VerifyNowBiometric identity verification for South Africa
Verify that your customers are who they claim to be with face matching, liveness detection, and Home Affairs integration. Built for FICA and KYC compliance, powered by AI.
What is biometric verification?
Biometric verification uses unique physical characteristics — such as facial features — to confirm a person's identity. Unlike passwords or PINs, biometrics cannot be shared, stolen, or forgotten, making them the most reliable form of identity verification available.
In South Africa, biometric verification plays a critical role in FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act) and KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance. Accountable institutions — including banks, insurers, estate agents, and attorneys — are required to verify customer identities before establishing business relationships.
VerifyNow's biometric verification services compare user selfies against official Home Affairs ID photos or reference images, providing confidence scores and fraud detection in real time. This ensures your onboarding process is both compliant and frictionless.
Why Biometrics for FICA/KYC?
- Proves the person presenting an ID is the actual ID holder
- Prevents identity fraud and impersonation
- Enables fully remote customer onboarding
- Creates an auditable verification trail
- Satisfies enhanced due diligence requirements
- Reduces manual review costs and processing time
Biometric verification services
Choose the right level of biometric verification for your compliance needs
Face Match (Home Affairs)
Compare a user selfie against the official Home Affairs ID photo on record. The gold standard for biometric KYC in South Africa.
- Match against government ID photo
- Real-time verification
- Confidence score (0-100)
- Age & gender detection
Best for:
High-security KYC, banking, financial services
Face Match (Standard)
Compare a user selfie against any reference photo you provide, such as an ID document scan, employee badge, or passport photo.
- Match against any reference image
- Cost-effective verification
- Confidence score (0-100)
- Age & gender detection
Best for:
Employee verification, access control, general identity checks
Face Match + ID Verification
Combined face matching with Home Affairs ID number verification. Confirm the selfie matches the ID photo and the ID number is valid — in one step.
- Face match + ID verification
- Personal details (Name, DOB, Gender)
- Citizenship & death status check
- Both checks complete in a single run
Best for:
Complete identity verification, onboarding flows
For the side-by-side match card, confidence score breakdown, and live sample report:
See a sample face match result →What your team sees back on a biometric check
The same sample report that runs in your dashboard before you've even signed up.
How biometric verification works
A simple, secure process from selfie capture to verified identity
Capture Selfie
The user takes a selfie using their device camera during your onboarding flow.
Submit for Verification
Upload the selfie along with an ID number or reference image in the VerifyNow dashboard.
AI Analysis
Our AI compares facial features, checks for spoofing, and matches against the reference.
Get Verified Result
Receive a match/no-match result with confidence score, demographics, and fraud warnings.
Industry applications
Biometric verification for every regulated industry in South Africa
Banking & Financial Services
Meet FICA requirements for account opening and high-value transactions with biometric proof that the person behind the screen matches their ID.
Insurance
Prevent fraudulent claims and policy applications by verifying policyholder identities with face matching against Home Affairs records.
Telecoms
Comply with RICA SIM registration requirements by verifying subscriber identities biometrically during onboarding.
Real Estate
Verify buyer, seller, and tenant identities during property transactions to satisfy FICA obligations for estate agents.
HR & Employee Verification
Confirm candidate identities during hiring, verify employees for access control, and maintain auditable identity records.
Government & Public Sector
Deliver secure digital services with biometric verification that ties citizens to their official Home Affairs records.
Why choose VerifyNow for biometrics
Enterprise-grade biometric technology built for the South African market
POPIA Compliant
No biometric data is stored after verification. Full compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act.
Real-Time Results
Get biometric verification results in under 10 seconds. No manual review queues or waiting periods.
Anti-Spoofing Technology
AI-powered detection of printed photos, screen replay attacks, and mask attempts to prevent identity fraud.
Home Affairs Integration
Direct integration with the South African Department of Home Affairs for government-grade identity matching.
Pay-Per-Use Pricing
Credit-based pricing with no monthly fees. Only pay for the verifications you actually perform.
Scalable for Any Volume
From startups running 10 verifications a month to enterprises running thousands daily — the platform scales with you.
Simple credit-based pricing
Pay only for what you use. No monthly fees or commitments.
See the latest cost for each biometric verification option.
View current pricingReady to add biometric verification?
Start verifying identities with face matching and liveness detection today