural rules change. The basic 13-digit format has been stable for many years, but we keep the service aligned with current specifications.

Our validation follows the official structural rules for South African ID numbers, including the Luhn checksum. A valid result means the number is structurally consistent — not that Home Affairs issued it or that it belongs to a particular person.

Yes. CheckID's zero-retention model suits POPIA-aware patient verification workflows where a structural check is sufficient. See POPIA-aware patient ID validation.

Single homepage checks are free without sign-up. A free account includes an API test key for development. API Starter adds 1,000 single calls per month. Professional and Business plans add bulk validation and team features.

Yes. Paid subscriptions are billed monthly and you can cancel at any time through your account billing portal. Access continues until the end of the current billing period.

Yes. The Professional plan includes team management for up to 5 members. The Business plan includes unlimited team members per organisation and unlimited on-device mobile app scanning across unlimited registered devices.

Paid plans are billed monthly and can be cancelled at any time. We do not offer refunds for partial months, but you can use the free tier to evaluate the service before subscribing.