CheckID.co.za
About CheckID
CheckID is a privacy-first South African ID number checker and API. It launched in 2017 as a simple structural validator and still does one job: tell you whether a 13-digit ID number is structurally valid — without storing the number.
4,600+ monthly users · 815k+ validations · Operating since 2017 · Zero ID storage · POPIA-aware
Who operates CheckID
Check ID SA is the public product on checkid.co.za. The service is built by Seal Labs, which is credited as CheckID's creator on this site.
You can read how the first version looked in Check ID SA's 2017 launch story. The core promise has not changed: fast structural checks, POPIA-aware design, and zero ID data storage on our servers.
What CheckID does
CheckID validates a 13-digit South African ID number for format, date encoding, gender encoding, citizenship indicator, and Luhn checksum. For a valid number it returns structured details such as date of birth, age, gender, and citizenship status, typically under 1 second.
- Use the free South African ID checker on the homepage — unlimited single web checks, no sign-up.
- Integrate the same structural checks through the SA ID validation API documentation or the 5-minute API setup guide.
- Compare API Starter and Professional pricing when you need production API access, bulk validation, or team seats.
What CheckID does not do
CheckID is not a government database lookup, identity bureau, credit check, document verification provider, or biometric identity product. A structurally valid number does not prove that Home Affairs issued the ID, that it belongs to a specific person, or that it is currently active.
- It cannot retrieve Home Affairs ID application status.
- It cannot find an ID number from a name, or look up a name from an ID number.
- It cannot run a background check or confirm a physical document is genuine. See how verifying an ID document differs from structural validation.
- It does not store, log, cache, email, or send ID numbers or decoded validation results to analytics or third-party tools.
Privacy and security
Privacy is a product constraint, not a slogan. ID numbers are processed in memory over TLS and discarded. We do not keep a validation history of the numbers you check. Account, billing, and support data are limited to what is needed to run the service.
That POPIA-first stance is why CheckID can support FICA-adjacent intake, HR checks, admissions, and similar workflows without becoming another copy of someone's ID number. Read the full CheckID privacy policy for collection, cookies, and contact details.
Usage since 2017
These are the same documented trust figures used on the homepage and in product copy. They are historical and current usage markers, not a government endorsement.
4,600+
monthly users
815k+
historical validations
2017
year CheckID launched
Trusted by South African businesses
“We love checkid. It simplifies our work day, it's fast and easy to use. Happy customers!”
“We use CheckID at Limpopo CoLab, University of Limpopo, to verify participants undertaking our various training deliverables. The platform has been reliable and effective in confirming South African ID validity, and using it has significantly strengthened our verification and compliance processes.”
Contact
For product, API, or account questions, use the CheckID contact form. You can also email [email protected]. Paid subscribers have live chat support in the product.
Check the frequently asked questions first if you need Home Affairs status, name lookups, or background checks — those are outside CheckID's scope, and the FAQ points to the right official resources.