Quick answer

Apply for an NBI clearance through the official NBI clearance portal. A regular application involves online registration, payment, and personal appearance for identity verification and biometrics. Eligible applicants can use online renewal; verified eGovPH users also have access to the NBI eClearance service launched in July 2026. A “hit” requires further checking and does not, by itself, establish that you committed a crime. National Bureau of Investigation

For renewals and copies, first identify what you need: a newly issued clearance, access to an existing digital clearance, or another original acceptable to the receiving office. A photocopy, application screenshot, and payment receipt serve different purposes.

What an NBI clearance establishes

Republic Act No. 10867 authorizes the NBI to maintain a national clearing house of criminal records and a clearance and identification center. An NBI clearance results from checking the applicant’s identity against the Bureau’s records. It is not a court judgment resolving criminal liability, nor does it guarantee acceptance for every employment, licensing, or immigration application. Read Republic Act No. 10867. Supreme Court E-Library

Before applying, ask the employer, agency, or embassy for its exact requirements:

Does it require an original paper clearance or accept an official digital version?
How recently must the clearance have been issued?
Must the document show a particular name or previous surname?
For overseas use, is authentication or an apostille required?

These questions can prevent paying for a document that does not meet the recipient’s requirements.

How to apply for a regular clearance

Use your own active email address and mobile number, and keep control of the account.

Register or sign in at the official portal.
Complete and review your personal information. Check names, birth details, and civil status against your supporting records.
Select “Apply for Clearance,” identify the document you will present, and choose an available branch and appointment.
Generate and save the reference number. Pay through an authorized channel offered for that transaction.
Check that payment has been recorded. Keep the receipt and transaction confirmation.
Attend the appointment with the required original identity documents, reference number, and proof of payment.
Complete the photograph, fingerprint, and signature capture. Review the displayed information before printing. Follow any release or return instructions. National Bureau of Investigation

What identification should you bring?

The NBI’s 2025 Citizen’s Charter lists an original PhilSys ID/National ID, or two original valid documents from its accepted list for Filipino applicants. Examples include a passport, driver’s license, PRC license, UMID, authenticated PSA/NSO birth certificate, and school ID accompanied by a current registration card.

The Charter separately requires foreign applicants to present an original valid passport and a photocopy. First-time foreign applicants must use the designated main, regional, or district offices for manual fingerprinting. Check the Charter’s detailed requirements before choosing a branch. nbi.gov.ph

Bring supporting civil-registry documents if your records show different names or personal details. Ask the branch in advance how to resolve a mismatch.

Fees and processing time

The 2025 Charter lists ₱130 for the clearance plus ₱30 electronic-payment convenience fee, totaling ₱160 for the regular paid transaction. Delivery is additional. Confirm the amount shown for your selected service before paying.

For the main-office application categories reviewed, the Charter provides an eight-working-day return period for applications with a hit. Other processing categories can differ. Follow your actual release instructions; do not treat an estimate as a guaranteed completion date. nbi.gov.ph

Allow time for appointment availability, record verification, holidays, and delivery. An urgent employment or visa deadline does not itself ensure immediate issuance.

Renewal: which option applies?

Online renewal through the NBI portal

The live portal advertises online renewal with door-to-door delivery for clearances issued October 16, 2016 onward. This cutoff is different from the “2014 onward” option used for account registration and from separate overseas-renewal instructions. Enter your old NBI ID number and follow the eligibility checks for the particular service. clearance.nbi.gov.ph

If the system cannot validate your record, or your identifying information needs correction, contact NBI for the appropriate application route. Do not enter inaccurate details merely to obtain an online match.

Renewal and digital access through eGovPH

The NBI officially launched NBI eClearance in the eGovPH Super App on July 6, 2026. Its announcement describes renewal for eligible users and the ability to retrieve and access a digital clearance through the verified platform. Eligibility still matters; the announcement does not establish that every applicant can complete every transaction remotely. National Bureau of Investigation

Use the official service and confirm whether the receiving organization accepts its digital output before choosing it for a time-sensitive submission.

Copies, lost clearances, and reprinting

Renewal and obtaining a copy are different requests. Renewal involves a new clearance transaction. A scan or photocopy reproduces an existing document.

What you need	Practical next step
A copy for your own records	Keep a legible scan or photocopy securely.
Access to an official digital clearance	Check the available retrieval service in eGovPH.
Another paper original	Ask NBI whether your record can be reprinted or requires a new application.
A replacement for a lost clearance	Gather any old NBI ID number, scan, receipt, or account details and contact NBI.
Proof that a clearance is authentic	Use the verification service linked from the official NBI portal.

The portal provides an online authenticity and validity verification service. Verification does not automatically produce an additional original or extend the document’s validity. clearance.nbi.gov.ph

Do not assume that a notarized photocopy, personal copy, or printed screenshot satisfies a requirement for an original. Ask the recipient before submitting it. Likewise, do not assume that losing the paper automatically requires an affidavit of loss: obtain NBI’s instructions for your specific request.

Validity and submission deadlines

An NBI clearance is generally effective for one year from issuance, as recognized in official government documentary guidance. Check the dates on your own clearance. A receiving institution may have a separate requirement concerning how recently it must have been issued. CabSec Checklist

Keep these dates separate:

Payment deadline: the deadline attached to your reference number or payment instruction.
Appointment or return date: when NBI directs you to appear.
Clearance expiry: the validity of the issued document.
Submission deadline: when your employer, embassy, or agency needs to receive it.

If you miss an appointment, check the transaction status and obtain branch instructions before paying again. Do not rely on a grace-period claim without confirming that it applies to your transaction.

What a “hit” means—and what to do

A hit indicates a record match requiring verification. It can involve another person with a similar name. The NBI’s first-time-jobseeker procedure distinguishes ordinary hit verification from cases referred to Quality Control for interview and record checking. A hit is therefore not, by itself, proof of a conviction. National Bureau of Investigation

If your application has a hit:

Keep the return instruction and record the branch, reference number, and scheduled date.
Ask what needs verification. Clarify whether you simply need to return or must attend an interview.
Bring the documents requested. If an actual case concerns you, ask whether NBI needs a certified court order, case disposition, or other official record.
Explain discrepancies accurately. Do not guess about case numbers or sign a statement you do not understand.
Follow up through official channels if the scheduled date passes without a clear next step.

A dismissed case or acquittal should be supported by the appropriate official documents when relevant. Do not assume that the NBI database has already been updated or that an old record guarantees a particular clearance notation.

When legal help is urgent

Consult a lawyer promptly if the issue involves a possible outstanding warrant, mistaken identity linked to a criminal case, an unresolved case attributed to you, or questioning about alleged criminal conduct. Administrative assistance may resolve an ordinary application problem; advice about criminal exposure requires attention to the actual records.

Free clearance for first-time jobseekers

Republic Act No. 11261 expressly includes NBI clearance in the government documents covered by the first-time-jobseeker fee waiver. Being a first-time NBI applicant alone does not establish eligibility: the benefit concerns first-time jobseekers obtaining documents for employment. The law requires barangay certification and makes the benefit available only once. Read Republic Act No. 11261. Supreme Court E-Library

The implementing rules require an eligible applicant to be a Filipino citizen actively seeking employment and a resident of the certifying barangay for at least six months. The benefit must be availed of within one year from issuance of the barangay certification. DOLE explains that it covers one copy of each covered document or transaction, rather than unlimited renewals or extra copies. issuances-library.senate.gov.ph

Use the NBI First-Time Jobseekers portal and prepare the required barangay certification, identification documents, and signed undertaking. DOLE provides the official certification and undertaking forms on its First-Time Jobseekers Assistance page. National Bureau of Investigation

Do not confuse this one-year benefit period with the validity period of the clearance itself.

Applying while abroad

Applicants abroad have a separate procedure. NBI guidance provides for Form No. 5, properly taken rolled fingerprints, a recent photograph, and a copy of the valid passport’s biodata page. Submission can be through the prescribed mailed route or a designated representative.

The overseas guidance permits renewal through mail or a representative for clearances issued starting in 2014; older clearances are treated as new applications. This is a separate rule from the domestic quick-renewal cutoff. National Bureau of Investigation

Start with the NBI overseas-application instructions and the Philippine embassy or consulate serving your location. Confirm the current receiving address, payment method, return delivery arrangements, and any authentication requirements before sending original documents or money.

Records to preserve and mistakes to avoid

Keep a secure folder containing:

Your application and payment reference numbers.
Payment receipts and screenshots showing transaction status.
Appointment, return, and delivery instructions.
A scan of the issued clearance.
Relevant civil-registry documents and official case dispositions.
Written follow-ups and any response explaining additional requirements.

Avoid creating inconsistent accounts, using another person’s contact details, paying twice before checking a delayed payment, or changing personal details to bypass verification. Never alter a clearance’s dates, name, photograph, or reference information.

Use the NBI contact page or the responsible clearance center for unresolved errors, missing payments, replacement questions, and release problems. Give the transaction reference and a concise explanation; share identity documents only through an appropriate official channel.

Frequently asked questions

Can I complete my first application entirely online?

For the regular route, online registration is followed by personal appearance for biometrics. Eligible renewal applicants have separate remote options. National Bureau of Investigation

Does a hit mean I have a criminal case?

Not necessarily. It requires verification and may involve a similar name. Follow the return or Quality Control instructions before drawing conclusions. National Bureau of Investigation

Can someone apply for me?

A representative cannot supply your own biometrics for the regular personal-appearance process. Applicants abroad have a documented representative procedure; follow that specific route. National Bureau of Investigation

Can I use my payment receipt while waiting?

A receipt proves payment, not issuance of a clearance. Ask the receiving organization whether it will temporarily accept proof of a pending application and allow a later submission.

What if my name or civil status has changed?

Raise the change before issuance and provide the supporting records NBI requests. Do not assume that a renewal service will correct the underlying information automatically.

Is a police clearance interchangeable with an NBI clearance?

If the requirement specifically says “NBI clearance,” obtain that document or secure the recipient’s express agreement to accept an alternative. Republic Act No. 11261 lists police clearance and NBI clearance separately. Supreme Court E-Library

Must I renew every year even if nobody requires it?

The expiry date determines whether an existing clearance remains current. If you need one for a particular transaction, check the recipient’s requirements and apply early enough for verification and delivery.

This article provides general Philippine legal and procedural information, not advice on a particular case. Eligibility, record issues, and documentary acceptance depend on the applicable requirements and your circumstances. Official sources checked on October 15, 2026.