Swiss National Identification Number (AHV/AVS)
Validate and Generate a Swiss National Identification Number (AHV/AVS) Easily and Quickly
This is a Swiss National Identification Number (AHV/AVS) validation tool, you can enter the appropriate value to get the verification results, for the convenience of use, the tool provides a generator, you can use the generator to test the results.
What is Swiss National Identification Number (AHV/AVS)?
On July 1, 2008 the old grey AHV card with an 11-digit number was replaced by a new standard credit card sized document containing 13 digits. The new number is generated randomly and is completely anonymous, thereby fulfilling current data protection requirements. Insured persons retain the same number throughout their lives and no longer need to replace it in the event of a name change due to marriage or divorce. If you still have an 11-digit AHV number, you can request for a new 13-digit AHV number through your employer who happens to be the one responsible for ordering the card.
SSN Generation and Validation
The SSN Generator is designed to developers in need of randomly generated data for testing cases. The SSN validation validates the numbers pattern for a given state area code. Therefore, if a SSN passes this tool validation, it doesn't mean that it really exists, only that it's code, for the given pattern, is possible. This is the same validation that guarantees the basic authentication, of generated ssn's, for forms under development, as they merely checks for a possible pattern. Generated SSN's aren't real, and shouldn't be used on attempt of any illegal activity.
How the 13-digit number is structured
A Swiss social security number is always written as 756.XXXX.XXXX.XX — thirteen digits in four groups. Each part has a defined role:
- 756 — a fixed country prefix. It is Switzerland's ISO 3166-1 numeric code, and every AHV/AVS number issued begins with it.
- The middle nine digits — randomly assigned. They encode nothing: no birth date, no gender, no canton, no order of issue.
- The final digit — a check digit, calculated from the preceding twelve.
Why the number carries no personal information
The randomness is deliberate. The 11-digit number used before 2008 was a speaking number — parts of it were derived from personal details, which meant the identifier itself leaked information about its holder. The 13-digit replacement is non-speaking: it identifies without describing.
This is also why the number never needs to change. Because nothing in it is derived from a name or civil status, marriage or divorce leaves it untouched, and a person keeps the same number for life.
What validation here actually checks
The validator confirms two things: that the format is right, and that the check digit is consistent with the other twelve. Both are structural tests. A number can pass and still not belong to anyone — passing means well-formed, never issued.
There is no public registry to check against, and there should not be. Only the compensation offices that administer the AHV/AVS can confirm whether a number is real.