NBI Form No. 5 is the fingerprint card Filipinos abroad use to apply for an NBI clearance without flying home. You get it from a Philippine embassy or consulate, fill it in, have your fingerprints rolled onto it, and have the post certify it. Then you mail it to the NBI in Manila with the ₱200 fee, or send it to a representative who submits it for you.
You only need it if you can’t renew online. If your last clearance was issued after 2014 and nothing about you has changed, online renewal with delivery to a Philippine address is quicker.
| What it is | The NBI’s fingerprint card for applicants outside the Philippines |
| Who needs it | First-time applicants abroad, people whose last clearance is from 2014 or earlier, and anyone whose details changed |
| Where to get it | A Philippine embassy or consulate |
| Fingerprints | Rolled impressions, taken at the post or by local police depending on the country |
| Post fee | Varies by country, for example US$25 in New York or AED 100 in the UAE |
| NBI fee | ₱200 if you mail it (₱130 clearance + ₱70 for mailing it back) |
| Processing | Up to about 5 working days after the NBI receives it, plus mailing time |
We are not the NBI or a Philippine embassy. This is an independent guide. Each post sets its own schedule, fees and instructions, so follow the one that serves you.
Jump to:
Who needs NBI Form No. 5, and who doesn’t
| Your situation | Do you need Form No. 5? |
|---|---|
| First NBI clearance, and you’re abroad | Yes |
| Your last clearance was issued in 2014 or earlier | Yes |
| Your name, civil status or other details have changed | Yes |
| Your last clearance was issued after 2014 and nothing has changed | No. Renew online and have it delivered in the Philippines |
| You’re in the Philippines | No. Apply online and go to a branch |
If you can renew online, someone at an address in the Philippines receives the clearance and sends it to you. No fingerprints are needed. Here are the steps for NBI online renewal.
Where to get the form
Get the card from the Philippine embassy or consulate that serves your area, usually by appointment. Some posts also mail it to you if you send a written request. Use the card the post gives you rather than a printout from a website, since the post has to certify it.
How to fill in NBI Form No. 5
- Use black ink and capital letters. Write clearly, because the NBI encodes your details from the card.
- Don’t erase or cover mistakes. A card with corrections can be rejected, so ask for a fresh one if you slip.
- Fill in both sides, following the labels on the card, and leave no required field blank.
- Match your documents. Your name, birth date and birthplace must match your passport and PSA birth certificate.
- Sign where indicated, and only in front of the officer if your post asks you to.
How married women write their names
Posts don’t all give the same instruction. Take Maria Reyes Santos, married to Juan Cruz. The two orders you’ll see are:
| Order some posts use | Example |
|---|---|
| Maiden surname, first name, mother’s maiden surname, husband’s surname | SANTOS, MARIA, REYES, CRUZ |
| Maiden surname, husband’s surname, first name, mother’s maiden surname | SANTOS, CRUZ, MARIA, REYES |
Use the order your own embassy or consulate gives in its instructions or on the card, and ask at the counter if it isn’t clear. If you’re changing to your married surname for the first time, our guide to changing your last name on your NBI clearance explains what else to bring.
Photo requirements
Attach a recent 2×2 photo with a white background. Some posts ask for one photo taken within the last three months, others for two taken within the last month, so check your post’s list. Don’t staple through your face, and avoid glasses, filters or a busy background.
Getting your fingerprints taken
The NBI needs rolled impressions: each finger is rolled from one edge of the nail to the other so the whole pattern shows, not just pressed flat. Smudged or partial prints can get a card sent back.
- Who takes them: the embassy or consulate at many posts, or local police where the post allows it. In Canada that can be the RCMP or an accredited agency; in Abu Dhabi, the CID.
- The officer signs the card, with their name and position, and some posts also want an official stamp.
- Keep the card flat and clean afterwards. Don’t fold it or let the ink smear.
Having the form certified by the embassy or consulate
Once the card is complete, the post certifies it. Depending on the post, this is called notarization or consularization. Bring the card, your passport and a photocopy of its data page, and pay the post’s fee.
| Post | Fee |
|---|---|
| USA — Consulate General, New York | US$25 + US$5 online fee |
| Canada — Consulate General, Vancouver | CAD 38.75 (+ CAD 15.50 same-day) |
| Japan — Embassy, Tokyo | ¥5,250 |
| Hong Kong — Consulate General | HKD 200 |
| United Kingdom — Embassy, London | GBP 23 (+ GBP 10 express) |
| Saudi Arabia — Embassy, Riyadh | SAR 100 |
| UAE — Consulate, Dubai, and Embassy, Abu Dhabi | AED 100 per document |
Fees change, so check with your post before you go. Filipinos in the UAE and Canada have extra steps; see our guides for the UAE and Canada.
Sending the form to the NBI
You have two options once the post has certified the card:
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Send the certified card, a copy of your passport’s data page, a 2×2 photo and the ₱200 fee to the NBI’s Mailed Clearance Section. The clearance is mailed back to you |
| Use a representative | Courier everything to a relative or friend in the Philippines, who submits it at the NBI Clearance Center and collects the clearance |
Mailing address: Mailed Clearance Section, 3rd Floor, NBI Clearance Building, United Nations Avenue, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines. Don’t use the old Taft Avenue address, which some older pages still show.
Payment: Payment methods for mailed applications have changed over the years, and some banks no longer handle them. Before you mail anything, email mailedclearance@nbi.gov.ph or call 0915 689 3113 or 0920 122 3327 to confirm how to pay.
A representative is usually faster. They need your written authority; here’s a sample authorization letter for claiming your NBI clearance. Our guide to getting an NBI clearance from abroad compares both routes and covers apostilles for the country where you’ll use it.
Mistakes that get Form No. 5 sent back
- Flat or smudged fingerprints instead of rolled ones.
- No signature or name from the officer who took them.
- Erasures or correction fluid on the card.
- An old photo, or the wrong size or background.
- The wrong name order for married women.
- Mail sent to Taft Avenue, or a payment the NBI can’t cash.
- Using Form No. 5 when you could have renewed online in a few minutes.
FAQs: NBI Form No. 5
Use the card your embassy or consulate gives you, since the post has to certify it. If you can’t visit, ask whether your post mails the card on request.
Only if your post accepts it. Most accept the post itself or local police. In Canada, RCMP-accredited agencies are commonly accepted. Check your post’s instructions first.
Allow several weeks. The post takes a few days to certify, the NBI takes up to about 5 working days after receiving the card, and international mail or couriers add the rest.
Either works. Mailing avoids needing someone in the Philippines but is usually slower. A representative can submit it and collect the clearance faster.
The NBI’s charter, Republic Act 157, as updated by the NBI Reorganization and Modernization Act (Republic Act 10867) of 2016.
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