NBI Clearance Surname After Marriage (Philippines): Maiden or Married Name?

Updated as of September 11, 2025. Philippine context. This is general information, not legal advice.

Short answer

In Philippine law, a woman does not automatically change her legal name upon marriage. Using the husband’s surname is a right, not an obligation. For your NBI Clearance, you may use either:

your maiden surname, or
your married surname,

so long as what you declare is truthful, consistent with your IDs/civil registry, and you disclose any other names used (“AKA”).

Legal bases (why this is allowed)

Civil Code, Art. 370 — A married woman may use (a) her maiden first name and surname and add her husband’s surname, (b) her maiden first name and husband’s surname, or (c) her husband’s full name with a prefix like “Mrs.” (the third form is social usage and not used on government IDs/NBI).
Civil Code, Art. 376 — No change of name without judicial authority (marriage is not a “change of name”; it only gives options on surname usage).
Civil Code, Art. 371 — A widow may continue using her deceased husband’s surname or revert to maiden name.
Supreme Court (Remo v. Secretary of Foreign Affairs, G.R. No. 169202, 5 March 2010) — A married woman is not compelled to use her husband’s surname; she may keep her maiden name in government IDs like a passport.

These rules guide agencies, including the NBI, when capturing your identity.

Why your choice matters for NBI

NBI Clearance is a name- and biometrics-based background check. Name matters because:

The search starts with your name and birth details (possible “HITs” if your name matches someone else’s).
If you’ve used more than one name (e.g., maiden and married), you should declare all to avoid mismatches or verification hassles later.
NBI maintains an “AKA/Also Known As” record for previous/other names you truthfully disclose.

Which surname should you use?

If you’ll keep your maiden surname

Choose this if you’ve decided not to adopt your husband’s surname in official dealings.

What to present

A valid government ID in your maiden name (passport, driver’s license, PhilID, PRC, SSS, etc.).
(Optional but helpful) PSA marriage certificate so the NBI can record your married name under AKA.

Pros

Consistency if all your records remain in your maiden name.
Avoids repeated updates across agencies.

Watch-outs

Be sure to tell the encoder any other names you’ve used (e.g., married surname) so it’s captured under AKA.

If you’ll use your married surname

Choose this if you’ll transact publicly as “ <Husband’s data-preserve-html-node="true" Surname>” (with or without hyphenation).

What to present

A valid government ID already showing your married surname; or
An ID in maiden name plus your PSA marriage certificate to support the married surname.

Pros

Aligns your NBI Clearance with other updated IDs and employment records.

Watch-outs

Ask NBI to record your maiden name as an AKA (this helps future verification if some records still reflect your maiden name).

Acceptable name formats (per Art. 370; what actually appears in IDs)

For official IDs/NBI, practical forms are:

Maiden first name + maiden middle name + maiden surname e.g., “Ana Santos Cruz” (kept maiden surname)
Maiden first name + maiden middle name + husband’s surname e.g., “Ana Santos Dela Cruz”
Maiden first name + maiden surname + hyphen + husband’s surname e.g., “Ana Cruz-Dela Cruz” (Hyphens are generally accepted in practice; if the electronic form rejects punctuation, ask how they prefer to encode it.)

The “Mrs. Juan Dela Cruz” social form is not used on government IDs or NBI.

About middle names. Philippine statutes don’t comprehensively regulate middle-name handling, but in practice: if you adopt your husband’s surname, your maiden surname typically appears as your middle name on many records. For NBI, follow the name on your presented ID.

Step-by-step: Applying with the name you chose

Online application (NBI website)
- Encode the surname you will use (maiden or married).
- Enter your civil status correctly.
- Prepare to declare “other names used/AKA” at enrollment or verification.
Biometrics & verification at the NBI Center
- Bring at least one valid government ID. Some sites still ask for two; bringing a spare is prudent.
- If your ID is still in your maiden name but you’re using the married surname, bring your PSA marriage certificate.
- Tell the encoder any other names you’ve used (maiden ⇄ married, hyphenated variants, spelling variants).
Result
- If there’s a name “HIT”, NBI may ask you to return for verification or submit additional info. Declaring all names used usually reduces surprises later.

Special situations

Recently married; IDs still in maiden name. You may keep using your maiden name for NBI. If you want your NBI in your married surname before you’ve updated other IDs, bring your PSA marriage certificate and your maiden-name ID; request to add maiden name as AKA.
Widowhood. You may continue using your deceased husband’s surname or revert to your maiden name. For a change in NBI records, bring the PSA death certificate and supporting IDs.
Annulment/nullity (final and executory). Agencies will require you to revert to your maiden name unless you obtain a court-approved change of name to keep the married surname. Bring the final court decision, certificate of finality, and PSA-annotated marriage record when updating NBI.
Foreign divorce recognized in the Philippines. If a foreign divorce is recognized by a Philippine court (or administratively annotated where allowed), you may revert to your maiden name for NBI upon presenting the recognition/annotation and updated IDs. Without recognition/annotation, the NBI will generally follow your current PSA record.
Legal separation or separation-in-fact. You remain married; surname options under Art. 370 remain, but you ordinarily cannot “switch” to a new legal surname absent a proper legal basis.
Hyphenation and compound surnames. Permissible in practice. If the system disallows hyphens, ask staff how they encode (e.g., with a space) and ensure consistency across your IDs.
Muslim personal law marriages (P.D. 1083). Many Muslim women continue using their maiden surnames; if you’ve used a husband’s surname in some records, disclose both under AKA.
Married abroad; no PSA registration yet. If your marriage isn’t yet reported to the PSA, the NBI will default to your PSA birth record name (often maiden). Once your Report of Marriage is recorded and you start using the married surname in IDs, you can update the NBI record and retain the other name as AKA.
Same-sex marriages. Where a marriage is not recognized under current Philippine law, PSA generally won’t issue a local marriage record. The NBI will follow the name on your PSA birth/civil registry and valid IDs.

“AKA/Also Known As”: why you should declare it

If you have ever signed, worked, or held an ID under both your maiden and married surnames, ask NBI to record the other name as AKA. This:

Reduces the risk of future identity mismatches,
Helps employers and foreign embassies reconcile records, and
Makes later renewals smoother if you switch forms (maiden ⇄ married).

Failing to disclose an AKA can create confusion if your background checks, court records, or employment files carry the other surname.

Updating or correcting your NBI record

Switching maiden ⇄ married later: You don’t “edit” an issued clearance; you apply again using the surname you now choose, with supporting documents, and ensure AKA is captured.
Clerical errors (misspelling, dates, sex) on civil registry: Fix these first via RA 9048/RA 10172 procedures at the local civil registry/PSA, then apply or re-apply for NBI so your record matches your corrected civil documents.
Court-ordered change of name (Rule 103): If you’ve legally changed your surname for reasons outside marriage (or want to retain a married surname after annulment), present the final court order and PSA annotation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the married surname mandatory for NBI after marriage? No. You may keep your maiden surname; using the husband’s surname is optional.

Can I use my maiden name for NBI even if my employer wants my married name? Yes, but expect to explain consistency. The cleanest approach is to pick one for all official IDs and ensure the other appears as AKA.

If my ID is in my maiden name but I want my NBI in my married name, is a marriage certificate enough? Generally yes—bring your PSA marriage certificate with your valid ID. Practices vary; bringing two IDs never hurts.

Will NBI show my other name on the printed clearance? NBI records AKA internally; some clearances reflect it. The key is that it’s on file, so future checks reconcile your identities.

What about my middle name after marriage? Follow the name as shown on your IDs. Many agencies display your maiden surname as the middle name when you adopt your husband’s surname.

Practical checklists

If using your MAIDEN surname

✅ Valid government ID in maiden name
✅ Declare married surname as AKA (optional but recommended)
✅ Keep signatures consistent across documents

If using your MARRIED surname

✅ Valid government ID already in married surname or maiden-name ID + PSA marriage certificate
✅ Declare maiden surname as AKA
✅ Ensure the spelling/spacing/hyphenation matches other IDs

If your marital status changed (widow, annulment, recognized foreign divorce)

✅ Present supporting PSA/court documents (death certificate; final judgment with certificate of finality; PSA-annotated ROM/marriage)
✅ Update other government IDs for consistency, then update NBI

Key takeaways

You choose: maiden or married surname—both are lawful under the Civil Code.
Consistency + AKA: Keep your chosen form consistent across IDs and disclose other names used.
Documents drive data: NBI records will follow your PSA/civil registry and valid IDs you present.
Special cases need proof: Death, annulment/nullity, or recognized foreign divorce require the proper PSA/court papers for any name reversion or change.

Friendly reminder

Agency practices (e.g., how many IDs, whether hyphens are accepted in forms) can vary by site and over time. If you run into edge cases, bring complete documents (IDs + PSA records), and ask the officer to encode all your AKAs.