Smart ID Card
South African Smart ID Card
The Smart ID Card is South Africa's polycarbonate chip identity card, replacing the green barcoded ID book. Since March 2026 citizens can apply for replacement Smart IDs at participating bank branches. Home Affairs plans to stop producing green ID books on 31 March 2027, and the green book stops being valid identification on 31 March 2028.
South African ID number format
YYMMDDSSSSCAZ
- •YYMMDD: date of birth
- •SSSS: sequence (0000-4999 female, 5000-9999 male)
- •C: citizenship (0 citizen, 1 permanent resident)
- •A: historical digit, usually 8
- •Z: check digit
13 digits; the final digit is a Luhn check digit.
Over 1 million citizens served at bank branches and about 14.7 million green ID books still in circulation (DHA, 26 October 2026)
Domestic
Privacy and trust
The DHA has announced a digital ID system; details had not been published as of October 2026.
Identity verification providers
Independent identity verification vendors that support documents like this for KYC and onboarding. Exact document coverage varies by provider and region, so confirm support before relying on it.
Smart ID Card: frequently asked questions
- When does the green ID book stop being valid?
- Home Affairs has said green ID books stop being produced on 31 March 2027 and stop being valid as identification on 31 March 2028.
- Can I apply for a Smart ID at a bank?
- Yes. Since 9 March 2026 replacement Smart ID applications can be made at participating bank branches.