Quick answer

To obtain an NBI clearance, register through the official NBI Clearance portal, complete your profile exactly as shown on your government records, schedule an appointment, pay the displayed amount, and personally appear at the selected clearance center for identity verification, photograph, fingerprints, and electronic signature. Bring your reference number, proof of payment, and two original, unexpired government-issued IDs.

If your online profile or printed clearance contains an error, do not conceal it or simply create conflicting accounts. Ask the NBI clearance center to correct the record and bring the documents proving the correct information. A simple encoding mistake may be corrected administratively, but a disputed name, birth date, sex, parentage, civil status, or criminal-record entry may require additional official records, agency verification, or a court order.

Always review every detail on the verification screen before the clearance is printed. Correcting an error at that stage is usually easier than replacing an already issued document.

How to apply for a new NBI clearance

1. Use only the official portal

Go directly to the NBI Clearance Application portal. Avoid agents, social-media links, and websites that imitate the NBI registration page.

Create an account using an active email address and mobile number. The NBI’s current guidance states that registration may require a one-time password.

Enter your information exactly as supported by your official records, particularly your:

Complete first, middle, and last names;
Suffix, if any;
Birth date and birthplace;
Sex and civil status;
Present and permanent addresses;
Parents’ names; and
Spouse’s name, when applicable.

Do not omit a middle name, suffix, or part of a compound name merely because another person told you it would prevent a “hit.”

2. Select the purpose, branch, and appointment

After saving and reviewing your profile:

Choose Apply for Clearance.
Identify the government-issued ID you will present.
Select an NBI clearance center.
Choose an available appointment date and time.
Select an authorized payment method.
Save the generated reference number.

The NBI currently lists a basic clearance fee of ₱130, plus the service charge imposed by the selected payment channel. Because payment-channel charges can change, rely on the exact total shown in the official portal before confirming payment.

The NBI’s current online guide also describes a 15-day grace period for a paid transaction when an applicant misses the selected appointment window. Nevertheless, it is safer to attend on the booked date or confirm the transaction’s continuing validity with the selected branch before travelling.

3. Bring the required documents

The NBI requires two original, valid government-issued IDs. Its published guidance gives examples such as:

Philippine passport;
Driver’s license;
Philippine Identification Card or National ID;
UMID;
Postal ID; and
PSA-issued birth certificate.

The particular IDs accepted at the center may depend on their validity and whether they reliably establish the applicant’s identity. Bring the two strongest IDs available, preferably displaying the same complete name and birth date. Photocopies, photographs of IDs, company IDs, or expired documents may not be accepted as substitutes.

Also bring:

Your reference number or QR code;
Proof of payment;
Supporting civil-registry documents if your records are inconsistent; and
Your previous NBI clearance, if relevant to a correction or renewal.

4. Complete biometrics and verify the data

At the NBI clearance center, personnel will capture your:

Photograph;
Fingerprints; and
Electronic signature.

Before printing, you should be shown your encoded information for verification. Read every entry carefully. Check spelling, spaces, hyphens, suffixes, birth details, and civil status. Immediately tell the operator about any error.

Do not approve the record on the assumption that a typo can always be fixed later without another application, payment, or visit.

What happens if the application has a “hit”?

A “hit” does not automatically mean that you have a criminal case or conviction. It may occur because your name or identifying information resembles a record in the NBI database.

The NBI may require manual verification and direct you to return on a stated release date. Its current public guide estimates that review commonly takes about five to ten working days, but the actual period depends on the record and the branch’s instructions.

A case may also be referred for a quality-control interview. Bring documents that distinguish you from the person in the database, such as:

Birth certificate;
Government IDs;
Previous NBI clearances;
Court certifications or orders;
Prosecutor’s resolutions;
Dismissal or acquittal records; and
Proof that the case concerns another person.

A hit should be resolved through verification. Altering your name, omitting a suffix, changing your birth date, or creating inconsistent identities may create a more serious problem.

How to correct information before printing

If the mistake remains editable in your online profile, correct it there before scheduling or paying. Review the entire profile again after saving.

Some identity fields may become locked or may not be editable after a transaction has been generated. If that happens:

Do not pay for another transaction immediately unless the NBI instructs you to do so.
Take screenshots of the incorrect entry and the transaction details.
Bring the reference number and supporting records to the selected NBI clearance center.
Ask the operator to correct the entry before biometrics or printing.
Verify the corrected information on the monitor.

The branch may require a fresh transaction where the portal cannot modify the locked information.

How to correct an already printed clearance

Return promptly to the issuing NBI clearance center or another center capable of accessing the transaction. Bring:

The incorrect clearance;
The transaction reference number and receipt;
Two original, valid government-issued IDs;
A PSA birth, marriage, or death certificate, when relevant;
A court order or administrative decision, if the correction legally requires one; and
Copies of earlier NBI clearances showing the correct information.

Explain whether the error appeared in your application, was introduced during encoding, or resulted from an underlying record discrepancy. Request both correction of the stored information and issuance of an accurate clearance.

The NBI may require a new application, biometrics capture, verification, or payment depending on when the error occurred and whether the requested change affects identity matching. The NBI does not publish a single nationwide rule guaranteeing free reprinting for every type of error, so obtain the branch’s instructions and keep any acknowledgment or claim stub.

Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, personal information must be accurate and inaccurate or incomplete data must be rectified. A data subject may dispute an error and seek its correction unless the request is vexatious or otherwise unreasonable. The National Privacy Commission’s guidance on rectification explains, however, that this right does not replace a correction process that legally requires action by a court or another government agency.

Which document should control the correction?

The answer depends on the disputed information.

Typographical or encoding mistake

For an obvious misspelling or transposed number inconsistent with all your official records, present the correct IDs and civil-registry document. Ask the NBI to amend its record.

Name or birth-record discrepancy

If your PSA certificate itself contains the disputed entry, the NBI normally cannot decide that the civil-registry record is wrong. You may first need to use the applicable civil-registry correction process or obtain a court order.

Do not ask NBI personnel to disregard a PSA record based only on an affidavit when the change legally requires action by the local civil registrar, the Philippine Statistics Authority, or a court.

Marriage, separation, annulment, or change of surname

Bring the documents establishing your current legal status and the name you lawfully use, which may include a PSA marriage certificate, annotated civil-registry record, final judgment, certificate of finality, or recognition of a foreign judgment where legally required.

Marriage does not automatically erase a woman’s maiden identity from government records. The requested NBI entry should accurately reflect the lawful name being used and the supporting records.

Incorrect criminal-record association

If the problem is not merely a name match but an erroneous association with a criminal case, request quality-control verification and bring certified case documents. Depending on the situation, these may include:

Information, complaint, or charge sheet;
Court certification;
Prosecutor’s resolution;
Order of dismissal;
Decision of acquittal;
Entry of judgment;
Proof of identity showing that the accused is another person; or
Order directing correction of an official record.

An NBI correction request cannot substitute for obtaining the appropriate order when the underlying court or prosecution record remains unresolved or inaccurate.

First-time jobseekers may qualify for a free clearance

Under the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, an eligible first-time jobseeker may obtain an NBI clearance without government fees or charges, subject to the law’s requirements. The benefit may be used only once.

Use the dedicated NBI First-Time Jobseekers portal and bring:

A barangay certification on official letterhead, bearing the required signature and seal, stating that you are a first-time jobseeker;
The required oath of undertaking; and
Two valid government-issued IDs or acceptable government certificates.

The statutory exemption is not a general discount for every renewal or replacement. Fabricating a barangay certification or falsely claiming eligibility can result in legal liability.

Renewal and digital access

The NBI’s guidance allows online renewal for qualifying clearances issued from 2014 onward when the holder has no changes to personal information. Renewal may be unsuitable when you need to correct a name, birth detail, address, or civil status because the existing data may simply be carried into the new clearance.

As of July 2026, eligible verified users may also retrieve, access, or renew an NBI clearance through the eGovPH Super App. The NBI states that some eligible renewals can be completed digitally in as little as five minutes. Availability depends on successful identity and record matching.

Use a branch-based application when:

Your previous clearance contains an error;
Your name or civil status has changed;
Your records are inconsistent;
The system cannot locate your prior clearance;
Biometrics must be recaptured; or
The application is referred for verification.

Applying while abroad

A new applicant abroad may obtain NBI Form No. 5 from a Philippine embassy or consular office. The NBI’s published procedure requires:

A properly completed Form No. 5 bearing the consular seal;
Rolled fingerprint impressions taken by a Philippine embassy, consular office, or nearest police station;
The name, signature, designation, and official seal of the person taking the fingerprints;
A recent 2×2 photograph with a white background; and
A copy of the biodata page of the applicant’s valid passport.

The completed application may be mailed or processed through an authorized representative. All applications from abroad are processed through the NBI Mailed Clearance Section in Manila. The NBI presently states a maximum processing period of five working days upon receipt of complete documents, excluding transmission or delivery time.

For renewal from abroad, the NBI accepts qualifying clearances issued from 2014 onward. Its instructions state that changes in address or civil status should be written on the old clearance submitted for renewal. Contact the NBI before sending money or original documents because mailing arrangements and charges may change.

Evidence to preserve

Keep copies or screenshots of:

Your completed online profile;
Appointment confirmation;
Reference number or QR code;
Payment instructions and official receipt;
IDs and supporting documents presented;
The verification or quality-control claim stub;
Emails or written correction requests;
The incorrect and corrected clearances; and
The name, branch, date, and transaction number connected with each visit.

Do not post an unredacted clearance, QR code, fingerprints, birth certificate, or government ID on social media. These contain information that may be used for impersonation or identity fraud.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using a website other than the official NBI portal;
Paying a fixer to obtain or “remove a hit” from a clearance;
Entering a nickname instead of the legal given name;
Omitting a suffix, middle name, or part of a compound surname;
Using inconsistent birth dates across applications;
Approving the verification screen without reading it;
Choosing online renewal despite a needed correction;
Creating several accounts with conflicting personal details;
Assuming a hit means guilt or an outstanding warrant;
Presenting altered IDs or fabricated supporting documents;
Treating an affidavit as sufficient where an official correction or court order is required; and
Giving an employer an incorrect clearance without explaining that a correction is pending.

When legal or immediate help is needed

Seek prompt assistance if:

The NBI record attributes another person’s criminal case to you;
A warrant, hold-departure concern, or unresolved criminal charge appears during verification;
A dismissed or terminated case continues to produce an adverse record despite complete certified documents;
Someone used your identity to obtain a clearance or commit an offense;
Your civil-registry records contain substantial or conflicting identity information;
An employer threatens immediate adverse action based on an apparent database mismatch;
A fixer demands payment to erase a supposed case; or
Your documented request to correct inaccurate personal information is repeatedly ignored without explanation.

For clearance inquiries, use the official NBI contact page or visit an official NBI clearance center. If the issue concerns an unjustified refusal to correct inaccurate personal data, consider using the NBI’s internal complaint process first and, where appropriate, seeking guidance from the National Privacy Commission.

Frequently asked questions

Can I walk in without an online application?

The NBI’s current guidance directs applicants to register and arrange payment through its official online system before visiting a clearance center. Some offices may have registration assistance counters, but applicants should not assume that every branch will accept an unregistered walk-in.

Do I need to appear personally?

A new local application generally requires personal appearance because the NBI captures the applicant’s photograph, fingerprints, and electronic signature. Special procedures apply to applicants abroad, whose rolled fingerprints must be taken by an authorized office.

Can another person collect my clearance?

Collection rules may depend on the branch, transaction, and reason the applicant cannot appear. Because identity and criminal-record information are sensitive, do not assume that an authorization letter alone will always be accepted. Confirm directly with the issuing center.

Does a hit mean I have a criminal record?

No. It may be caused by a name similarity. The NBI must verify whether the matching record actually belongs to you.

Can I change my name online after payment?

Some fields or paid transactions may be locked. Ask the NBI center to review the supporting documents before printing. Do not create conflicting profiles merely to bypass the restriction.

Will the NBI correct my PSA birth certificate?

No. The NBI can correct its own records when adequately supported, but it cannot replace the legally prescribed procedure for correcting a civil-registry entry.

Is correction always free?

Not necessarily. The result may depend on whether the error was caused by the applicant, occurred during NBI encoding, requires a new application, or affects identity verification. Ask for the official assessment and receipt before paying.

Can I renew online if my civil status or surname changed?

A branch-based application is safer because the new information and supporting records must be verified. Online renewal is intended for eligible applicants whose personal details remain unchanged.

Where can I verify the current procedure?

Use the NBI’s application guide, Citizen’s Charter, clearance-center locator, and procedure for applicants abroad.

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice for a specific case. Procedures, charges, accepted IDs, and branch practices may change. Official sources were checked as of August 25, 2026.