Decode many NIC numbers at once

Paste one NIC per line (for example, from a spreadsheet). Results stay on your device.

How Sri Lankan NIC numbers work

PartOld NIC (853400937V)New NIC (198534000937)
Birth year85 → 19851985
Day of the year (+500 for women)340340
Serial number0930093
Check digit77
LetterV or XNone

Day numbers always count February as 29 days, so day 61 is 1 March in every year. Since 2016, new identity cards use the 12-digit format.

Frequently asked questions

How is the birthday stored in a Sri Lankan NIC number?

In an old NIC (9 digits and a letter, e.g. 853400937V), the first two digits are the birth year (1985) and the next three are the day of the year (340). In a new NIC (12 digits, e.g. 198534000937), the first four digits are the year and the next three the day. The day count always treats February as having 29 days.

How does the NIC show if someone is male or female?

For women, 500 is added to the day of the year. So a day number of 840 means day 340 of the year for a woman, while 340 means a man born on the same day.

How do I convert an old NIC to the new 12-digit format?

Put 19 in front of the first five digits, add a 0, then the last four digits without the letter. 853400937V becomes 198534000937. This tool converts both ways.

What do the letters V and X mean?

On old NICs, V means the holder was eligible to vote when the card was issued, and X means they weren't (for example, they weren't yet registered). New 12-digit NICs don't have a letter.

Does this check if a NIC is real?

No. It checks that the number has a valid format and decodes the birthday and gender. Only the Department for Registration of Persons can confirm that an NIC belongs to someone. Nothing you enter is uploaded.