To check an NBI clearance, use the NBI’s own online verification. On clearance.nbi.gov.ph, click NBI Clearance Online Verification and enter the NBI ID number printed on the clearance, exactly as shown, in capital letters and with the dash. A genuine clearance brings up the holder’s photo, name and clearance status. Compare them with the paper and with the person in front of you.
If the system says it can’t find the number, don’t conclude straight away that the clearance is fake. Check your typing first. If it still fails, ask the applicant to confirm it with the NBI, because genuine clearances have occasionally failed to show up because of system problems.
| Where to verify | clearance.nbi.gov.ph → NBI Clearance Online Verification |
| What you enter | The NBI ID number on the clearance, in capitals, with the dash |
| A match shows | The holder’s photo, name and clearance status |
| “Cannot find the given NBI ID Number” | Re-type it carefully; if it still fails, ask the applicant to check with the NBI |
| Cost | Free on the NBI’s portal |
| Fakes | They exist: in 2024 the NBI arrested sellers of fake clearances in Manila |
We are not the NBI. This is an independent guide. Verify clearances only on clearance.nbi.gov.ph, and don’t type a clearance’s details into third-party “verification” websites.
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How to verify an NBI clearance online
Step 1 — Find the NBI ID number on the clearance
The NBI ID number is printed on the clearance itself, labelled NBI ID No. It isn’t the reference number the applicant used to pay. The clearance also carries a QR code, which you can scan to read the number.
Step 2 — Open the online verification
Go to clearance.nbi.gov.ph and click NBI Clearance Online Verification. A box appears for the number.
Step 3 — Enter the number exactly
Type the NBI ID number as it appears on the clearance, then click Verify.
Typing mistakes to avoid
- Lowercase letters. Enter it in capitals.
- A missing dash. Keep it where the clearance shows it.
- Mixing up look-alike characters, such as 0 and O, or 1 and I.
Step 4 — Compare the result with the paper
Check that the photo, name and status on screen match the clearance, and that the photo matches the person who gave it to you.
What the results mean
The details appear and match: The clearance is in the NBI’s records. Read the status shown, then finish the physical checks below, including the issue date.
“The system cannot find the given NBI ID Number”: Re-type the number carefully, checking the capitals and the dash. If it still fails, it may be fake, but don’t assume so yet. Applicants have reported genuine clearances failing verification because of problems on the NBI’s side, which were fixed after they contacted the NBI. Ask the applicant to call the NBI clearance helpdesk at (02) 8524-1277 or 0939 150 2880 and sort it out before you decide.
The details appear but don’t match: If the photo or name on screen differs from the paper, treat the clearance as suspect and don’t accept it. Ask for a new clearance and verify that one.
Checks to do on the paper itself
Match it to the person’s ID: The name, birth date and photo should match a government ID the person shows you. A different spelling or birth date is a red flag, even when the online check passes.
Check the issue date: A clearance is valid for one year from its issue date. Your own policy can be stricter, for example only accepting one issued in the last few months.
Look for the security features: Genuine clearances carry security features, including an embossed dry seal that can be faint and may not show on a scan. When the NBI seized fake clearances in 2024, its director pointed out that they had no security marks. Ask to see the original if you’re only given a scan or a photo.
Red flags that point to a fake
- The applicant got it without a branch visit, photo or fingerprints, from someone who “processed” it for them.
- The price was far above the official ₱155–₱160. Fakes seized in Manila in 2024 sold for ₱700 to ₱2,500.
- It arrives only as an editable file, such as a Word document or an image, rather than the printed clearance.
- Details don’t match the person’s ID, or the online verification shows different information.
- Verification fails and the applicant can’t resolve it with the NBI.
In October 2024, the NBI arrested four people in Santa Cruz, Manila, who were selling fake documents, including NBI clearances, along with fake passports and driver’s licenses. If you come across a fake clearance, don’t accept it, and report it to the NBI.
For applicants: make your clearance easy to verify
- Keep the original and give employers a clear copy when that’s acceptable.
- Note your NBI ID number so you can give it to an employer who wants to verify online.
- If verification fails for your genuine clearance, call the NBI clearance helpdesk straight away and tell the employer you’re sorting it out.
If you renewed in the eGovPH app, your latest clearance also appears there as a digital copy, which you can show on your phone. Whether an employer accepts that copy is up to them.
FAQs: verifying an NBI clearance
Go to clearance.nbi.gov.ph, click NBI Clearance Online Verification and enter the NBI ID number printed on the clearance, in capitals with the dash. A genuine clearance shows the holder’s photo, name and status.
The online verification works with the NBI ID number. If it’s hard to read, scan the QR code on the clearance to get it.
Not necessarily. Check your typing first. Genuine clearances have occasionally failed verification because of system problems, so ask the applicant to confirm it with the NBI.
No. The online verification on the NBI’s portal is free.
Police clearances have their own check. On pnpclearance.ph, you enter the applicant’s last name and the clearance transaction number.
Don’t accept it, and report it to the NBI. Ask the applicant for a genuine clearance obtained through clearance.nbi.gov.ph.
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