How to Get a Voter’s Certification from COMELEC (Philippines)

Requirements, online appointment, fees, timelines, and FAQs—everything you need to know

This guide is written for Philippine residents and overseas Filipino voters. It covers the standard process used by COMELEC field offices (Offices of the Election Officer or OEOs) and the COMELEC Central Office. Procedures can vary by locality and may change via new COMELEC resolutions; always follow the instructions on your appointment confirmation or at the OEO where you’ll apply.

1) What is a Voter’s Certification?

A Voter’s Certification is an official document issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) confirming your registration details in the Book of Voters. It’s commonly requested by government or private institutions as proof that you are a registered voter at a given address and precinct. It typically shows:

Full name and date of birth
Address (as captured in your registration)
Type of registration (new/transfer/reactivation, etc.) and registration status (active/deactivated)
Precinct/cluster precinct number and barangay/municipality/city/province
Date of issuance, signature of the Election Officer, and dry seal

Not an ID card. A voter’s certification is a certifying document, not a government ID card. Acceptance depends on the requesting office. When in doubt, ask the institution if they accept a Voter’s Certification for your transaction.

2) Legal basis

1987 Constitution, Art. IX-C: COMELEC keeps the registry of voters and issues rules on elections.
Voter’s Registration Act (RA 8189): COMELEC maintains and updates the Book of Voters and related records; certifications are issued based on that registry.
COMELEC resolutions: Operational details (fees, forms, cut-offs) are periodically set/updated by resolution or memoranda.

3) Where to apply

You can request a Voter’s Certification at:

Your local Office of the Election Officer (OEO)—the COMELEC office for your city/municipality (preferred).
COMELEC Central Office in Intramuros, Manila—commonly used if the requesting party specifically requires a central-office printout, or if your OEO advises you to apply centrally.
For overseas voters: the Philippine embassy/consulate where you registered or the COMELEC Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) in Manila.

Tip: If you now live far from your place of registration, call or email the OEO where you plan to appear to confirm if they can print your certification on-site (practices differ by office, connectivity, and database access).

4) Who can request

You (the voter)—bring your valid ID.
Authorized representative—allowed in most OEOs. Bring:
- Signed authorization letter from the voter (see template below)
- Photocopy of the voter’s valid ID (front & back)
- Representative’s valid ID (original & photocopy)
- Some OEOs may ask for a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for sensitive requests; check ahead if possible.

5) Requirements (standard)

Bring original and photocopy unless the office says otherwise:

One (1) valid, government-issued ID with your photo and signature (e.g., PhilID/PhilSys, passport, UMID, driver’s license, postal ID, PRC ID).
Processing fee (see “Fees” below; bring small bills).
Duly accomplished request form (issued at the OEO; includes your name, DoB, address, precinct if known, and purpose).
Appointment confirmation (if required by your OEO or the central office).
For representatives: authorization letter + ID copies as above.

If your name changed (e.g., marriage) and you haven’t filed a COMELEC record update yet, your certification will show the name currently on record.

6) Fees, payment, and processing time

Fee: Commonly ₱75 per certification (amounts can vary by resolution or office; some collect a documentary stamp tax).
Payment method: Typically cash at the OEO cashier; the central office may have its own cashier window.
Processing time: Often same day (15–60 minutes) if your record is readily found and the office isn’t backlogged. Complex cases (record mismatch, archival retrieval, deactivated records) can take longer.

Possible fee waivers: From time to time, COMELEC authorizes fee waivers for specific purposes or periods. If you’re indigent (e.g., with a barangay/DSWD certificate of indigency), politely ask if a waiver applies.

7) Online appointment: how it works

Many OEOs and the Central Office use an online appointment portal for Voter’s Certification. Availability of slots and whether walk-ins are allowed vary by office.

Typical online booking flow

Go to COMELEC’s appointment portal and choose the service “Voter’s Certification” (or similar).
Select the issuing office (Central Office or your OEO by Region/Province/City/Municipality).
Pick a date/time from available slots.
Fill in your details: full name (per COMELEC record), date of birth, address, mobile/email, and purpose.
Submit and save your reference code/QR. Screenshot or print the confirmation.
Arrive on time with your ID, fee, and confirmation. Late arrivals may need to rebook.

If your local OEO does not use online appointments or shows no slots, they may accept walk-ins on specified days/hours or ask you to email/call first. Practices differ—follow posted instructions at that office.

8) Step-by-step (on the day)

Queue/Check-in at the OEO or Central Office Voter’s Certification area.
Present your ID (and appointment confirmation if applicable).
Fill out the request form (or verify pre-filled details).
Pay the fee and keep the official receipt.
Wait for printing and signing. The certificate is usually released with a dry seal and signature.
Verify details before leaving (name spelling, birthdate, address, precinct, status).

9) What if my record is “deactivated” or “not found”?

Deactivated (e.g., failure to vote in two successive regular elections, or other grounds under RA 8189): the certification can still be issued but it will show DEACTIVATED. Many agencies will not accept a deactivated record. You’ll need to reactivate during the next registration period (e.g., by filing reactivation or transfer with reactivation) at your OEO.
Not found / mismatched details:
- Confirm spellings, maiden/married name, birthdate.
- Provide any previous address/precinct or date of registration if you recall it.
- If you transferred cities and your record hasn’t synced, the OEO may refer you to the previous OEO or ask you to return after internal verification.
Recently filed applications (new, transfer, correction, reactivation): your record may still be “pending approval” and not yet in the final list; issuance might be deferred until the record is active.

10) Using the Voter’s Certification

Purpose-built: It principally proves registration and address/precinct.
Acceptance varies: Some agencies accept it outright; others require it together with a photo ID. Always check the requesting office’s rules before paying for a certificate.
Validity: There’s no statutory “expiry,” but many institutions require a certificate issued within the last 3–6 months.

11) Special situations

Authorized representative pickup: Allowed with authorization letter + ID copies (see template). Some offices require the representative to sign a logbook.
Court use / legal proceedings: You might need a Certified True Copy (CTC) of your Voter Registration Record instead of (or in addition to) a plain voter’s certification. Ask the OEO what the court order/subpoena requires.
Overseas Filipino voters:
- If registered abroad, request from the embassy/consulate where you registered or from COMELEC-OFOV in Manila.
- If you transferred back to a Philippine locality, your overseas record may need to be canceled/updated; apply at your local OEO as instructed.
Name changes / civil status: Update your voter record via Correction of Entries / Change of Name (bring PSA documents). Your certificate reflects whatever is currently on record.

12) Practical checklist (bring these)

✅ Valid government ID (original)
✅ Photocopy of ID
✅ Cash for fees (and possible documentary stamp)
✅ Appointment confirmation (print/screenshot), if applicable
✅ Authorization letter + ID copies (if sending a representative)

13) Template: Authorization letter

Date: ____________

To: The Election Officer
Office of the Election Officer (OEO)
[City/Municipality], [Province]

Subject: Authorization to Request and Receive Voter’s Certification

I, [FULL NAME OF VOTER], of legal age, Filipino, with address at [ADDRESS AS IN COMELEC RECORD],
and with date of birth [DOB], hereby authorize [FULL NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE], of legal age,
holding [TYPE OF ID & NUMBER], to request and receive my Voter’s Certification on my behalf.

Purpose: [e.g., government transaction/banking/employment/etc.]

Attached are photocopies of my valid ID and the authorized representative’s valid ID.

Thank you.

Signature over printed name: ______________________
Contact number: __________________ Email: __________________

Attachments:

Photocopy of voter’s valid ID (front & back)
Photocopy of representative’s valid ID (front & back)

14) Frequently asked questions

Is the old Voter’s ID card still issued? No. COMELEC stopped producing the old PVC voter’s ID years ago. The Voter’s Certification has functionally replaced it as the official proof of voter registration.

Can I request in a city where I’m not registered? Policies differ. Some OEOs can print certifications for out-of-jurisdiction records if their system can access your entry; others may direct you to your home OEO or the Central Office.

Can a family member claim it for me? Yes—bring an authorization letter and ID copies (yours and theirs). Some OEOs may require an SPA for certain purposes.

How many copies can I get? Usually one per request/fee. If you need multiple, ask the OEO if they’ll issue additional copies (fees may apply per copy).

What if my address on the certificate is outdated? That means your voter record hasn’t been updated. File a Transfer of Registration or Correction of Entries during the next registration period.

Does it show I actually voted? No. It shows registration status and precinct, not your voting history or ballot choices.

15) Tips to avoid delays

Match your details to your COMELEC record (spelling, middle name, suffix, birthdate).
Know your precinct/barangay if possible—it helps the staff search faster.
Go early and avoid peak days (e.g., first/last working day of the week, lunch hours).
Bring exact change and your own pen.
If you recently filed a transfer/reactivation, wait for approval/encoding before requesting a certificate.

16) Summary—TL;DR

What: Official proof of voter registration; not an ID card.
Where: Your OEO, COMELEC Central Office, or embassy/consulate (for overseas voters).
Requirements: Valid ID, form, fee, and appointment (if required).
Fee & timing: Commonly ₱75, often same-day release.
Rep pickup: Allowed with authorization letter + ID copies.
Deactivated/not found: You may need to reactivate or correct your record before institutions will accept the certification.

If you want, tell me your city/municipality and I can tailor this to the exact OEO (what floor/window to go to, common local practice, and any quirks like walk-in days or cut-off times)—no browsing needed.