What does a paid VerifyNow ID check cost?
SA ID Verification costs R2.99 at Starter, including VAT. ID + Photo (Real-Time) costs R29.90 at Starter, including VAT. Review the selected service and its credit cost before running it.
Verify ID Online
South African ID Verification
To verify a South African ID online, enter the 13-digit ID number in the VerifyNow dashboard and select the identity check you need. Review the names and other identity fields returned for that record. Available fields depend on the selected check and source response.
Instantly verify South African ID numbers against Home Affairs data. Get results in seconds with a secure, FICA-aligned verification workflow.
under 10 second response
Home Affairs integrated
Pay-as-you-go pricing
Verification demo preview
Watch the same lightweight product demo used on the VerifyNow homepage.
ID statusValid
Full namesMatched
Date of birthReturned
Photo availabilityAvailable
Choose the ID result your workflow needs
Use the basic identity check when you need available identity fields for a South African ID number. Select the real-time ID + Photo service when you also need the available official photograph. Home Affairs Face Match provides a selfie-comparison workflow for remote onboarding.
| Check | Use it for | Starter price |
|---|---|---|
| SA ID Verification | Basic identity information from the submitted South African ID number. | R2.99 |
| ID + Photo (Real-Time) | Home Affairs identity details and an official photo where available. | R29.90 |
| Home Affairs Face Match | Compare a submitted selfie with the available Home Affairs reference photo. | R29.90 |
Prices are in rand at Starter and include VAT. See the pricing page for volume tiers.
Where can I review the ID API before integrating it?
The API documentation includes request fields, response examples and sandbox instructions. Review the ID + Photo and Face Match options to select the result required by your onboarding flow.
What Does "Verify ID" Mean?
To verify ID means to confirm that a South African identity document is authentic and the information provided matches official government records. ID verification queries the Department of Home Affairs National Population Register to validate the 13-digit ID number and return the registered personal details.
This process confirms the ID is valid (not cancelled or fraudulent), the person is alive (not deceased on record), and retrieves the official registered names, date of birth, and biometric photo for verification purposes.
ID Number Check with Home Affairs
A Home Affairs ID number check verifies a South African ID against official population register data. It is the core check behind verify ID, South African ID verification, and FICA customer-identification workflows.
Use VerifyNow when you need to confirm that an ID number is valid, belongs to the person being onboarded, and can be supported by an audit trail for compliance or fraud review.
13-digit South African ID number validation
Home Affairs name, birth date and status checks
Vital status checks for deceased-person fraud risk
Optional Home Affairs photo for stronger identity matching
Dashboard and API workflows for repeat verification
Why Verify ID Online?
Online ID verification is faster, more accurate, and more secure than manual verification methods. With VerifyNow, you can verify any South African ID in seconds without leaving your application.
- Instant Results
Get verification results in under 10 seconds, not hours or days.
- Verified Data
Data verified against official records - no manual errors.
- Fraud Detection
Identify deceased IDs, cancelled documents, and impersonation attempts.
- FICA-aligned
Support customer identification with audit-ready verification records.
Verification Data Returned
When you verify an ID, you receive:
Full NamesVerified against Home Affairs
Date of BirthExtracted and validated
ID StatusValid / Deceased / Cancelled
GenderConfirmed from ID number
CitizenshipSA Citizen / Permanent Resident
PhotoBiometric photo for matching
How to Verify ID in South Africa
Verify any South African ID number in three simple steps.
1
Enter ID Number
Enter the 13-digit South African ID number you want to verify.
2
Click Verify
Submit the ID for instant verification against Home Affairs.
3
Get Results
Receive verified data including names, DOB, status, and photo in under 10 seconds.
Why Choose VerifyNow to Verify ID
Enterprise-grade ID verification with the features you need for compliance and fraud prevention.
Instant Results
Verify ID in under 10 seconds with real-time Home Affairs database queries.
FICA-Aligned
Support customer identification and verification workflows with audit-ready records.
Secure & Private
Encrypted, POPIA-aware data handling for verification records.
Easy Integration
RESTful API with comprehensive documentation. Integrate in hours.
Full Audit Trail
Complete verification history for compliance and reporting.
99.9% Uptime
Enterprise-grade reliability with redundant systems.
Who Needs to Verify ID?
ID verification is essential for businesses that need to confirm customer identity.
Financial Services
Banks, lenders, and insurance companies verifying customers for FICA compliance.
Fintech & Crypto
Digital wallets and crypto exchanges verifying users for KYC requirements.
HR & Recruitment
Background checks and employee verification for onboarding.
Telecommunications
RICA compliance and SIM card registration verification.
ID Verification Methods Compared
Manual Verification
- -24-72 hours turnaround
- -Requires physical documents
- -Prone to human error
- -High cost per verification
- -Limited fraud detection
Basic Online Check
- ~Minutes to hours
- ~Limited data returned
- ~No biometric matching
- ~Moderate cost
- ~Basic fraud checks
VerifyNow
- +under 10 seconds
- +Complete verified data
- +Biometric photo included
- +Pay-as-you-go pricing
- +Full fraud detection
Verify ID via API
Integrate ID verification directly into your application with our RESTful API. Simple, secure, and well-documented.
- RESTful API with JSON responses
- Sandbox environment for testing
- Comprehensive documentation
- Webhook notifications
// Verify ID API Request
POST /api/v1/verify/id
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer your_api_key
{
"id_number": "8501015009087",
"consent": true
}
// Response (under 10 seconds)
{
"verified": true,
"status": "valid",
"names": "JOHN DOE",
"dob": "1985-01-01",
"gender": "Male",
"citizenship": "South African",
"photo": "base64_encoded_image"
}Simple, Transparent Pricing
Pay only for what you use. No monthly fees, no hidden costs. Volume discounts available for high-volume users.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify an ID number in South Africa?
To verify a South African ID number, enter the 13-digit ID in our verification system. We query the Department of Home Affairs database in real-time and return verified information including names, date of birth, and ID status within under 10 seconds.
Is it legal to verify someone's ID online?
Yes, it is legal to verify IDs online in South Africa when you have a lawful basis and a legitimate purpose. Consent may be required for some workflows, but POPIA also allows other lawful bases. Under FICA, accountable institutions are required to verify customer identity.
What information do I need to verify an ID?
You only need the 13-digit South African ID number to perform a verification. Optionally, you can provide name and date of birth for additional matching validation.
How long does ID verification take?
With VerifyNow, ID verification takes just under 10 seconds. Results are returned in real-time, allowing instant customer onboarding.
Can I try ID verification for free?
You can use the sample demo for free. Real Home Affairs ID checks with photo use 10 credits, which is R29.90 at the Starter tier, with lower per-check costs at higher credit volumes.
What does a verified ID report include?
A verified ID report includes: full registered names, date of birth, gender, citizenship status, ID document status (valid/deceased/cancelled), date of issue, and the official biometric photo from Home Affairs.
Can I verify ID via API?
Yes, VerifyNow provides a RESTful API for ID verification. You can integrate our verification service directly into your application with comprehensive documentation and sandbox testing.
Is ID verification required by law?
Yes, under FICA Section 21, accountable institutions must verify customer identity before establishing a business relationship. This includes banks, insurance companies, estate agents, and other regulated businesses.
What is the difference between checking an ID format and verifying an identity online?
A format check examines the structure and checksum of the number. Identity verification requests a source record and returns the available identity fields for review. Use the returned names and source outcome when assessing the person behind the number.
Does an online ID check compare a selfie with the official photo?
Photo retrieval and Face Match are separate checks. A photo-enabled identity check can return an official photograph where available. Face Match compares a submitted selfie with a reference photograph and produces its own result.
Related Services
Start Verifying IDs Today
Get started today with pay-as-you-go pricing. No monthly fees required.