Validate South African ID Numbers
Quick, Easy, Secure
How it works
How does SAIDCheckr validate ID numbers?
SAIDCheckr validates South African ID numbers directly in your browser by applying Luhn's Algorithm to check if the format is correct. However, this process only verifies whether the ID follows the correct structure — it does not confirm if the ID is officially registered. To verify an ID's validity with government records, you'll need to use official government services.
Is it secure?
All verification happens locally on your device, with no data sent or stored on a server, ensuring your personal information remains private and secure.
What is Luhn's Algorithm?
Luhn’s Algorithm (also called the Modulus 10 Algorithm) is a simple way to check if a number, like a credit card number or South African ID number, is valid. It helps catch mistakes, like typing errors, by using a special math trick.
How it works:
Step-by-Step Process:
- Beginning with the second-to-last digit, double every second digit moving left.
- If doubling a digit results in a two-digit number, subtract 9 from it (or sum the digits).
- Add up all the digits from the original and transformed numbers.
- If the total sum is a multiple of 10, the number is valid.
| Step | Digits |
|---|---|
| Original | 5 5 0 4 2 0 7 2 6 0 1 8 9 |
| Double | - 10 - 8 - 0 - 4 - 0 - 16 - |
| Subtract 9 | - 1 - - - - - - - - - 7 - |
| Final | 5 1 0 8 2 0 7 4 6 0 1 7 9 |
| Modulus | 50 % 10 = 0 |
SA ID Breakdown
A South African ID Number consists of 13 digits, formatted as:
YYMMDDSSSSCAZ
- Example ID: 5504207260189
- YYMMDD ( 550420 ) : Date of birth: 20 April 1955
- SSSS ( 7260 ) : Citizen's gender (0000-4999 for female, 5000-9999 for male) → Male
- C ( 1 ) : Citizenship (0 = SA citizen, 1 = Permanent resident)
- A ( 8 ) : Usually 8 for modern ID's
- Z ( 9 ) : Luhn check digit for validity verification
Disclaimer
This website is an independent tool and is not associated with the South African Department of Home Affairs or any government entity. It is designed purely for educational and testing purposes. The Validator verifies the format of ID numbers but does not confirm their authenticity. For official ID verification, always consult the appropriate government sources.