Register at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, book an appointment slot, pay ₱155–₱160, then visit a branch once for fingerprints and a photo. If nothing flags in the database, you walk out with your clearance the same day.
| Total fee | ₱155–₱160 (₱130 + e-payment charge) |
| First-time job seekers | Free under RA 11261 |
| Valid for | 1 year from issue date |
| Release | Same day if no HIT |
| Branch visits needed | One |
| Official portal | clearance.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 at the official portal: clearance.nbi.gov.ph. Anyone charging you more than ₱160 for standard processing is not official.
→ Go to the official NBI portal
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What Is an NBI Clearance and Who Needs It?
It’s a nationwide criminal-record check issued by the National Bureau of Investigation, an agency under the Department of Justice.
The reason employers and embassies prefer it over a police clearance is scope. A barangay clearance covers your barangay. A police clearance covers one city or municipality. The NBI clearance checks your name against records from every region in the country. We break down the differences in our guide to NBI clearance vs police clearance.
You’ll be asked for one when applying for jobs, working overseas, processing a visa, registering a business, applying for certain loans, or handling various government transactions. If you need a single copy accepted across several purposes, read about the multi-purpose NBI clearance.
Documents to Prepare Before You Start
- An active mobile number. The portal sends a one-time password to it. You cannot finish registration without it.
- An email address you actually check. Confirmations and receipts go here.
- Two valid government IDs, original and unexpired. See the full list of accepted IDs.
- Your old NBI ID number, if you’ve had a clearance since 2014. It speeds everything up.
- Your parents’ full names and birthplaces, and your spouse’s if married. The form asks and people get stuck here.
A full breakdown is in our NBI clearance requirements guide.
One thing worth knowing before you type anything: your details lock once you click “Apply for Clearance.” After that, corrections mean a trip to the branch. Spell everything exactly as it appears on your ID.
How much is NBI Clearance in 2026?
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| NBI Clearance fee | ₱130 |
| E-payment service charge | ₱25–₱30 |
| Total | ₱155–₱160 |
The charge varies slightly by payment channel, which is why the official figure is a range rather than one number. The exact total appears on screen before you confirm. Our full fee breakdown covers every scenario.
The price is the same whether the clearance is for local employment, travel abroad, a visa, or business — purpose doesn’t change the fee.
Door-to-door delivery is available for online renewals. The courier fee is separate and shown at checkout before you pay.
On “fixers”: the fee is ₱155–₱160. If a website, Facebook page, or person quotes you more for standard processing, they are not official. Pay only through the channels inside the portal.
How to Apply for NBI Clearance Online: Step-by-Step
Before you begin, make sure you have a personal email address that you can access. The NBI will send your registration confirmation and payment details to this email.
Step 1 — Register
Go to clearance.nbi.gov.ph. Click Register and fill in the form. Use an active mobile number and email.
First-time job seeker claiming the free clearance? Use the separate portal instead: firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph. Details below. Recent graduate? See our guide for fresh graduates.
Step 2 — Verify with OTP
A one-time password arrives by SMS. Enter it to activate your account.
If it doesn’t arrive within a minute, check your signal — weak reception is the usual cause, not a portal fault. Check spam if you chose email delivery.
Step 3 — Complete your applicant profile
Fill in every mandatory field: personal details, contact information, family background, education and employment.
Three rules that prevent most problems:
- Match your ID exactly. Same spelling, same middle name, same suffix.
- Don’t abbreviate. Write “Quezon City,” not “QC.”
- Never leave a field blank. Type NONE if it doesn’t apply.
Click Save Information and read the summary carefully.
Step 4 — Apply for clearance
Click Apply for Clearance. A pop-up asks which government ID you’ll bring to the branch.
Your data locks at this point. Read the summary once more before you click. If you spot an error afterwards, here’s how to correct a mistake in your application.
Step 5 — Book your branch and slot
Pick your branch, then an available date and AM or PM session. Our complete list of NBI branches covers every office nationwide.
Metro Manila slots go fast. If nothing is open at your preferred branch, check mall satellite offices — they often have openings when main branches are full. More detail in our NBI online appointment guide.
Step 6 — Pay
Choose from GCash, Maya, 7-Eleven, Bayad Center, or online banking. Compare them all in our payment methodsguide, or follow the step-by-step for paying with GCash.
The system generates a reference number. Screenshot it, write it down, print it. This is your gate pass at the branch — without it, staff cannot find your application. Here’s where to find your reference number, and how it differs from your NBI ID number.
The 15-day grace period. Once your transaction shows PAID, recent system updates give you roughly 15 days to appear. Missing your exact slot is not the disaster people assume. Check your own transaction page to confirm your window.erence Number. You need this to pay. Once paid, your status in the “Transactions” tab will change from “Pending” to “Paid.”
Step 7 — Visit the branch once
Details in the next section.
Valid IDs Accepted for NBI Clearance
Bring two original, unexpired government-issued IDs. The official guidance names:
- Philippine Passport
- Philippine National ID (PhilSys)
- Driver’s License
- UMID Card
- Postal ID
- PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate
Other government-issued IDs — PRC ID, Voter’s ID, Senior Citizen ID, PWD ID, GSIS e-Card, Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card — are commonly accepted. Bring two, and make one a primary ID from the list above. Our complete valid ID guide lists every accepted document and which agency issues it.
IDs That Get Rejected at the Branch
Based on what applicants consistently report at the counter, not official policy — but worth knowing before you travel:
- Company IDs — not government-issued
- Barangay clearance or certificate — a document, not an ID
- School IDs — usually only accepted as a secondary, alongside a primary
- Paper or laminated versions of IDs that come as PVC cards
- Anything expired
If your only IDs are weak ones, bring your PSA birth certificate as backup. It’s on the official list and it resolves most disputes at the counter — here’s how to get a PSA birth certificate online.
Bring the ID you selected online. Staff cross-check your selection against what you present. A mismatch causes delays even when your other ID is perfectly valid.
What Happens on Your NBI Appointment Day
Bring your reference number (printed or on your phone), proof of payment, and your two IDs.
- Biometrics. Digital photo, fingerprints, electronic signature.
- Verification. Staff show you your details on a monitor. Check every letter of your name now — this is your last chance before printing.
- Release. No HIT means printing within minutes.
Priority lanes exist for senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant applicants.
Dress code
Your photo goes on a government document, and branches enforce this.
Avoid: sandos, tank tops, sleeveless tops, shorts, slippers. Wear: a collared shirt or smart casual. Some branches turn people away at the gate. Full details in our NBI dress code guide.
What Does “HIT” Mean in NBI Clearance?
A HIT does not mean you have a criminal record. It means the database found a name similar or identical to yours attached to a record. This is extremely common, especially with common Filipino surnames.
Reviewers manually compare the files. You’ll be given a return date, usually 5 to 10 working days away. You pay nothing extra to collect it.
If the record genuinely belongs to you, the clearance won’t release until the case is resolved through proper legal channels. Our complete HIT guide walks through every scenario, and if your case was already thrown out, see clearing a HIT on a dismissed case.
Planning tip: if your name is common, apply two to three weeks before you actually need the document.
How to Renew Your NBI Clearance
If your clearance was issued after 2014 and none of your personal details have changed, you can skip the branch entirely. Choose the NBI Quick Renewal option on the portal homepage and have it delivered to your door by courier.
You’ll need a standard renewal with a branch visit if:
- Your clearance predates 2014 (treated as a new application)
- Your name or civil status changed
- Any personal detail needs correcting
Renew early if you can. A new clearance carries a fresh one-year validity from its issue date, so renewing before expiry leaves no gap in your records.
Free NBI Clearance for First-Time Job Seekers (RA 11261)
Under Republic Act 11261, first-time job seekers get their NBI clearance free of charge. Once in your lifetime.
Use the dedicated portal: firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph — not the regular one.
Bring:
- Barangay Certification on official barangay letterhead, dry sealed, signed by the Punong Barangay or an authorised barangay officer — here’s how to get a barangay clearance
- Two valid government IDs or acceptable certificates (birth certificate, voter’s registration certificate)
- Your signed Oath of Undertaking
At the branch, look for the First Time Job Seeker lane. Everything — biometrics, processing, printing — is free.
Common NBI Clearance Mistakes to Avoid
- Bringing a different ID than the one selected online. The most common cause of rejection at the counter. Check the accepted ID list first.
- Using a company ID as primary. Never accepted.
- A typo in your name. Locks at “Apply for Clearance.” If it’s already printed, here’s how to correct an error on a printed clearance.
- Wearing shorts or slippers. Enforced.
- Losing your reference number. Staff cannot find you without it.
- Paying a fixer. The fee is ₱155–₱160, paid through the portal. Nothing else is legitimate.
- Bringing an expired ID. Check the dates before you leave.
NBI Clearance Most FAQ’s
₱130 plus an e-payment charge of about ₱25–₱30, so ₱155–₱160 total. Free for qualified first-time job seekers.
One year from the date of issue. Some employers and embassies prefer one issued within the last three to six months.
Book online first. The system is appointment-based and branches work from scheduled slots. Full answer here: can I walk in for NBI clearance?
Your payment stays valid. Once your transaction shows PAID, there’s roughly a 15-day window to appear. See missed your NBI appointment.
Not for biometrics — that requires you in person. But a representative can collect a finished clearance with an authorization letter.
Usually not. It normally means someone with a similar name has a record. Manual review clears it in about 5 to 10 working days.
Two original, unexpired government-issued IDs.
Use our guide to verifying whether an NBI clearance is fake or valid.
Yes, through a different process. See getting or renewing your NBI clearance from overseas. Foreign nationals in the Philippines should read NBI clearance for foreigners.
Conclusion
Getting your NBI Clearance in 2026 is streamlined and efficient, provided you choose the right path for your needs. Whether you opt for the convenience of door-to-door delivery or the standard branch appointment, simply follow the steps above, pay via e-wallet, and bring the correct IDs. Need to verify if an NBI Clearance submitted to you is authentic? Use the NBI Online Verification Tool.