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    How to find a company's registration number in South Africa

    Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.

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    Reviewed by LemReveal Research TeamContent reviewed June 2026Primary source: CIPC

    How do I find a company's registration number in South Africa?

    Search the company's name on CIPC at https://www.cipc.co.za. The result page shows its registration number — the same identifier that appears on invoices, contracts, and government filings.

    Step-by-step

    1. 1

      Open CIPC

      Navigate to https://www.cipc.co.za.

      https://www.cipc.co.za
    2. 2

      Search by company name

      Type the exact trading or legal name. Partial matches usually work; add the city if the name is common.

    3. 3

      Copy the registration number

      The registration number is displayed at the top of the entity profile. It is the authoritative ID for cross-referencing.

    4. 4

      Confirm it's the right entity

      Check the registered address and incorporation date to be sure you have the correct legal entity, especially for groups with similarly named subsidiaries.

    Open CIPCAll South Africa records

    South Africa: choosing and checking the right record

    Choose the correct source
    Use CIPC for company registration information. Identify the official company record before interpreting a trading name, and follow the portal's current access or document-request process where further particulars are required.
    Confirm the entity
    Keep the full company registration number, including its separators and suffix, with the legal name. A company number and a tax reference are different identifiers.

    Check current access and document options on the official CIPC site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the South Africa registry guide.

    Frequently asked questions

    Where is a South Africa company's registration number published?

    Look for the identifier on the entity's record or available extract in CIPC (https://www.cipc.co.za). Compare it with the counterparty's documentation; publication requirements and identifier labels vary by jurisdiction.

    Is looking up a South Africa registration number free?

    LemReveal's basic lookup is free. Check CIPC's current access rules: an official portal can require an account, charge for searches or restrict particular documents.

    What is a (Pty) Ltd?

    Pty Ltd (Proprietary Limited) is South Africa's private company, equivalent to a Ltd. It restricts the transfer of shares and limits the number of shareholders to 50. There's no minimum capital requirement. It's the most common company type in South Africa.

    People also ask about find a company's registration number in South Africa

    The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.

    Is the South Africa company register free to search?

    Yes. Basic company lookups on the CIPC are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.

    What is the official South Africa business registry?

    The CIPC is the official public register of companies incorporated in South Africa. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.cipc.co.za.

    Where do I find a South Africa company's registration number?

    Every registered South Africa entity has a unique registration number issued at incorporation. It appears on invoices, contracts, the company's website footer (often in a "legal" section), and prominently on its CIPC record.

    Is a South Africa registration number the same as a VAT number?

    No. The registration number is the identifier issued by the CIPC when the company was formed. The VAT number is a separate tax identifier issued (only if the company is VAT-registered) by the national tax authority. Many small companies have a registration number but no VAT number.

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