The Department of Home Affairs maintains a record of every registered marriage in South Africa in the National Population Register (NPR). You can check what DHA has on record for your marital status in seconds using a free SMS service — no branch visit required.
How to Check Your Marital Status by SMS
SMS the letter M followed by your ID number (no spaces between M and the ID number) to 32551.
Example: M 5001010050080
DHA will send an automated reply with your recorded marital status. The reply will show one of the following:
- Single — no marriage is recorded against your ID number
- Married — a marriage is recorded, with the date and your spouse’s name
- Divorced — a divorce is recorded
- Widowed — your spouse’s death has been recorded
The service is free and available 24 hours a day.
Why Checking Your Status Matters
Before applying for a marriage certificate: If DHA has no record of your marriage, submitting Form DHA-130 will result in a failed application. Confirm the record exists first.
Before getting married: If you were previously married and your divorce or spouse’s death is not correctly recorded, DHA may flag an impediment to your new marriage. Confirm your status is recorded as “single,” “divorced,” or “widowed” as appropriate before your wedding day.
Before applying for immigration documents: Immigration authorities and foreign embassies rely on DHA records. If your status in the NPR does not match your reality, this can cause delays or rejections in visa and residence applications.
If you suspect you are a victim of marriage fraud: Fraudulent marriages — where a person’s ID is used to register a marriage without their knowledge or consent — are a known problem in South Africa. The SMS check is the fastest way to identify whether a fraudulent marriage has been registered against your ID.
What to Do If Your Status Is Wrong
Status shows “married” but you have never been married: This may indicate a fraudulent marriage has been registered using your ID. Report it immediately to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and to the DHA fraud unit. You will need to obtain a police case number and submit a formal complaint to DHA requesting the fraudulent marriage be investigated and cancelled. Contact the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90 to initiate the fraud report process.
Status shows “single” but you are married: Your marriage may not be registered. This happens when the marriage officer failed to submit the marriage register to DHA, or when the submission was lost or not processed. Read Marriage Not Registered at Home Affairs for the process to have it registered retrospectively.
Status shows “married” but you are divorced: Your divorce decree may not have been recorded with DHA. Contact the DHA Contact Centre with your divorce case number and details of the court that issued the order. DHA’s amendment process will update your status once the court record is verified.
Status shows “married” but your spouse has died: The death may not have been registered with DHA, or DHA’s records have not yet been updated. The death registration process should have updated your status automatically — if it has not, contact the DHA Contact Centre with the death certificate reference.
The name or date on your record is wrong: Read Wrong Information on Your Marriage Certificate for the correction process.
Fraudulent Marriages — What You Need to Know
Marriage fraud in South Africa involves a criminal registering a marriage using another person’s ID number without their knowledge. This is done to obtain immigration or spousal permit benefits, or for other fraudulent purposes.
Signs you may be a victim:
- The SMS check returns “married” to someone you do not know
- You received a DHA notification about a marriage you did not consent to
- Your name change application was rejected because DHA shows you as already having changed your surname via marriage
If you believe you are a victim of marriage fraud, act immediately. Do not delay — the longer the fraudulent record remains unchallenged, the more complex the process of having it cancelled becomes.
Steps to take:
- Obtain a copy of the fraudulent marriage certificate from DHA (DHA-130) to confirm the details
- Report to SAPS and obtain a case number
- Submit a formal fraud complaint to DHA’s Fraud and Corruption Hotline: 0800 20 14 93
- Consider engaging an attorney who specialises in DHA matters if DHA does not act promptly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SMS marital status check free? Yes. The service is operated by DHA and is free of charge.
Does the SMS check work for foreign nationals? The service works for South African ID numbers. Foreign nationals are not in the NPR and cannot use this specific service.
The SMS reply says “record not found” — what does that mean? Your ID number was not recognised. Check that you entered the number correctly. If the number is correct and the reply persists, contact the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90 — there may be an issue with your NPR record.
I got married abroad — will the SMS show me as married? Only if you registered the foreign marriage with DHA. South African law recognises foreign marriages, but they only appear in the NPR after you notify DHA. See Register a Foreign Marriage in South Africa.
Can I check my spouse’s marital status? You can check the status for any ID number using the SMS service. The service was specifically introduced by DHA to allow people to verify marital status and detect fraud.
My status is correct — do I still need to go to a DHA branch? Not just to check your status — the SMS is definitive. You only need to visit a branch if you need a physical certificate or need to make a correction.
Official DHA Contact Details
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| Marital status SMS | M + ID number to 32551 |
| DHA Contact Centre | 0800 60 11 90 (toll-free, Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00) |
| DHA Fraud and Corruption Hotline | 0800 20 14 93 |
| DHA website | dha.gov.za |