Quick answer

Apply through the official NBI Clearance portal, complete your profile exactly as your government-issued identification shows, choose a clearance center and appointment, pay through an authorized channel, and appear for photograph, fingerprint, and signature capture.

If your application or clearance contains an error, do not submit altered documents or create a second identity. Correct editable information in your online profile before proceeding. If the transaction is already paid, the field is locked, the clearance has been issued, or the error concerns your name, birth details, sex, civil status, or a criminal-record match, bring the relevant original records to an NBI clearance center and request verification or correction. The NBI may require a new application, biometrics, supporting civil-registry or court documents, and any applicable fee.

An NBI clearance reports the result of the NBI’s records check as of its issuance. It does not certify that a person has never been accused of an offense, and a “hit” does not by itself mean that the applicant has a criminal record.

Before applying: make your records consistent

Compare the information on your supporting documents before entering anything online:

Full first, middle, and last names, including suffixes
Date and place of birth
Sex
Civil status
Address
Parents’ names
Any surname used before or after marriage
Previous names or legally recognized aliases

Use the spelling and sequence supported by your official documents. Avoid substituting nicknames, omitting a suffix, inventing a middle name, or treating a two-part first name as a first and middle name.

If your documents conflict—for example, your PSA birth certificate and government ID show different names—correcting only the NBI profile may not solve the problem. Determine which record is legally correct and obtain the civil-registry, administrative, or court correction required for the underlying document.

How to obtain an NBI clearance in the Philippines

1. Register through the official portal

Go directly to the NBI Clearance portal. Create an account or sign in using an active email address and mobile number. Complete any one-time-password verification required by the system.

Do not give another person control of your account, email, OTP, password, or payment reference number. Avoid links sent by unofficial “fixers” or social-media accounts.

2. Complete and review your applicant profile

Enter all mandatory information. The NBI instructs applicants to ensure that their details match their valid identification.

Before saving or applying, compare each field against your documents. Pay particular attention to spelling, birth date, middle name, suffix, and civil status. Save screenshots or a PDF of the completed profile if the portal permits it, but store them securely because they contain personal information.

3. Apply, select an ID, and book an appointment

Select “Apply for Clearance,” identify the government-issued ID you will present, choose an available NBI clearance center, and select an appointment date and time.

Use the NBI’s clearance-office locator to confirm the branch. Appointment availability and operating arrangements can vary, so rely on the portal’s current instructions rather than an old screenshot or third-party guide.

4. Pay only through an authorized channel

The NBI currently states a basic clearance fee of ₱130, with an additional payment-channel service charge that can vary. Confirm the exact total displayed before paying.

Keep the reference number, electronic receipt, confirmation message, and proof of payment. Check that the transaction appears as paid in your account. Do not send money to a personal bank or e-wallet account offered by a fixer.

5. Attend the appointment

Bring the documents identified by the portal. The NBI’s published Citizen’s Charter lists two valid government-issued identification cards, so bringing two originals is the safer course even if an online prompt refers to one selected ID.

At the clearance center, the NBI will generally:

Verify your application and identification;
Capture your photograph, fingerprints, and signature;
Check your identifying information against its records; and
Print the clearance immediately if there is no hit and no other issue.

Arrive early enough to complete branch security and queueing requirements. Follow the branch’s current dress and photography rules.

What happens if the result is “with hit”?

A hit means the system found a possible match requiring further verification. It may involve a namesake, similar identifying details, or a record that must be checked. It is not, by itself, a finding of guilt or proof that you are the person named in a case.

The NBI may give you a return date. Applicants referred for quality control may be interviewed and asked to provide additional information or documents. Follow the written instructions on your receipt or claim slip.

Bring documents that distinguish you from the person in the record, such as:

Government-issued IDs showing your complete name and birth details
PSA-issued birth or marriage certificate, when relevant
Earlier NBI clearances
Documents supporting a legal name change or correction
Court orders, resolutions, certifications, or case-disposition records if the possible match concerns your own case

If the record concerns a dismissed, archived, acquitted, or otherwise concluded case, bring a certified copy of the relevant court or prosecutor’s disposition and any certificate of finality or clearance the NBI specifically requests. An employer’s deadline does not compel the NBI to skip verification.

How to correct an error before issuance

If the profile field is still editable

Sign in and correct the information before booking or completing the transaction. Review the entire profile after editing; changing one field may not fix related entries.

If the portal does not allow the change, do not create a new account with inconsistent identifying information merely to bypass the restriction. Contact the NBI or ask the chosen clearance center what documents and procedure it requires.

If you have already paid or booked an appointment

Bring the payment reference, appointment details, valid IDs, and the document proving the correct information. Explain the mistake before biometrics and printing.

Whether the branch can amend the existing transaction or requires a new application depends on the affected field and the transaction’s status. The NBI’s public guidance does not promise that all paid transactions can be edited or that fees will be transferred or refunded.

If the clearance has already been printed

Inspect the document immediately. If an error appears, raise it at the issuing center before leaving whenever possible.

For a later-discovered error, bring:

The incorrect clearance
The receipt or reference number
At least two valid government-issued IDs
The PSA certificate, court order, or other official document proving the correct entry
Earlier clearances showing consistent information, if available
A short written explanation identifying the incorrect and correct entries

Do not erase, overwrite, digitally edit, laminate over, or otherwise alter the issued clearance. The proper remedy is correction or reissuance by the NBI.

Different corrections require different proof

Typographical or encoding error

A minor error may be resolved by comparing the application with your IDs and source records. The NBI must still verify the correction, particularly where it affects identity matching.

Change of address

Bring current identification or another official record showing the updated address. An address change does not automatically correct other personal details.

Marriage, annulment, or change in civil status

Bring the appropriate PSA-issued marriage certificate, annotated civil-registry record, judicial decree, certificate of finality, or other official proof applicable to the change. A married person’s surname does not change merely because it was typed differently in an application.

Incorrect birth record or legal name

The NBI cannot ordinarily rewrite an underlying civil-registry record. Depending on the error, correction may first require proceedings before the local civil registrar, the Philippine Statistics Authority, another competent agency, or a court. Present the corrected or annotated official record to the NBI afterward.

Incorrect or outdated case information

Ask the court, prosecutor’s office, or agency that holds the case record for certified documents showing the correct case number, identity, and disposition. Give copies to the NBI only through an official clearance or records-verification channel and keep proof of submission.

A dismissal, acquittal, or termination order does not necessarily erase the historical existence of a case. The immediate issue is whether the NBI record accurately identifies the person and reflects the legally relevant disposition.

Your right to correct inaccurate personal data

Section 16(d) of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 generally gives a data subject the right to dispute inaccurate personal information and have it corrected, unless the request is vexatious or otherwise unreasonable.

That right does not let an applicant alter an authentic criminal, court, or investigative record simply because it is unfavorable. The National Privacy Commission explains that rectification does not replace a correction process that requires an order from a court or another competent government agency. Criminal-investigation information may also be subject to statutory limitations.

Make a correction request specific and evidence-based:

Identify the exact entry you dispute;
State the correct information;
Attach official proof;
Ask which NBI office controls the relevant record;
Request a receiving copy or reference number; and
Keep records of every submission and response.

For a privacy-rights issue that remains unresolved after approaching the NBI, review the National Privacy Commission’s official guidance on the right to rectify and its complaint procedures. A privacy complaint is not a substitute for obtaining a required civil-registry or court order.

First-time jobseekers

Under the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, a qualified first-time jobseeker may obtain one NBI clearance without government fees or charges for employment purposes.

Use the dedicated NBI First-Time Jobseekers portal and present the required barangay certification stating that you are a first-time jobseeker. The benefit may be used only once. The law excludes beneficiaries of JobStart and other laws granting similar exemptions for the same documents.

The NBI Citizen’s Charter directs first-time jobseekers to present their barangay certificate and two valid IDs for biometric capture. A hit can still require a return visit or quality-control interview; the fee exemption does not eliminate record verification.

Renewal and digital access

The NBI’s online service allows eligible holders of earlier clearances to use a renewal process. As of July 2026, verified users may also retrieve, access, or renew an eligible clearance through the eGovPH Super App, according to the NBI’s official eClearance announcement.

Use renewal only if the displayed personal information remains correct. If your name, civil status, birth information, or another important identifying detail has changed, use the correction or new-application procedure directed by the NBI rather than allowing an inaccurate clearance to be reissued.

Check the validity or expiration printed on the clearance and the receiving organization’s requirements. An employer, foreign authority, licensing body, or embassy may require a more recently issued document even if an older clearance appears otherwise acceptable.

Applying from abroad

For a new overseas application, the NBI instructs the applicant to:

Obtain NBI Form No. 5 from a Philippine embassy or consular office, or through an authorized representative from the NBI Mailed Clearance Section;
Complete the form without erasures;
Have rolled fingerprints taken at a Philippine embassy, consular office, or nearest police station, with the fingerprint officer’s name, signature, designation, and official seal;
Attach a recent 2×2 photograph with a white background and a photocopy of the passport biodata page; and
Send the documents by mail or through a designated representative.

The NBI’s current overseas-application instructions state that mailed applications should include ₱200, consisting of the ₱130 clearance fee and ₱70 mailing cost, and that processing takes up to five working days after complete documents are received. Delivery time is additional.

Clearances issued from 2014 onward may be renewed through the overseas mailed or representative procedure; older clearances are treated as new applications. All applications coming from abroad are processed at the NBI Clearance Building on United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila.

Because consular practices, courier availability, and return-delivery arrangements vary by country, confirm the requirements with the relevant Philippine embassy or consulate and the NBI before sending original documents or money.

Evidence to preserve

Keep copies of:

The profile submitted to the NBI
Appointment confirmation
Payment reference and receipt
IDs and supporting documents used
The claim slip or return-date instruction
The issued clearance
Correction letters and attachments
Receiving copies, email acknowledgments, and reference numbers
Court, prosecutor, civil-registry, or agency records submitted for verification

Store these securely. An NBI clearance contains identity and records-check information that can facilitate impersonation or fraud if carelessly disclosed.

Common mistakes to avoid

Registering through an unofficial website or social-media link
Paying a fixer or personal e-wallet account
Entering a nickname instead of the documented legal name
Omitting a middle name or suffix without documentary basis
Selecting renewal despite a material change in personal details
Assuming a hit means guilt—or assuming it will disappear without verification
Missing the NBI-assigned return date
Bringing screenshots instead of original IDs or certified records
Altering a printed clearance
Sending original civil-registry or court documents without keeping certified copies and proof of delivery
Waiting until an employment, visa, or deployment deadline is imminent

When help is urgent

Seek prompt assistance from the NBI and, when appropriate, a Philippine lawyer if:

The hit appears to involve a warrant of arrest;
NBI personnel indicate that the record is yours rather than a namesake’s;
You discover possible identity theft or use of your name in another person’s case;
An inaccurate record continues despite certified proof;
A court disposition has not been reflected and employment, travel, or liberty is at immediate risk;
Your civil-registry records conflict and a court or administrative proceeding may be necessary; or
Someone demands unofficial payment to “remove” a hit or guarantee release.

A lawyer can review the actual case docket, orders, and identity records. No private person can lawfully guarantee that the NBI will remove or disregard an authentic record.

Official contacts and resources

Official NBI Clearance portal
NBI application guide
NBI clearance-center locator
NBI overseas-application procedure
NBI contact page
Clearance inquiries: (02) 8524-1277, 0939 150 2880, or nbiclearance@nbi.gov.ph
Mailed-clearance inquiries: 0915 689 3113, 0920 122 3327, or mailedclearance@nbi.gov.ph

Confirm contact details on the official NBI website before sending personal documents.

Frequently asked questions

Can I walk in without an online application?

The NBI’s current office locator tells applicants to apply and pay online before visiting a clearance office. Limited on-site registration assistance may exist, particularly for qualified first-time jobseekers, but it should not be assumed at every branch. Register online unless the NBI gives different instructions.

How many IDs should I bring?

Bring two original, valid government-issued IDs. This follows the NBI Citizen’s Charter and provides a backup if one document is not accepted or does not clearly show the required information.

Can I correct my name online after payment?

Possibly not. Editable fields and transaction controls depend on the portal and application status. If the correct field is locked or the transaction is paid, bring the supporting records to the NBI before biometrics or printing and ask whether the transaction can be amended or must be replaced.

Is a hit the same as a criminal record?

No. It is a possible database match that requires verification. A namesake may cause a hit, while an applicant’s own case may require examination of its identity details and legal disposition.

How long does hit verification take?

The NBI assigns the return date. Its Citizen’s Charter recognizes that a hit may require a later release date and that quality-control interviews take additional time. There is no reliable universal completion time for every case.

Can someone else obtain my clearance?

Ordinary domestic applications generally require the applicant’s biometrics and personal appearance. The NBI publishes separate procedures for overseas applicants using mail or a designated representative. An authorization letter does not automatically replace biometric or identity requirements in other situations.

Can the NBI correct my PSA birth certificate?

No. The NBI can correct information within its process when adequately supported, but it does not replace the local civil registrar, PSA, competent administrative agency, or court responsible for correcting the underlying civil record.

Do I need a lawyer to correct a simple typo?

Usually not. Begin with the issuing clearance center and bring official proof. Legal assistance becomes more important when the dispute involves a warrant, another person’s identity, an inaccurate criminal or court record, or a civil-registry correction requiring formal proceedings.

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice for a particular case. Procedures and portal features can change, and the appropriate remedy depends on the applicant’s documents and any underlying record. Official sources were checked on August 31, 2026.