How to Validate a South African ID Number

Validating an SA ID Number: The identity card securely saves the individual’s biometrics (facial and fingerprint).  In order to avoid voter fraud, the card also contains room to securely store extra information, such as documentation of votes cast in municipal and national elections.

Identity documents are granted to South African citizens and permanent residents over the age of 16. People working for the South African government or one of its official entities outside of South Africa, including wives and children, are also eligible to get a South African identification certificate.

South African ID number is a very key part of our lives as South African citizens.This information will help you understand what the numbers in your South African ID represents.
A South African ID number is a 13-digit number which is defined by the following format: YYMMDDSSSSCAZ.

• The first 6 digits (YYMMDD) are based on your date of birth. 30 February 1990 is displayed as 900230.
• The next 4 digits (SSSS) are used to define your gender. Females are assigned numbers in the range 0000-4999 and males from 5000-9999.
• The next digit (C) shows if you’re an SA citizen status with 0 denoting that you were born a SA citizen and 1 denoting that you’re a permanent resident.
• The last digit (Z) is a checksum digit – used to check that the number sequence is accurate using a set formula called the Luhn algorithm.

The photo below describe details of the different sections of an ID number, based on the fictitious sequence 9202204720082

Follow the following steps to verify South African ID number

Use your mobile phone’s SMS function.

Send the 13-digit RSA ID number with our keyword (IDNO) to 38021.

Type it like so – IDNO ‘space’ 13-digit ID number.

Example: IDNO 7905025426088

SEND TO 38021

An SMS with the verified details will be sent directly to you

YOU ONLY PAY FOR THE SMS

NO SUBSCRIPTIONS, NO REPEAT CHARGES, NO CELL SPAM!

Draw your Identity validation report via your Mobile phone. Once you’ve sent the ID number via SMS (see instructions above), The Verified details will be sent back to you instantly.

After sending the ID number to 38021, you will receive the following information back:

Validity of ID number

Registered Names

Registered Surname

Gender (Male or Female)

Age and date of birth

Citizenship (South African or Foreign)

SMS are charged at R10.00 per SMS sent