Home passport number South Africa
South Africa Passport Number validator
How the passport number format works
- Format
- 1 letter denoting passport type (A ordinary, M maxi, D diplomatic, T legacy travel document) followed by 8 digits
- Example
- A12345678
Things to watch for
- Format-only check — does not confirm the passport was actually issued, is unexpired, or is currently valid
- The "T" legacy travel-document prefix is largely historical but older documents using it can remain in circulation
- Validation runs entirely in your browser — the number you enter is never transmitted or stored
^[ADMT][0-9]{8}$A South African passport number starts with a single letter denoting the document type — A for an ordinary passport, M for a maxi (large-format, extra-page) passport, D for diplomatic, or T for a legacy travel document — followed by 8 digits, e.g. A12345678, issued by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. The T-prefix category is largely a historical holdover at this point, but older documents using it can remain valid for years, so this checker keeps accepting it alongside the three current prefixes.
What this checker verifies
This tool confirms the input starts with one of the four documented type letters and is followed by exactly 8 digits, catching an obvious typo like a mistyped prefix or a missing digit.
What a pass doesn’t confirm
No check digit is documented for this format, so matching the letter-plus-8-digit shape is the strongest signal a client-side check can give. A pass doesn’t confirm the Department of Home Affairs actually issued that number, that the passport is unexpired, or that it belongs to a real holder, and nothing you type is decoded or stored.
Scope: format-only validation, running entirely in your browser.
Content last reviewed 2026-08-09.
passport number FAQ
What does the leading letter on a South African passport mean?
It denotes the document type: A for ordinary, M for maxi (jumbo), D for diplomatic, or T for a legacy travel document, followed by 8 digits, e.g. A12345678. It's issued by South Africa's Department of Home Affairs.
Is the T-prefix format still in use?
The T (legacy travel document) prefix is largely historical, but older documents carrying it can remain in circulation, so this checker still accepts it.
Does a valid format confirm the passport is real?
No. It only checks the 9-character shape. Confirming the passport was actually issued or is currently valid requires the Department of Home Affairs' own records.