South African identity card

The South African smart identity card – known as a Smart ID Card – replaces the old green bar-coded identity book.[1] Both are identity documents that serve as proof of a person's identity. This proof includes a person's photograph, their full name, their date of birth, their place of birth, and their unique identity number. South African identity documents also include evidence of votes cast in local and national elections, as a means to prevent voter fraud.

South African Identity Card
South African Smart Card (front)
Reverse
TypeIdentity card
Issued by South Africa
PurposeProof of identity
Valid in South Africa
EligibilitySouth African citizenship and birth within South Africa

Identity documents are issued to South African citizens or permanent residence permit holders who are 16 years or older. People, including spouses and children, who are working for the South African government or one of its statutory bodies outside of South Africa also qualify to receive a South African identity document.[1]

Despite being introduced in 2013, South African citizens born outside of South Africa, as well as permanent residents, cannot apply for the smart ID card, nor access the online services of Home Affairs (as of November 2020). For identity document-purposes, such applicants still receive only the old green ID book.

Identity documents are issued by South Africa's National Department of Home Affairs.[2]

How South Africans can apply for a Smart ID Card

Only South African citizens born in South Africa may apply for the Smart ID card. The card is not available to South African citizens born outside of South Africa, or South African permanent residents, who need to apply instead for the old green ID book.

South African citizens born in South Africa can apply for a smart ID card in two ways: they can either apply at their local home affairs,[3] or they can apply online[4] at the Home Affairs e-Channel website.

The website provides a step-by-step guide on how to apply.[5]

People in South Africa who need help with applying for their smart ID card can call the Department of Home Affairs contact centre on +27800 601 190.[6]

Information provided
  • Surname
  • First name(s)
  • Sex
  • Nationality
  • Identity number
  • Date of birth
  • Country of birth
  • South African citizenship status (citizen or permanent resident)
  • Primary image on front of card, secondary image on back of card
  • Signature

Identity Number

Each South African ID number is a 13 digit number defined as YYMMDD SSSS CAZ, which deciphers as follows:

Field Description
YYMMDD Date of birth
SSSS Sequential number: 0000–4999 for females and 5000–9999 for males.
C Status: 0 = South African citizen, 1 = non-SA-born permanent resident.
A 8 or 9
Z Check digit used to validate the ID Number, which is calculated using the Luhn algorithm.

Barcode Data

The back of the card contains two barcodes:

Code 39

The one-dimensional Code 39 barcode contains:

  • Identity number

PDF417

The two-dimensional PDF417 barcode contains:

  • Surname
  • Names
  • Sex
  • Nationality
  • Identity Number
  • Day of Birth
  • Country of Birth
  • Status
  • Date of Issue
  • A 5-digit security number, appearing with the text 'RSA' in the multiple-layer image on the back of the card [7]
  • A 9-digit card number appearing on the back of the card [8]
  • The sequence 1234567890 repeated to fill up the available space in the PDF417 barcode.

See also

References
  1. "Department of Home Affairs - Identity Documents". www.dha.gov.za. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  2. "Department of Home Affairs - HOME". www.dha.gov.za. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  3. "Get your Smart ID cards from these bank branches". Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  4. "Home Affairs - eHomeAffairs". ehome.dha.gov.za. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  5. "Apply for a South African Smart ID Card - How-To Guide" (PDF). Department of Home Affairs. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  6. "Contact Us". ehome.dha.gov.za. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
  7. http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/id-smart-card
  8. http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/id-smart-card
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