To get an NBI clearance, register at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, book a branch slot, pay ₱155–₱160, then visit the branch once for your photo and fingerprints. If your name has no match (a “HIT”) in the NBI database, you get your clearance the same day. Renewing? Since July 2026 you can also renew in the eGovPH app without visiting a branch.
| Total fee | ₱155–₱160 (₱130 + ₱25–₱30 e-payment charge) |
| First-time jobseekers | Free, once, under RA 11261 — see the free clearance guide |
| Valid for | 1 year from the date of issue |
| Release | Same day if there is no HIT; about 5–10 working days if there is a HIT |
| Branch visits | One (none for online or eGovPH renewal) |
| Ways to renew | eGovPH app, NBI online renewal with delivery, or a branch — compare them |
| Official portals | clearance.nbi.gov.ph and, for first-time jobseekers, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph |
⚠️ We are not the NBI. This is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the National Bureau of Investigation. We never collect application data or payments. Apply only through clearance.nbi.gov.ph, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph or the eGovPH app. If anyone asks for more than ₱160 to “process” a standard branch application, they are not official.
→ Go to the official NBI portal
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Which route is right for you?
Find your situation, then follow that route. Most people need the first row.
| Your situation | What to do | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| First clearance, or your last one was issued in 2014 or earlier | Apply online, then visit a branch once | Steps below |
| Renewing, nothing about you has changed | Renew in the eGovPH app or through NBI online renewal — no branch visit | Renewal options |
| Renewing with a new surname or a correction | Apply online, then visit a branch with your PSA document | Married name · Corrections |
| First-time jobseeker | Free clearance through the first-time jobseeker portal | Free clearance |
| Filipino living abroad | Fingerprints on NBI Form No. 5, then send it to NBI by mail or through a representative | Applying from abroad |
| Foreign national in the Philippines | Apply online, then visit with your passport and ACR I-Card | NBI clearance for foreigners |
What is an NBI clearance and who needs it?
An NBI clearance shows whether your name matches any record in the National Bureau of Investigation’s nationwide database. The NBI is an agency under the Department of Justice.
Employers and embassies ask for it because of its reach. A barangay clearance covers your barangay, and a local police clearance covers your city or municipality. The NBI clearance checks NBI records from the whole country. The PNP’s National Police Clearance is also nationwide, but it searches police records instead — see NBI clearance vs police clearance.
You’ll need one for jobs, overseas work, visas, business registration, some loans and many government transactions. Wondering whether one copy works for several purposes? See multi-purpose NBI clearance.
What to prepare before you start
- An active mobile number. The portal sends a one-time password (OTP) to finish your registration.
- An email address you check. Confirmations and receipts go there.
- Two valid government IDs, original and not expired. See the list of valid IDs for NBI clearance.
- Your old clearance, if you have one. Its NBI ID number is what online renewal asks for.
- Your parents’ full names and birthplaces, and your spouse’s if you’re married. The form asks for them.
Type every name and date exactly as it appears on your ID or PSA birth certificate. At the branch, an officer asks you to check your details on a monitor before printing — your last chance to catch a typo. Already made a mistake? See how to correct a mistake in your application. Full checklist: NBI clearance requirements.
How much is an NBI clearance in 2026?
| What you’re getting | Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard application or branch renewal | ₱130 + ₱25–₱30 e-payment charge = ₱155–₱160 |
| NBI online renewal with delivery | ₱155–₱160 + delivery: ₱200 in NCR, ₱350 outside NCR |
| eGovPH app renewal | ₱130 + ₱30 convenience fee; delivery ₱200 (NCR) or ₱350 (provinces), or free pick-up |
| First-time jobseeker (RA 11261) | Free, once |
NBI describes the e-payment charge as “usually around ₱25–₱30” because it depends on the payment channel, and the exact total shows on screen before you pay. The purpose (employment, travel, visa) doesn’t change the fee. Sources: NBI, Spot.ph for eGovPH fees, and PHGuides for delivery fees. More detail in our NBI clearance fee guide.
On fixers: a standard branch application costs ₱155–₱160. If a website, Facebook page or person asks for more to “process” it for you, they are not official. Pay only through the channels shown inside the NBI portal or the eGovPH app.
How to apply for an NBI clearance online, step by step
You need an email address and a mobile number you can use right now.
Step 1 — Register
Go to clearance.nbi.gov.ph, click Register and fill in the form with an active mobile number and email.
First-time jobseeker claiming the free clearance? Use firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph instead — details below.
Step 2 — Verify with the OTP
A one-time password arrives by SMS (or email, if you chose it). Enter it to activate your account. If it doesn’t arrive within a minute, check your signal and your spam folder, then request a new one.
Step 3 — Complete your applicant information
Fill in every required field: personal details, contact information, family background, education and work.
- Match your ID exactly — same spelling, same middle name, same suffix.
- Don’t abbreviate — write “Quezon City”, not “QC”.
- Read the summary after you click Save Information.
Step 4 — Click “Apply for Clearance”
A pop-up asks which government ID you’ll bring to the branch. Pick one you actually have, and bring that ID on the day.
Step 5 — Choose your branch, date and time
Pick the branch, then an open date and an AM or PM slot. If your preferred branch is full, choose another one nearby or check again later. See the NBI clearance branch list and our online appointment guide.
Step 6 — Pay and save your reference number
Pay with GCash, Maya, 7-Eleven, Bayad Center, online banking and other channels listed in the portal. Compare them in our NBI payment methods guide.
The portal gives you a reference number. Screenshot it: branch staff use it to find your application. If you lose it, here’s where to find your NBI reference number. Once paid, your status under Transactions changes from “Pending” to “Paid”.
Missed your slot? Once your transaction shows PAID, NBI allows a 15-day grace period to visit the branch you chose (NBI). More in what to do if you miss your NBI appointment.
Step 7 — Visit the branch once
See what happens on your appointment day.
Valid IDs for NBI clearance
Bring two original, unexpired government-issued IDs. NBI’s guide gives these examples (source):
- Philippine passport
- Driver’s license
- National ID (PhilSys)
- UMID
- Postal ID
- PSA birth certificate — order it online
Other government-issued photo IDs, such as a PRC ID, voter’s ID, senior citizen ID or PWD ID, are also widely used. To avoid problems at the counter, make at least one of your two IDs one from NBI’s examples above. See the complete list of valid IDs.
IDs that cause problems at the branch
- Expired IDs — NBI requires IDs that are not expired.
- Photocopies or photos of an ID — bring the original.
- Company or school IDs — not government-issued, so don’t rely on them.
- A different ID from the one you picked online — bring the one you selected in Step 4.
What happens on your appointment day
Bring your reference number (printed or on your phone), proof of payment and your two IDs.
- Biometrics. Staff take your digital photo, fingerprints and electronic signature.
- Verification. An officer asks you to check your details on a monitor. Read every letter of your name and your birth date.
- Release. If there is no HIT, you go straight to the printing window.
Senior citizens, PWDs and pregnant applicants can ask for the priority lane when they arrive.
Dress code
NBI’s own guide tells applicants to avoid sandos, tank tops, shorts and slippers. A collared shirt or smart-casual top also looks better in your clearance photo. More in our NBI dress code guide.
What does “HIT” mean on an NBI clearance?
A HIT does not mean you have a criminal record. It means your name matched a record in the NBI database, usually someone with the same or a similar name. NBI staff check the records by hand and give you a return date, usually 5 to 10 working days later. Collecting it costs nothing extra (NBI).
Some cases need more: a Quality Control interview, an affidavit of denial, or court papers if the record is yours but the case is closed — see clearing a HIT on a dismissed case. Our complete NBI HIT guide covers every scenario.
Planning tip: if your name is common, apply two to three weeks before you need the clearance.
How to renew your NBI clearance
There are three ways to renew. The first two need no branch visit.
| Way to renew | Who can use it | Branch visit? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| eGovPH app (since July 2026) | Verified eGovPH users renewing an existing clearance | No — delivery or free pick-up | ₱130 + ₱30; delivery ₱200 (NCR) or ₱350 (provinces) |
| NBI online renewal (guide) | Clearance issued after 2014, with no changes to your details | No — courier delivery | ₱155–₱160 + delivery ₱200 (NCR) or ₱350 (outside NCR) |
| Branch renewal (guide) | Anyone, including people with a new surname or a correction | Yes, once | ₱155–₱160 |
Renew in the eGovPH app
Open the eGovPH app, go to NGAs → National Bureau of Investigation → NBI Clearance, check your details, tap Renew Clearance, choose delivery or pick-up, then pay. Your account must be verified, and first-time applicants still need a branch visit for biometrics. A digital copy is also linked inside the app (NBI, Spot.ph, Cebu Daily News).
Renew online at clearance.nbi.gov.ph
If your last clearance was issued after 2014 and none of your details changed, choose NBI Clearance Online Renewal on the portal’s home page, enter your NBI ID number, confirm your delivery address and pay (NBI). Delivery usually takes 3–7 working days in Metro Manila and Luzon, and 7–10 in the Visayas and Mindanao (FilipiKnow). Step-by-step: NBI online renewal guide.
When you need a branch renewal
Go through a branch if your surname or civil status changed, if a detail needs correcting, or if your last clearance was issued in 2014 or earlier. Bring the PSA document that proves the change. See NBI standard renewal and changing your last name after marriage. Lost your old clearance? Start with what to do if you lost your NBI clearance.
Renew early if you need to. A new clearance is valid for a full year from its own issue date, so renewing before expiry doesn’t waste anything.
Free NBI clearance for first-time jobseekers (RA 11261)
Under Republic Act 11261, first-time jobseekers get their NBI clearance free of charge, once. Apply through the dedicated portal, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph, not the regular one.
Bring to your appointment:
- Barangay certification stating you are a first-time jobseeker, on official barangay letterhead, dry-sealed and signed by the Punong Barangay or an authorized barangay officer — see how to get it from your barangay
- Your signed Oath of Undertaking
- Two valid government IDs or acceptable certificates, such as a PSA birth certificate or voter’s registration certificate
Sources: NBI application guide and NBI Citizen’s Charter. Full walkthrough: free NBI clearance for first-time jobseekers and fresh graduates.
Need help? Official NBI contact channels
These come from NBI’s official contact page (checked 28 September 2026).
| What you need | Contact |
|---|---|
| Clearance questions | (02) 8524-1277 · 0939 150 2880 · clearance@nbi.gov.ph |
| Delivery of online renewals | +63 949 631 0713 · +63 920 412 9999; helpdesk +63 961 731 9404, +63 960 891 5222, +63 960 828 7044 |
| Mailed clearance (applicants abroad) | 0915 689 3113 · 0920 122 3327 · mailed.clearance@nbi.gov.ph |
| NBI Clearance Center | NBI Clearance Building, United Nations Avenue, Ermita, Manila · Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| NBI headquarters | Filinvest Cyberzone Bay, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City · hotline (02) 8523-8231 |
Common NBI clearance mistakes to avoid
- Bringing a different ID from the one you selected online. Pick an ID you have in Step 4 and bring that one.
- Relying on a company or school ID. Bring government-issued IDs.
- A typo in your name or birth date. Check the monitor at the branch before your clearance is printed.
- Wearing shorts, sandos or slippers.
- Losing your reference number. It stays under Transactions in your account — here’s where.
- Paying a fixer. The standard fee is ₱155–₱160, paid through the portal.
- Bringing an expired ID. Check the dates before you leave home.
- Using a look-alike website. The only official channels are clearance.nbi.gov.ph, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph and the eGovPH app.
More guides by situation
- Paying: GCash · Maya · 7-Eleven · Bayad Center · all payment methods
- Problems: Quality Control interview · affidavit of denial · lost clearance
- Abroad: NBI Form No. 5 · Dubai and the UAE · Canada · DFA apostille
- After you get it: check if a clearance is genuine · authorization letter to claim it
NBI clearance FAQs
No. We are an independent guide and are not connected to the NBI. Apply only at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph or in the eGovPH app.
Book online first. The NBI process is built around online appointments, and walk-in acceptance is limited and varies by branch. Full answer: can I walk in for an NBI clearance?
You must go in person for your photo and fingerprints. After that, a representative can collect the finished clearance, for example after a HIT, with an authorization letter and the right IDs.
One year from the date of issue. Some employers and embassies prefer one issued within the last few months, so check what they ask for. More: NBI clearance validity.
Use NBI’s online verification with the NBI ID number printed on the clearance. Step-by-step: how to verify an NBI clearance.
Yes, through different processes. Filipinos abroad should read getting an NBI clearance from abroad; foreign nationals in the Philippines should read NBI clearance for foreigners.