Build Studio NG

Smile Id API

Identity Verification & KYC

Smile ID (formerly Smile Identity) is Africa's leading digital identity and KYC verification platform, purpose-built for African markets with direct integrations to government ID databases, biometric verification, and anti-fraud capabilities across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and over 25 African countries. Smile ID provides the most comprehensive coverage of African identity documents and databases available through a single API.

Smile Id API Highlights

Smile Id API is verified for developer integrations in Nigeria and across African markets, providing documented endpoints, sandbox testing, and developer support.

Authentication

API Key

Rate Limit

Standard rate limits per API key. Contact Smile ID for specific limits based on volume.

Sandbox Mode

✓ Available

Webhooks

Not verified yet

Supported Regions

Nigeria

Ghana

Kenya

Smile Id API Services

BVN VerificationNIN VerificationFacial Biometric / Liveness DetectionDocument Verification (Passport / ID)

Alternative African Company to

Veriff Sumsub Jumio Trulioo

++++

API Pricing Model

Free sandbox for testing
Production pricing per verification varies by check type (BVN, NIN, face match, document verification)
Contact Smile ID for current per-call rates and volume discounts

Smile Id API Core Features & Capabilities

Features Included

BVN Verification NIN Verification Facial Biometric / Liveness Detection Document Verification (Passport / ID)Business / CAC Verification Driver's Licence Verification AML & Sanctions Screening

Not Supported

Sandbox / Test Environment

Required Access Documents for Smile Id API

Different Smile Id API use cases

CBN-Compliant Digital KYC for Nigerian Fintech:Use Smile ID to perform BVN + NIN verification with facial biometric matching and liveness detection during fintech app onboarding completing Tier 2 and Tier 3 CBN KYC requirements entirely digitally, without in-person document review.
Pan-African KYC for Multi-Country Expansion:Deploy Smile ID across a Nigerian fintech's expansion into Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa using Smile ID's unified API to verify each country's local government IDs without building separate integrations per market.
Fraud Prevention with Biometric Deduplication:Use Smile ID's face match to check every new onboarding selfie against existing users detecting fraudsters who attempt to create multiple accounts with different identity documents but the same face.
Instant Loan Disbursement with Automated KYC:Automate the KYC process for a Nigerian digital lender using Smile ID to verify BVN, match face against NIN photo, and check AML lists in under 60 seconds, enabling loan disbursement within minutes of application.

Smile Id API Alternatives