How to Obtain a DUNS Number in South Africa

A D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit code that identifies your business internationally. Think of it like a company ID number that Apple and Google use to verify your company is real before letting you publish apps under your organization's name.

The number is issued by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), a global business data company. In South Africa, D&B requests are handled locally by TransUnion. Requesting a D-U-N-S Number is free, but the verification process takes time, so it's best to get this sorted well before you need to set up your Apple or Google developer accounts.

Before You Begin

Your company must be a registered legal entity (like a (Pty) Ltd). Make sure you have:

Your CIPC registration certificate -- this is normally a COR14.3 for a company.
The exact registered legal name and registration number as they appear on your CIPC documents.
Your company's physical and postal addresses.
A company telephone number.
A company website, if you have one.
The name, role, work email, and phone number of the person handling this request (the contact person).
Basic company information -- year established, approximate number of employees, and main business activity -- in case TransUnion asks for it.

Expected Costs and Timing

Requesting a D-U-N-S Number through TransUnion in South Africa is free. TransUnion doesn't promise a specific turnaround time on their website, so allow a reasonable window -- it can sometimes take a couple of weeks, especially if they need to verify details about your company.

Once the number is issued, Apple recommends waiting up to two business days before trying to use it for developer enrollment, as their systems need time to sync with D&B's records.

A word of caution: you may come across third-party services that promise instant D-U-N-S issuance for a fee. These are generally unnecessary -- the official process through TransUnion is free and gives you a legitimate record. Allow enough lead time and you won't need to pay anyone.

Step 1: Confirm Your CIPC Details

Before you contact TransUnion, make sure you know your company's exact registered details. Sign in to CIPC BizPortal or check your current registration documents to confirm the legal name, registration number, status, and registered address.

The legal name on your CIPC registration is what matters here. If your company trades under a different name than its registered name, use the registered one -- a trading name won't work for this process.

CIPC eServices enterprise search notice explaining that BizProfile now requires login — CIPC's public notice directs company searches to the authenticated BizPortal service.

Step 2: Check Whether Your Company Already Has a D-U-N-S Number

Before requesting a new number, it's worth checking whether your company already has one. Many established businesses do, especially if they've dealt with international suppliers or applied for certain certifications.

Use the global Dun & Bradstreet lookup to search for your company by its exact legal name and South African address. You can also check during Apple's enrollment process, which offers a D-U-N-S lookup step.

If the global lookup doesn't offer the right search fields for South African companies, you can ask TransUnion to check their records before requesting a new one -- just mention in your email that you'd like them to confirm whether a record already exists.

If a matching record does exist, request the number so you can use it. Don't create a duplicate by requesting a new one under a slightly different spelling or trading name.

Global Dun and Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number Lookup with My company and Other company options — Checking the global Dun & Bradstreet lookup for an existing D-U-N-S record before requesting another.

Step 3: Prepare Your Request to TransUnion

If no existing record was found, you'll need to email TransUnion to request a new D-U-N-S Number. Their email address is dnb@transunion.co.za.

In your email, include:

Your company's physical address, postal address, and telephone number (these are the details TransUnion specifically asks for).
Your CIPC registration certificate as an attachment.
Your company's registration number, the contact person's details, and your website -- these aren't always required, but they help TransUnion identify your entity clearly and can speed things up.

Use a clear subject line like: Request for a D-U-N-S Number -- Your Company Name (Pty) Ltd

TransUnion South Africa contact page stating how to request a D-U-N-S Number — TransUnion's public South African D-U-N-S request instructions.

Step 4: Send the Request and Save Your Reference

Send the email from a company email address (rather than a personal one, as this adds credibility to your request). Keep the sent message, any auto-reply or ticket number you receive, and copies of the attachments you sent.

Having all of this together makes it easy to follow up if you don't hear back within a reasonable time.

MyCIAL Dun and Bradstreet portal sign-in page for managing company details and D-U-N-S requests — The live MyCIAL D&B portal. Keep the acknowledgement or reference you receive after making a request through the channel available to your business.

Step 5: Respond to Any Verification Questions

TransUnion or a D&B representative may get in touch to verify details about your company -- things like its legal status, address, contact person, number of employees, or what the business does. This is a normal part of the process.

Respond promptly, and make sure the details you provide match your CIPC registration. Consistent information across all your records is what makes the process go smoothly.

Dun and Bradstreet D-U-N-S request page asking the applicant to select a business location — D&B's official D-U-N-S request page. Choose the option that matches where your business is based.

Step 6: Record Your D-U-N-S Number

When your number arrives, save it alongside your other company records (like your CIPC registration number and tax details). Check that the legal name and address in the D&B record are correct -- if anything is wrong, ask TransUnion or D&B to correct it before you try to use the number for developer enrollment.

Your D-U-N-S Number doesn't expire, and you don't need to request a new one for each platform. The same number works for Apple, Google, and any other service that asks for it.

Official Dun and Bradstreet D-U-N-S lookup page — Use D&B's official lookup after processing is complete to confirm the issued number and the company information attached to it.

Step 7: Wait for Developer Platforms to Sync

Apple recommends allowing up to two business days after D&B creates or updates a record before attempting organization enrollment. Google may also need time to pick up a new or corrected record.

If you try to enroll and the platform doesn't recognize your number yet, wait a day or two and try again before contacting support or creating a duplicate request.

Once your D-U-N-S Number is recognized, you're ready to continue with:

Completion Checklist

Your D-U-N-S record uses the exact legal name and address from your CIPC registration.
You checked for an existing record before requesting a new one.
Your request was sent to dnb@transunion.co.za with your registration certificate and contact details.
You've saved the issued number and confirmation email with your company records.
The D&B profile is accurate and matches your CIPC details.
You've allowed at least two business days for Apple and Google to sync the new data.

Troubleshooting

You haven't received a reply from TransUnion: Follow up by replying to your original email (so they can see the full thread) or by sending a new message to dnb@transunion.co.za with your original subject line and any reference number you received.
The legal name or address in the D&B record is wrong: Ask TransUnion or D&B to correct the existing record. Don't request a second D-U-N-S Number with the corrected details -- that would create a duplicate.
Apple or Google still shows old data when you try to enroll: Wait the full two business days for the platforms to update, then try again using your exact legal name and address. If it still doesn't work after waiting, contact Apple or Google support.

Security Reminder

Your registration documents and TransUnion correspondence contain private company and contact details. Only send them through the official TransUnion or D&B channels -- never through a third-party service you're unsure about. Store the issued D-U-N-S Number with your company records, and redact sensitive information from any screenshots before sharing them.