Quick answer

To obtain an NBI clearance, register through the official NBI Clearance portal, complete and carefully review your profile, choose a clearance center and appointment, pay using the generated reference number, and appear with the required original identification documents for photograph, fingerprint, signature, and data verification. The current basic clearance fee is ₱130, plus the payment channel’s service charge and any optional delivery fee. The exact total should appear before payment. NBI’s current application guide requires two original, valid, unexpired government-issued IDs.

To correct a clearance, act before it is printed whenever possible. A simple encoding error may be corrected through the online profile or during data verification at the clearance center. If the clearance has already been issued, do not erase, overwrite, or digitally alter it. Ask the NBI to correct its record and issue the appropriate replacement, bringing the erroneous clearance, transaction details, valid IDs, and official documents proving the correct information.

An NBI correction cannot by itself change an erroneous PSA civil-registry entry, a court record, or another agency’s official record. Those records may have to be corrected first through the proper administrative or judicial process.

How to apply for a new NBI clearance

1. Use only the official portal

Go directly to https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph. Avoid agents, social-media links, cloned websites, or anyone offering a guaranteed “no hit” clearance.

Create an account or sign in using an active mobile number and email address. The NBI may use a one-time password to verify registration.

2. Enter your legal information exactly

Complete the applicant information form using the spelling and details supported by your official records. Pay particular attention to:

Complete given name, including a second given name
Middle name or the proper indication that no middle name exists
Surname and any suffix such as Jr., Sr., II, or III
Hyphens, spaces, and compound surnames
Date and place of birth
Sex and civil status
Maiden and married names, where applicable
Parents’ names

Do not substitute a nickname, screen name, or commonly used but undocumented spelling. Review the entire profile before proceeding.

A married woman is not generally required to adopt her husband’s surname. The Supreme Court has held that using the husband’s surname is permissive, not obligatory. Whichever lawful name is selected should be supported by the applicant’s records and used consistently enough for the NBI to reconcile the person’s identity. See Remo v. Secretary of Foreign Affairs, G.R. No. 169202, March 5, 2010.

3. Select a clearance center and appointment

Choose an available NBI clearance center, date, and time window. Check the official NBI clearance-office list because locations and operating hours may change.

Attend on the booked date. The NBI’s current guide says a paid transaction may typically remain usable for a 15-day grace period if the scheduled visit is missed, but applicants should not treat this as a guaranteed extension. Check the transaction status and confirm with the selected branch before relying on it.

4. Pay using the generated reference number

The portal generates a reference number after the appointment and payment method are selected. Save a screenshot or printout and retain the payment confirmation.

The NBI currently states that the basic fee is ₱130, with an additional e-payment service charge that is usually around ₱25 to ₱30. Payment-channel and delivery charges may change, so rely on the amount displayed in the official transaction before confirming payment.

Do not pay a reference number sent by an unknown person. Verify that your name, appointment, and transaction appear inside your own NBI account.

5. Bring the required documents

For an ordinary branch application, prepare:

The NBI reference number or QR code
Proof of payment
Two original, valid, unexpired government-issued IDs or acceptable government certificates
Supporting civil-registry or court documents if your name or civil status has changed

The NBI’s published examples include a passport, driver’s license, Philippine Identification Card, UMID, Postal ID, and PSA birth certificate. Because the accepted list and document condition may be updated, confirm the current options shown by the portal or branch. If one document does not have a photograph, bring a separate government photo ID when possible.

Photocopies, screenshots, company IDs, or expired documents may not satisfy the identity requirement.

6. Complete biometrics and verify the data

At the clearance center, the NBI captures the applicant’s photograph, fingerprints, and electronic signature. Before printing, the applicant is asked to verify the encoded information.

This is the best time to catch an error. Check the spelling of every name, the birth details, civil status, and identifying information on the screen. Ask the operator to stop and correct any discrepancy before the clearance is printed.

What a “hit” means

A “hit” means that the application requires additional verification because the applicant’s name or other information may match an entry in the NBI database. It does not, by itself, establish that the applicant has a criminal case or has been convicted.

If there is no hit, printing may follow shortly after biometric verification. If there is a hit, the NBI will give a return or release date and may refer the applicant for quality-control verification or an interview. Follow the date and instructions given by the branch; do not rely solely on an estimated processing period found elsewhere.

Bring the claim stub, reference number, valid IDs, and any documents the NBI requests. If the possible match concerns a case that was dismissed, archived, acquitted, or otherwise resolved, certified records may help establish the correct person and disposition.

How to correct an error

The proper route depends on where the error originated.

Error in an unpaid or unfinished online application

Sign in and review the profile before generating or paying for a transaction. Correct any field that the portal allows you to edit.

If an essential field is locked, do not create conflicting accounts or enter a false substitute. Contact the NBI or raise the issue at the clearance center before biometrics and printing. Keep screenshots showing the error and any failed correction attempt.

Error discovered after payment but before printing

Bring proof of the correct information to the appointment and tell the biometric or data-verification operator before capture or printing. Whether the existing payment can be used after a material correction depends on the transaction and system status; only the NBI can confirm this.

Do not approve the on-screen data merely to finish quickly. Approval may cause the incorrect information to appear on the issued clearance.

Error on an already issued clearance

Do not make handwritten corrections or edit a scanned copy. Return to the issuing clearance center or contact the NBI Clearance Center and request correction of the record and guidance on replacement.

Bring:

The erroneous original clearance, if available
Reference number, receipt, appointment record, and date of issuance
Two valid government-issued IDs
PSA certificates or other source documents showing the correct entry
Previous NBI clearances showing consistent information
A concise written request identifying the incorrect entry, the correct entry, and the supporting document
Certified court, prosecutor, or civil-registry records when the issue involves a case, legal name change, adoption, annulment, nullity, or another substantial matter

Ask for a receiving copy, ticket number, email acknowledgment, or other proof that the request was submitted. The NBI does not publish a single fixed processing period for every kind of record correction; substantial corrections and criminal-record reconciliation may take longer than a simple encoding correction.

Error in the NBI database rather than only on the paper

Under Section 16 of the Data Privacy Act of 2012, a data subject may dispute inaccurate personal information and require the personal information controller to correct it, unless the request is vexatious or otherwise unreasonable. The National Privacy Commission’s guidance on rectification describes correction as a right exercisable within a reasonable period.

That right has limits. It does not replace a required court order, civil-registry proceeding, or another official correction process. The Data Privacy Act also contains exceptions concerning information gathered for investigations into criminal, administrative, or tax liabilities. Accordingly, a request to fix a misspelled identity entry is different from a request to erase or change an authentic investigative or judicial record.

A correction request should identify the exact data disputed and attach reliable proof. Avoid demanding deletion of accurate records merely because they are unfavorable.

Error in a PSA birth, marriage, or death record

The NBI normally relies on source documents; it cannot rewrite the civil register.

Clerical or typographical errors and changes of first name or nickname may fall under Republic Act No. 9048. Republic Act No. 10172 also permits administrative correction of certain errors in the day or month of birth and in the recorded sex, subject to statutory requirements.

Substantial or disputed changes may require a court proceeding under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court. The appropriate procedure depends on the exact entry and the evidence, so consult the local civil registrar, PSA, or a Philippine lawyer before filing. After obtaining an annotated certificate or final court order, submit that official proof to the NBI.

Wrong criminal case or incorrect disposition

If an NBI record appears to associate you with another person’s case, or fails to reflect a documented disposition, gather certified records such as:

The complaint, information, or case docket identifying the accused
A dismissal, acquittal, archive order, or other relevant disposition
The entry of judgment or certification of finality, if applicable
Prosecutor’s certification or resolution
Court certification that no such case exists under your identity, where obtainable
Fingerprint or identity records distinguishing you from the person named in the case

Present these through the NBI’s quality-control or records-verification process. The legal effect of a court order depends on its wording and finality; a clearance officer cannot be expected to infer a result that the certified record does not establish.

First-time jobseekers

A qualified first-time jobseeker may obtain an NBI clearance without the ordinary clearance fee under Republic Act No. 11261. The benefit is for documents connected with an initial application for local or overseas employment and may be availed of only once.

Use the dedicated NBI First-Time Jobseeker portal, not the ordinary paid application route. Bring:

A barangay certification stating that you are a first-time jobseeker
The required oath of undertaking
Two valid government-issued IDs or acceptable government certificates

The NBI Citizen’s Charter for first-time jobseekers says the barangay certification must be on official barangay letterhead, bear the dry seal, and be signed by the Punong Barangay or an authorized barangay officer.

The exemption does not mean that inaccurate or incomplete documents must be accepted. Biometrics, identity verification, and hit-resolution procedures still apply. Fabricating or falsifying the barangay certification may result in liability under the Revised Penal Code.

Renewal and digital clearance

Applicants with an existing NBI record and no change in personal information may be offered online renewal and delivery through the official portal. Eligibility is determined by the system. If a name, birth detail, civil status, or other important information must be changed, use the correction or branch-verification process instead of renewing inaccurate data.

Since July 6, 2026, verified and eligible users may also retrieve, renew, and access a digital NBI clearance through the eGovPH Super App. The NBI describes this as a digital renewal service for eligible users; it is not a substitute for correcting conflicting identity information. See the NBI announcement on eClearance in eGovPH.

Whether a digital copy satisfies a particular employer, embassy, licensing body, or foreign authority depends on that recipient’s rules. Check before relying on digital presentation alone.

Applying from abroad

A new overseas applicant may obtain NBI Form No. 5 from a Philippine embassy or consulate. Under the NBI’s mailed-clearance procedure, the applicant must:

Complete the form without erasures.
Have rolled fingerprint impressions taken at the Philippine embassy or consulate, or at the nearest police station, with the required officer identification, signature, designation, and official seal.
Attach a 2×2 photograph with a white background taken within the preceding three months.
Attach a photocopy of the biodata page of a valid passport.
Send the completed application to the NBI Mailed Clearance Section or process it through an authorized representative.

The NBI’s current overseas instructions state that mailed applications are processed only at the NBI Clearance Building on United Nations Avenue, Ermita, Manila, and that processing takes a maximum of five working days after receipt of complete documents. Mailing and delivery time are additional.

For overseas renewal, the NBI says certificates issued starting in 2014 may be processed by mail or through a designated representative; earlier certificates are treated as new applications. Changes of address or civil status should be disclosed and supported by the appropriate records.

Evidence to preserve

Keep copies of:

The completed online profile before payment
Appointment confirmation and reference number
Payment receipt and payment-channel confirmation
Screenshots of errors or system messages
IDs and civil-registry documents presented
Old and newly issued clearances
Written correction requests and attachments
NBI acknowledgment, receiving copy, or ticket number
Return-date or quality-control instructions
Certified court or prosecutor records
Relevant emails and call details

Store these securely. An NBI clearance and its QR code contain sensitive personal information and should not be posted publicly.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using an unofficial website or paying a fixer
Registering under a nickname or incomplete legal name
Omitting a suffix, hyphen, second given name, or previous surname
Paying before checking every profile field
Approving incorrect data during branch verification
Assuming that a hit means guilt or conviction
Altering an issued clearance by hand or with editing software
Creating several conflicting accounts to bypass a locked field
Expecting the NBI to correct an erroneous PSA or court record
Submitting an uncertified screenshot when a certified court record is required
Using the ordinary paid portal when claiming the first-time-jobseeker exemption
Sending IDs or clearances to unofficial email addresses or social-media accounts

When help is urgent

Seek prompt assistance if the incorrect record is causing or may cause an arrest, warrant issue, immigration problem, deployment cancellation, loss of employment, or mistaken identity in an actual criminal case.

Contact the NBI immediately and obtain certified court or prosecutor records. If you need legal representation and cannot afford private counsel, ask the Public Attorney’s Office whether you qualify for assistance.

For unresolved clearance inquiries, the NBI publishes nbiclearance@nbi.gov.ph and the contact numbers listed on its official clearance-contact page. Overseas mailed-clearance concerns may be sent to mailedclearance@nbi.gov.ph.

If the dispute is genuinely about inaccurate personal data and remains unresolved after a documented request to the NBI, review the National Privacy Commission’s complaint procedures. A privacy complaint should not be used to bypass a court order or legitimate investigative process.

Frequently asked questions

Can I walk in without an online application?

The NBI Citizen’s Charter recognizes assisted registration or walk-in processing in some locations, but appointments and local capacity vary. Online registration and a reference number remain the safer approach. First-time jobseekers may use the dedicated lane and, where available, an NBI registration counter.

Is personal appearance required?

A new in-country application normally requires personal appearance for photograph, fingerprints, signature, and identity verification. Eligible online renewals may not require a branch visit. Overseas applicants follow the separate fingerprinted Form No. 5 procedure.

Can another person correct my clearance?

A representative cannot ordinarily replace your required identity and biometric verification. For overseas mailed applications, an authorized representative may perform the tasks expressly allowed by the NBI, with an authorization letter, passport copy, and the representative’s valid ID.

Can I correct an application after paying?

Possibly, but do not assume every field or transaction can be changed without NBI intervention. Bring proof and raise the error before biometrics and printing. The use, transfer, or refund of an existing payment depends on the transaction’s status and NBI instructions.

Does a hit mean that I have a criminal record?

No. It means the application needs additional verification. Wait for the NBI’s review and follow any quality-control instructions.

Will a dismissed case automatically disappear?

Not necessarily. A dismissal and deletion of an accurate historical record are different matters. Present the certified dismissal and, where applicable, proof of finality so the NBI can reflect or evaluate the proper disposition under its records process.

Can the NBI change my birth certificate details?

No. Civil-registry corrections must be handled by the local civil registrar, PSA, or court under the applicable law. The corrected or annotated official record can then support an NBI correction.

Must a married woman use her husband’s surname?

No, not as a general rule. Philippine law permits but does not compel its use. The applicant should use a lawful name supported by her documents and disclose prior or married names where the NBI form requires them.

How long does correction take?

There is no single published deadline covering every NBI correction. A simple pre-print encoding correction may be addressed during verification, while a dispute involving civil-registry entries, court records, or mistaken identity may require additional review. Obtain written acknowledgment and ask the NBI for the applicable timeline.

Official references

This article provides general Philippine legal information, not legal advice for a particular case. Procedures and documentary requirements can depend on the applicant’s records, the clearance center, and the purpose for which the clearance will be used. Official sources and current procedures were checked on August 18, 2026.