Quick answer

To obtain an NBI Clearance, register through the official NBI Clearance portal, complete your profile exactly as shown on your identification documents, schedule a branch appointment, pay the displayed fee, and appear for identity and biometric verification. The NBI’s current guide states a basic clearance fee of ₱130, plus the service charge shown by the selected payment channel.

To correct a mistake, act before the clearance is printed whenever possible. Update editable profile information online, then carefully verify your details at the branch before approving them. If the clearance has already been issued—or the portal will not allow the change—contact or return to the issuing NBI clearance center with the clearance, reference number, receipt, two valid government-issued IDs, and documents proving the correct information. Do not erase, overwrite, laminate over, or otherwise alter the certificate yourself.

A “HIT” is different from a typographical error. It means the application requires further verification against the NBI criminal database; it does not by itself establish guilt or a conviction. Follow the branch’s return or Quality Control instructions and bring any court records relevant to an entry attributed to you.

How to obtain an NBI Clearance

1. Prepare your documents and information

The NBI Citizen’s Charter requires two valid government-issued identification documents. The NBI’s application guide gives examples such as a passport, driver’s license, National ID, UMID, Postal ID, or PSA-issued birth certificate. Bring originals that are valid and legible. Because accepted documents and branch practices can change, confirm questionable or unusual IDs with the chosen clearance center before your appointment.

Before registering, write down your information as it appears in your supporting documents:

Complete given name, middle name, and surname
Any suffix, such as Jr., Sr., II, or III
Birth date and birthplace
Sex and civil status
Current address
Parents’ names
Spouse’s name, if applicable
Previous surnames or names used, when the form asks for them

Do not omit a middle name or suffix simply because it does not fit your usual signature. Differences involving spaces, hyphens, compound surnames, married names, or suffixes can cause verification problems.

2. Use only the official application channel

Go directly to the NBI Clearance portal. Register or sign in using an active email address and mobile number, complete the applicant information form, and review every entry before saving.

Avoid links sent by unverified “agents” or fixers. Never disclose your password or one-time password. Payment should be made only through a channel displayed by the official system.

3. Schedule and pay

Select an available NBI clearance center and appointment slot. Choose a payment method offered by the portal and save the generated reference number.

The NBI’s current application guide lists a ₱130 basic clearance fee, with an additional e-payment service charge. The amount displayed in the official portal at the time of the transaction controls. Keep:

The reference number or QR code
A screenshot of the transaction status
The payment receipt or electronic confirmation
The appointment details

Attend the scheduled appointment. Do not assume that an old reference number, unpaid booking, or missed appointment will remain usable indefinitely; follow the instructions shown in your account or obtain confirmation from the selected branch.

4. Appear for biometrics and data verification

Bring the reference number, proof of payment, and two original valid IDs. The branch will capture your photograph, fingerprints, and electronic signature.

The data-verification screen is your best opportunity to prevent an incorrect clearance. Check each field—not only your name. Tell the operator immediately if anything differs from your records, and do not approve the information until the discrepancy has been addressed.

5. Claim the clearance or follow the “HIT” instructions

If there is no hit and no other verification issue, the clearance may be printed during the visit. Processing can take longer when the application is tagged “WITH HIT” or “For Quality Control.”

The NBI’s general guide describes a typical return period of five to ten working days for a hit, but the date actually given by the branch controls. A hit may result from a similar or identical name or from a record requiring manual review. It is not, standing alone, a finding that the applicant committed an offense. The constitutional presumption of innocence remains applicable to a person accused of a crime.

Upon receiving the certificate, inspect it before leaving. Check the spelling of every name, birth details, address, photograph, purpose, issue date, and any notation appearing on the document.

How to correct an application or issued clearance

The proper route depends on where the error originated.

If the mistake is still in your online profile

If the portal permits editing, correct the information before generating or completing a new application. Make the entry match your documentary proof exactly.

If a key field is locked, the account contains an incorrect identity, or a paid transaction already uses the wrong information, do not create several conflicting accounts as a workaround. Contact the NBI or ask the chosen branch what must be done with the existing transaction.

If you notice the error during your branch visit

Tell the biometric or verification operator before printing. Present the document supporting the correction. Depending on the field and the status of the transaction, the operator may correct it, refer the matter to a supervisor, or instruct you to complete another transaction.

Do not approve information that you know is wrong merely to obtain the certificate faster. Once printed, a correction may require a return visit and possibly reissuance.

If the clearance has already been printed

Return to the issuing clearance center as soon as practicable. Bring:

The original incorrect clearance
Your application reference number
The payment receipt
Two valid government-issued IDs
The document establishing the correct information
A short written explanation, particularly if the discrepancy is not obvious

Ask the branch whether it will correct and reprint the existing transaction or require a new application. The NBI’s publicly available guidance does not state a uniform nationwide fee or guaranteed processing period for every post-issuance correction, so obtain instructions from the branch before paying anyone.

Never manually alter the printed clearance. An altered certificate may be rejected and could create questions about authenticity.

If your name or civil status changed

Use the legally supported name appropriate to your situation and present the relevant records, such as a PSA-issued marriage certificate, annotated civil-registry document, court order, or other official proof.

A change in civil status does not automatically resolve inconsistent names across all government records. For ordinary online renewal, the NBI recommends the renewal option only when there are no changes to personal details. If information has changed, use a process that allows document review and identity verification rather than assuming an old clearance can simply be renewed unchanged.

For mailed renewals from abroad, the NBI specifically instructs applicants with a change of address or civil status to indicate the change on the old clearance submitted with the application.

If the source document itself is wrong

The NBI generally cannot decide that an incorrect birth, marriage, or other civil-registry entry should be replaced with a different legal fact. Correct the source record through the proper civil-registry process first.

Clerical or typographical errors and certain errors concerning a first name, nickname, day or month of birth, or sex may fall under the administrative procedures in Republic Act No. 9048 and Republic Act No. 10172. Substantial or disputed changes may require a judicial proceeding under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court. The correct remedy depends on the entry and evidence, so consult the local civil registrar, the Philippine Statistics Authority, or a lawyer before filing.

Once the controlling record has been corrected or annotated, bring the updated certified document to the NBI.

What to do about a “HIT” or disputed criminal-record entry

A hit is a verification status, not a conviction. Attend on the return date and cooperate with the Quality Control interview. Bring your valid IDs and any documents the branch requested.

If the questioned entry involves an actual case associated with your identity, collect certified records showing its present status. Depending on the facts, these may include:

The information or complaint and case number
A court order of dismissal
A judgment of acquittal
A certificate of finality or entry of judgment
An order terminating probation or other final disposition
Documents showing mistaken identity
Any prior NBI correspondence concerning the record

A dismissal, acquittal, or other disposition does not justify altering the clearance yourself, and it does not necessarily mean every government database has already been updated. Present the certified records to the NBI and ask for written instructions on correcting or updating the disputed entry.

The Data Privacy Act of 2012 generally requires personal information to be accurate and recognizes a right to dispute inaccuracies. However, the Act also contains an exception for personal information gathered for investigations involving criminal, administrative, or tax liabilities. The National Privacy Commission further explains that its rectification right does not replace a court order or another official correction process required by law. Whether a privacy remedy applies therefore depends on the nature and purpose of the particular record.

If the NBI refuses to correct demonstrably inaccurate personal information, make a written request identifying:

The incorrect entry;
The correct information;
The evidence supporting the correction;
The specific action requested; and
Your contact information and transaction details.

Keep proof that the NBI received the request. Before filing a privacy complaint, the NPC generally requires the complainant to give the respondent a written opportunity to address the issue. Its current complaint guidance refers to the absence of a response within 15 calendar days, or the failure to take timely and appropriate action, and requires proof of that prior notice.

Free clearance for qualified first-time jobseekers

Under the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, the government fee for an NBI Clearance may be waived for a qualified first-time jobseeker. The benefit may be used only once and requires a barangay certification stating that the applicant is a first-time jobseeker.

Use the dedicated first-time jobseeker portal and bring:

The required barangay certification on official barangay letterhead, properly signed and sealed; and
Two valid government-issued IDs or acceptable certificates.

The NBI Citizen’s Charter lists the qualified transaction as free of charge. Fabricating or falsifying proof of eligibility may result in liability under applicable criminal law.

Applying or renewing from abroad

A new applicant abroad may obtain NBI Form No. 5 from a Philippine embassy or consulate. The form must be properly completed and fingerprinted at the Philippine embassy, consulate, or nearest police station, with the fingerprint officer’s name, signature, designation, and official seal. The application also requires a recent 2×2 photograph with a white background and a photocopy of the passport biodata page.

The completed application may be mailed to the NBI Mailed Clearance Section or processed through an authorized representative. The NBI’s published overseas procedure states a maximum processing time of five working days after receipt of complete documents, excluding delivery time.

Only clearances issued beginning in 2014 are eligible for renewal through the NBI’s mailed-renewal procedure; an earlier clearance is treated as a new application. Follow the complete NBI procedure for applicants abroad because fingerprinting, mailing, payment, and representation requirements differ from an ordinary local application.

Renewal and digital access

For a clearance issued from 2014 onward with no change in personal information, the official portal offers an online-renewal option with delivery, subject to the service and address options currently displayed.

Since July 2026, verified eGovPH users may also access NBI eClearance services through the eGovPH Super App. The NBI states that eligible users can retrieve, renew, and access a digital copy through the app. Eligibility and available functions should be checked in the current version of the official app.

Use a new or branch-assisted application when the renewal record contains incorrect or outdated personal details.

Evidence to preserve

Keep copies or screenshots of:

The profile submitted to the portal
Appointment and transaction details
Reference numbers and QR codes
Payment confirmations and official receipts
The incorrect clearance
IDs and supporting civil-registry records
Court decisions, orders, and certificates of finality
Emails, letters, and branch instructions
Proof that a written correction request was received
Any deadline imposed by an employer, embassy, licensing body, or government agency

Do not publish an unredacted clearance, passport, birth certificate, QR code, or reference number on social media. These documents contain information that may facilitate identity fraud.

Common mistakes to avoid

Registering through a look-alike website or social-media link
Paying a fixer instead of an official payment channel
Entering a nickname rather than the documented legal name
Omitting a suffix, middle name, or former surname requested by the form
Using inconsistent spellings across the application and IDs
Approving the branch verification screen without reading it
Assuming a hit means the applicant has been convicted
Missing the branch-issued return date
Using online renewal despite a change in personal information
Submitting an uncertified screenshot when the NBI requests a certified court record
Altering the printed clearance by hand
Discarding receipts and correspondence before the issue is resolved

When help is urgent

Seek immediate assistance if a disputed NBI entry appears connected to an active warrant, another person’s case, identity theft, or a record that may expose you to arrest or loss of an imminent employment, immigration, or licensing opportunity.

Contact the NBI clearance center promptly and ask for a written acknowledgment or instructions. If a court record or possible warrant is involved, consult a Philippine lawyer or the Public Attorney’s Office before making statements about the case. Inform the employer, embassy, or requesting institution that verification is pending and ask whether it will accept the NBI acknowledgment, return slip, or certified court disposition temporarily.

For current branch information, use the official NBI Clearance Office locator. The NBI also publishes the clearance inquiry email nbiclearance@nbi.gov.ph and telephone numbers (02) 8523-8231 to 38, locals 5523, 5430, and 5509, (02) 8524-1277, and (02) 8522-8788. Verify contact details on the NBI website before sending sensitive documents.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone obtain my clearance for me?

An ordinary local application requires personal appearance for photograph, fingerprints, signature, and identity verification. Separate procedures apply to applicants abroad, who may mail the prescribed fingerprint form or use an authorized representative as allowed by the NBI’s overseas instructions.

Can I walk in without registering online?

The NBI’s current process is built around online registration and a reference number. Some centers may provide registration facilities, but availability should not be assumed. Register and schedule online before traveling unless the NBI gives different instructions.

Does a “HIT” mean I have a criminal record?

Not necessarily. It means the application needs further database verification. A similar or identical name can trigger review. A hit is not a judicial finding of guilt.

Can the NBI change my birth certificate or legal name?

No. The NBI may correct its own information based on adequate proof, but a change to the underlying civil-registry record must follow the applicable PSA, local civil registrar, consular, or court procedure.

Can I renew online if I married or changed my name?

The NBI recommends ordinary online renewal only when personal details have not changed. A name or civil-status change normally requires supporting-document review. Ask the branch which application route to use.

Is correcting an issued clearance free?

The NBI’s public guidance does not promise free reissuance for every type of error or state a single nationwide correction fee. Responsibility for the error, the transaction’s status, and whether a new application is required may affect the process. Obtain official branch instructions and a receipt for any payment.

How long is an NBI Clearance accepted?

Check the dates printed on the certificate and the requirements of the employer, embassy, licensing body, or other recipient. A receiving institution may require a more recently issued clearance even when an older document has not been physically altered.

Official sources

This article provides general Philippine legal information, not legal advice for a particular case. Procedures may vary according to the documents, record involved, and instructions of the processing branch. Official sources and current procedures were checked on August 18, 2026.