How to verify a foreigner on CIPC (aka Foreigner Assurance)
Foreigners must be verified on CIPC before they can be appointed as directors or beneficial owners.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute
On 1 December 2023, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) launched the foreigner assurance system to verify foreign nationals before they can be appointed as directors of South African companies. On 19 February, 2024, they extended this requirement to beneficial owners as well.
To check your verification status, simply go to to the foreigner assurance status page and search your passport/foreign ID number.
Step 1: Go to the foreigner assurance page and search your passport/foreign ID number.
Step 2: Capture your personal information and contact details, then click CONTINUE.
Date of birth is required (despite the greyed out box). Simply use the calendar icon to pick a date.
Please note OTPs and the result of this application will be sent to the contact details provided.
Also note the OTPs expire after 30 minutes, after which you will get a "validation failure".
Step 3: Capture the OTPs (only 1 is required) and click VERIFY.
Step 4: Upload a certified ID/passport and click SUBMIT.
It's important this document meets the CIPC certification requirements. If not, the application will be rejected and you will have to start over.
Document upload size is limited to 3MB.
Step 5: A confirmation message will be displayed and the result of your application will be sent to you. This typically take 1-3 hours.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute
On 1 December 2023, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) launched the foreigner assurance system to verify foreign nationals before they can be appointed as directors of South African companies. On 19 February, 2024, they extended this requirement to beneficial owners as well.
To check your verification status, simply go to to the foreigner assurance status page and search your passport/foreign ID number.
How to verify a foreigner on CIPC
Step 1: Go to the foreigner assurance page and search your passport/foreign ID number.
Step 2: Capture your personal information and contact details, then click CONTINUE.
Date of birth is required (despite the greyed out box). Simply use the calendar icon to pick a date.
Please note OTPs and the result of this application will be sent to the contact details provided.
Also note the OTPs expire after 30 minutes, after which you will get a "validation failure".
Step 3: Capture the OTPs (only 1 is required) and click VERIFY.
Step 4: Upload a certified ID/passport and click SUBMIT.
It's important this document meets the CIPC certification requirements. If not, the application will be rejected and you will have to start over.
Document upload size is limited to 3MB.
Step 5: A confirmation message will be displayed and the result of your application will be sent to you. This typically take 1-3 hours.
Updated on: 19/11/2024
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