The NBI Clearance is one of the most frequently required government-issued documents in the Philippines. It is mandatory for employment (local and overseas), firearm license applications, visa applications, business permits, professional licensure examinations, and many other legal purposes. The document certifies whether or not a person has a pending criminal case or a previous conviction in the records of the National Bureau of Investigation.

When an applicant encounters the status “HIT” during the online application or at the NBI branch, it creates immediate anxiety and confusion. This article explains in full detail what a “hit” really means, the different types of hits, the verification process, and the complete step-by-step procedures on how to clear each type of hit under the current NBI system (as of 2025).

What Exactly Triggers a “Hit”?

A “HIT” is generated when the NBI’s automated biometric system detects that the applicant’s full name (or a very similar name) and/or birth date already exists in the NBI criminal database.

The NBI database contains records of:

Persons with pending criminal cases
Persons previously convicted
Persons who were complainants, respondents, or suspects in cases that reached the NBI or the courts (even if later dismissed)
Persons who were investigated by the NBI even without formal charges
Old records from the former “Alias Search” system

Important: The initial “hit” is triggered primarily by name similarity and birth date. It does NOT yet mean you have a criminal record. Many hits are purely namesake cases (magkapatong na pangalan), especially for very common Filipino names such as John Lloyd Cruz, Maria Theresa Santos, Jose Santos, etc.

Types of Hits in the NBI System

The NBI currently classifies hits into two major categories:

Hit with Derogatory Record
The name that matched yours has an actual criminal record (pending case, conviction, or previous NBI investigation with derogatory finding).
Hit with No Derogatory Record
The name that matched yours appears in the database, but the record attached to it has no criminal case (often old applications, complainant records, or dismissed/archived cases with no conviction).

Note: Even a “No Derogatory” hit will still require manual verification. You cannot get the clearance on the same day if you have any kind of hit.

The Current NBI Clearance Process When There Is a Hit (2025 Procedure)

Applicant registers at https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph
After payment and appointment, applicant goes to the designated NBI branch for biometrics.
The system immediately shows “HIT” on the screen and on the online portal.
The applicant is instructed to proceed to the Quality Assurance (QA) or Releasing Area (depending on the branch).
In major branches (UN Avenue Manila, Victory Mall Caloocan, Robinson’s Galleria, etc.), there is a dedicated “Hit” lane or counter.
The applicant will be interviewed and fingerprinted again (live scan).
The NBI examiner compares your live fingerprints with the fingerprints in the existing record.
Decision is made on the same day in most cases.

How to Clear Each Type of Hit

A. Clearing a Namesake Hit (Most Common – 80–90% of all hits)

If the fingerprints do NOT match the record, the NBI will declare you “NOT THE SAME PERSON.”

Outcome:

You will be issued a regular NBI Clearance with the remark “NO CRIMINAL RECORD.”
Starting 2023–2025, the clearance issued to cleared namesake applicants is now the same multi-purpose clearance (green background) with no annotation that it came from a hit. The old practice of issuing a separate “For Hit Cases Only” certification has been discontinued in most branches.
The clearance is valid for one (1) year and can be used for all purposes (travel, employment, PRC, etc.).

Requirements to bring for namesake clearing (to speed up the process):

Two (2) valid government-issued IDs
Old NBI Clearance (if any, especially if previously cleared as namesake)
Birth certificate (PSA copy) – very helpful if your birth date is different from the person in the record

Tip: Once you have been cleared as namesake, save your NBI reference number. On your next renewal, you can use the “Renewal” option and select “I have an existing hit but was previously cleared.” This often allows same-day release even with recurring name hits.

B. Clearing a Hit with Actual Derogatory Record

This is the more serious type. The fingerprints match or the applicant admits he/she is the same person in the record.

There are three sub-scenarios:

Pending Criminal Case in Court
Clearance issued will state:
“WITH PENDING CASE – [Crime] at [Court/Branch] – [Case Number]”
This clearance is valid for six (6) months only and is usually accepted only for court purposes or ATF firearm license renewal. Most employers and foreign embassies will not accept it.

How to clear:
Wait for the case to be resolved (dismissed, acquitted, or archived). Once resolved in your favor, secure the following:
- Certified True Copy of Court Decision/Order of Dismissal or Acquittal
- Certificate of Finality from the court clerk
- Certificate of No Pending Case (if required by some branches)
Bring these documents to the NBI Clearance Division, 5th Floor, NBI Main Building, Taft Avenue, Manila (or to any main processing branch). File a written request for “Lifting of Hit” or “Updating of Records.” Processing time is usually 3–15 working days. Once approved, you will be issued a new clearance with “NO CRIMINAL RECORD” or “NO PENDING CRIMINAL CASE.”
Previously Convicted (Sentence Already Served)
Clearance will state the conviction.

How to clear:
Secure the following from the court or prison:
- Certificate of Finality of Decision
- Court Order of Discharge (if probation was granted)
- Certificate of Absolute Pardon (if pardoned by the President) or
- Proof that 10 years have elapsed since completion of sentence (for application of RA 10592 – automatic expungement for certain crimes)
Submit to NBI for record updating. After approval, the hit will be removed or annotated as “conviction already served.”
Case Was Dismissed/Acquitted Many Years Ago But Record Still Appears
This is very common for cases from the 1990s–2000s that were never updated in the NBI system.

Procedure is the same as above: bring the certified true copy of the dismissal/acquittal order + certificate of finality to NBI Taft Avenue and request lifting of the hit. The NBI Legal Division will evaluate and, if valid, permanently remove or annotate the record.

Special Cases and Additional Information

Multiple Hits – Some applicants have 3–10 matching names. All must be checked. This can take longer but is still resolved on the same day if purely namesake.
Applicants Born Before 1980 – Very high hit rate because fingerprints in old records are often faded or incomplete. NBI usually clears these quickly if live fingerprints do not match.
OFWs with Expired Clearance and Hit Status – You can renew abroad via the Philippine Embassy’s e-Clearance system, but if hit, you must return to the Philippines for personal appearance.
Using a Lawyer or Fixer – Not necessary for namesake hits. For actual derogatory records requiring court documents, a lawyer can help expedite obtaining the certified copies.
Validity After Clearing a Real Hit – Once the record is updated and a new clearance is issued stating “NO CRIMINAL RECORD” or “NO PENDING CRIMINAL CASE,” it is considered clean and multi-purpose. Future applications will no longer show the old hit.

Summary Table of Outcomes

Type of Hit	Fingerprints Match?	Clearance Issued On the Spot?	Final Remark on Clearance	Validity
Namesake (No Derogatory)	No	Yes (same day in most branches)	NO CRIMINAL RECORD	1 year
Namesake (With Derogatory)	No	Yes	NO CRIMINAL RECORD	1 year
Actual Pending Case	Yes	Yes	WITH PENDING CASE…	6 months
Actual Previous Conviction	Yes	Yes	[Details of conviction]	1 year
Cleared After Court Order	Updated record	3–15 days after submission	NO CRIMINAL RECORD or NO PENDING CASE	1 year

A “hit” on NBI clearance is almost always resolvable. The overwhelming majority are simple namesake issues that are cleared the same day. For the minority with actual records, proper court documentation and submission to the NBI will permanently lift the hit and restore a clean clearance. The process, while sometimes inconvenient, is designed to protect both the public and the rights of individuals who share common names.