How do I check an SA ID number?

Simply enter the 13-digit South African ID number into our free ID checker tool above. The SA ID number check validates the format, checksum, and extracts birth date, age, gender, and citizenship status instantly.

Is this SA ID number check free?

Yes, our SA ID number check tool is 100% free to use. You can check up to 15 ID numbers per month without creating an account. For higher volumes, we offer affordable paid plans starting at R79/month.

What information can I get from checking an ID number?

Our ID checker extracts: date of birth, current age, gender (male/female), and citizenship status (SA citizen or permanent resident). It also validates whether the ID number is mathematically valid using the Luhn algorithm.

Is my ID number data stored or shared?

No. All ID validation happens directly in your browser. We never store, log, or transmit any ID numbers. Your data stays completely private and secure, making us fully POPIA compliant.

How accurate is the SA ID checker?

Our ID number checker has a 99.99% accuracy rate. It validates the mathematical structure of SA ID numbers using the official Luhn algorithm checksum. Over 2 million ID numbers have been validated using our tool.

Compliance Guide

POPIA Compliance for ID Validation

Name: SA ID Checker
Rating: 4.9 (2847 reviews)
Author: SA ID Checker

A comprehensive guide to validating South African ID numbers while maintaining compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

What is POPIA?

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is South Africa's data protection law that came into full effect on 1 July 2021. It regulates how organizations collect, process, store, and share personal information.

Key POPIA Principles

Accountability: Organizations must take responsibility for compliance

Processing Limitation: Only process personal information with consent or legal basis

Purpose Specification: Clearly define why you collect personal information

Further Processing: Don't use data for purposes beyond what was originally intended

Information Quality: Keep personal information accurate and up to date

Openness: Be transparent about how you handle personal information

Security Safeguards: Protect personal information from unauthorized access

Data Subject Rights: Respect individuals' rights over their data

ID Numbers Under POPIA

Important

South African ID numbers are classified as personal information under POPIA. They can be used to identify an individual and extract sensitive information like date of birth, gender, and citizenship status.

When you validate ID numbers, you are processing personal information and must comply with POPIA's requirements. This applies whether you're verifying employee IDs, customer information, or any other use case.

How SA ID Checker Ensures POPIA Compliance

SA ID Checker is designed with privacy and POPIA compliance as core principles. Here's how we help you stay compliant:

Client-Side Processing

All ID validation happens directly in your browser. The ID numbers you enter are never sent to our servers, stored in any database, or logged anywhere. This means we literally cannot access your data.

Zero Data Storage

We don't store ID numbers - ever. We only track anonymized usage counts (how many validations you've performed, not what you validated). This eliminates data breach risks related to ID numbers.

No Third-Party Data Sharing

Since we don't have access to the ID numbers you validate, there's no possibility of sharing this data with third parties. Your data stays with you.

Secure Infrastructure

All communications are encrypted using TLS/SSL. Our infrastructure is regularly audited and follows security best practices.

Your POPIA Responsibilities

While SA ID Checker is designed to be POPIA compliant, you also have responsibilities when validating ID numbers. Here's what you need to consider:

1Obtain Proper Consent

Before validating someone's ID number, ensure you have:

Obtained consent from the data subject, OR
A valid legal basis for processing (contract, legal obligation, etc.)
Informed the person why you need to validate their ID

2Limit Data Collection

Only collect and process ID numbers when necessary:

Don't collect ID numbers "just in case"
Only extract the information you actually need
Delete ID numbers when no longer needed

3Secure Your Data

If you store validation results or ID numbers in your own systems:

Encrypt data at rest and in transit
Implement access controls
Regularly audit who has access to personal information
Have a data breach response plan

4Respect Data Subject Rights

Be prepared to handle requests from individuals to:

Access their personal information
Correct inaccurate information
Delete their personal information
Object to processing

POPIA-Compliant Use Cases

👔

Employee Onboarding

Verify employee ID numbers during hiring with their consent as part of the employment contract.

🏦

Customer KYC

Validate customer IDs for Know Your Customer requirements with clear disclosure of purpose.

🏠

Tenant Verification

Check tenant IDs during lease applications with consent included in the application form.

🔞

Age Verification

Verify age for age-restricted products with minimal data collection (only age, not full ID).

POPIA Compliance Checklist

Use this checklist before validating ID numbers:

I have a lawful basis to process this ID number (consent, contract, legal obligation)
I have informed the data subject why I need to validate their ID
I am only collecting the minimum information necessary
I have appropriate security measures in place for any data I store
I have a process to handle data subject requests
I know how long I will retain this information
I will not use this information for purposes beyond what was disclosed

Additional Resources

Information Regulator

Official POPIA regulator website with guidance and complaint procedures.

Visit website →

POPIA.co.za

Comprehensive resource for understanding POPIA requirements.