Business verification in South Africa
VBC certifies businesses registered in South Africa. Verification starts from the official record: in South Africa the company register is maintained by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), and the entity is identified by its CIPC enterprise number, in the form YYYY/NNNNNN/NN.
A South African registration number encodes the year of registration and the entity type in its final two digits, so the number itself tells you when the company was formed.
Where a business is registered for tax, the SARS tax reference number, and VAT number where registered is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why South African businesses certify
South African businesses trade across the continent and with Europe and Asia. The CIPC number encodes the year of registration in its own structure, so the number itself carries information a buyer can sanity-check.
What VBC verifies for a South African business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a South African business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- CIPC registration certificate (CoR 14.3)
- CIPC disclosure certificate showing current directors
- SARS tax clearance or tax reference confirmation
- Proof of the registered address
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a South African business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from South African businesses
Can a business registered in South Africa get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in South Africa. Verification is based on records from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a South African business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a South African business normally supplies: cIPC registration certificate (CoR 14.3); cIPC disclosure certificate showing current directors; sARS tax clearance or tax reference confirmation; proof of the registered address. The SARS tax reference number, and VAT number where registered is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the CIPC enterprise number, in the form YYYY/NNNNNN/NN used for in verification?
The CIPC enterprise number, in the form YYYY/NNNNNN/NN identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a South African business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in South Africa?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in South Africa remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a South African business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.