For a regular NBI clearance you need an account on clearance.nbi.gov.ph, a paid application with its reference number, and two original, unexpired government-issued IDs to show at the branch. You don’t need to print your application form. The reference number can be on paper or on your phone.
First-time jobseekers, people renewing, anyone with a name change or correction, and foreign nationals need a few extra things. They’re listed in the special cases below.
| To register online | An email address and a mobile number that can receive a one-time password |
| To fill in the form | Your details as they appear on your IDs and PSA birth certificate, plus your parents’ full names and birthplaces (and your spouse’s, if married) |
| To pay | ₱155–₱160 (₱130 + ₱25–₱30 e-payment charge) through a channel listed in the portal |
| At the branch | Reference number, proof of payment and two valid IDs, one of them the ID you picked online |
We are not the NBI. This is an independent guide. Apply only through clearance.nbi.gov.ph, and never pay anyone to “process” your requirements.
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What to prepare before you apply online
Registering and filling in the form goes quickly if you have these ready:
- An email address you can open right away, since confirmations go there.
- A mobile number with signal for the one-time password (OTP).
- Your exact name, birth date and birthplace, spelled the way they appear on your PSA birth certificate and IDs.
- Your parents’ full names and birthplaces, including your mother’s maiden name.
- Your spouse’s full name and birthplace, if you’re married.
- Your address, education and work details, which the form also asks for.
Take your time with the name fields. A typo there is the one mistake that’s hard to fix after you pay.
What to bring to your NBI appointment
- Your reference number. Printed or on your phone both work. Branch staff use it to pull up your application.
- Proof of payment. A screenshot of your e-wallet or bank confirmation is normally fine. If you paid over the counter, keep the paper receipt.
- Two original, unexpired government-issued IDs. One of them must be the ID you selected when you clicked Apply for Clearance. Check our list of valid IDs for NBI clearance if you’re unsure.
- The PSA document behind any change, such as a marriage certificate, if your name or civil status has changed since your last clearance.
- A black ballpen, for logbooks and small forms at the branch.
Dress neatly as well. Sandos, tank tops, shorts and slippers can get you turned away, and you’ll be photographed. Here’s more on what to wear to your NBI appointment.
Do you need to print your application form?
No. The branch works from the reference number, which brings up everything you entered online. A printed form isn’t part of the requirements. The Print option in the portal is there for your own records.
The one thing you shouldn’t lose is the reference number, so take a screenshot as soon as the portal shows it. If you lose it anyway, it’s still in your account; here’s how to find your NBI reference number again.
Extra requirements for special cases
First-time jobseekers (free clearance)
Bring your barangay certification as a first-time jobseeker and your signed Oath of Undertaking, together with two valid IDs. You also apply on a separate portal, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph. Our guide to the free NBI clearance for first-time jobseekers covers who qualifies.
Renewing with no changes
You may not need a branch visit at all. Online renewal needs the NBI ID number printed on your old clearance, while the eGovPH app needs a verified eGovPH account. Our NBI clearance renewal guide compares the options.
A new surname, a civil status change or a correction
Bring the original PSA document that proves the change, such as a marriage certificate or a corrected birth certificate. These always need a branch visit. See how to renew at a branch with changes for the document to bring in each case.
Foreign nationals living in the Philippines
Bring your passport and your ACR I-Card. Here’s the full process for the NBI clearance for foreigners.
Filipinos living abroad
If you can’t renew online, you’ll need NBI Form No. 5 with your fingerprints, processed through a Philippine embassy or consulate. Our guide to getting an NBI clearance from abroad explains each route.
Requirement mistakes that cause a wasted trip
- Bringing a different ID from the one you selected online.
- Expired IDs or photocopies instead of originals.
- Only one government ID. You need two.
- No PSA document when your name or civil status has changed.
- Shorts, sandos or slippers.
- Using the regular portal as a first-time jobseeker and paying for a clearance you could have had free.
FAQs: NBI clearance requirements
Not usually. You need it only if you’re using it as one of your two IDs, or to prove a correction to your name or birth details.
No, not for a regular NBI clearance. First-time jobseekers need a barangay certification, which is a different document from a barangay clearance.
Normally, yes. A screenshot of the payment confirmation works. If you paid at a payment center, bring the paper receipt.
No. You need two. If you have none, the quickest pair for most people is a free National ID plus a PSA birth certificate.
Once your payment shows as Paid, you have a 15-day grace period to visit the branch you chose.
For a regular NBI clearance you need an account on clearance.nbi.gov.ph, a paid application with its reference number, and two original, unexpired government-issued IDs to show at the branch. You don’t need to print your application form. The reference number can be on paper or on your phone.
First-time jobseekers, people renewing, anyone with a name change or correction, and foreign nationals need a few extra things. They’re listed in the special cases below.
Last reviewed: 28 September 2026.
| To register online | An email address and a mobile number that can receive a one-time password |
| To fill in the form | Your details as they appear on your IDs and PSA birth certificate, plus your parents’ full names and birthplaces (and your spouse’s, if married) |
| To pay | ₱155–₱160 (₱130 + ₱25–₱30 e-payment charge) through a channel listed in the portal |
| At the branch | Reference number, proof of payment and two valid IDs, one of them the ID you picked online |
We are not the NBI. This is an independent guide. Apply only through clearance.nbi.gov.ph, and never pay anyone to “process” your requirements.
Jump to:
What to prepare before you apply online
Registering and filling in the form goes quickly if you have these ready:
- An email address you can open right away, since confirmations go there.
- A mobile number with signal for the one-time password (OTP).
- Your exact name, birth date and birthplace, spelled the way they appear on your PSA birth certificate and IDs.
- Your parents’ full names and birthplaces, including your mother’s maiden name.
- Your spouse’s full name and birthplace, if you’re married.
- Your address, education and work details, which the form also asks for.
Take your time with the name fields. A typo there is the one mistake that’s hard to fix after you pay.
What to bring to your NBI appointment
- Your reference number. Printed or on your phone both work. Branch staff use it to pull up your application.
- Proof of payment. A screenshot of your e-wallet or bank confirmation is normally fine. If you paid over the counter, keep the paper receipt.
- Two original, unexpired government-issued IDs. One of them must be the ID you selected when you clicked Apply for Clearance. Check our list of valid IDs for NBI clearance if you’re unsure.
- The PSA document behind any change, such as a marriage certificate, if your name or civil status has changed since your last clearance.
- A black ballpen, for logbooks and small forms at the branch.
Dress neatly as well. Sandos, tank tops, shorts and slippers can get you turned away, and you’ll be photographed. Here’s more on what to wear to your NBI appointment.
Do you need to print your application form?
No. The branch works from the reference number, which brings up everything you entered online. A printed form isn’t part of the requirements. The Print option in the portal is there for your own records.
The one thing you shouldn’t lose is the reference number, so take a screenshot as soon as the portal shows it. If you lose it anyway, it’s still in your account; here’s how to find your NBI reference number again.
Extra requirements for special cases
First-time jobseekers (free clearance)
Bring your barangay certification as a first-time jobseeker and your signed Oath of Undertaking, together with two valid IDs. You also apply on a separate portal, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph. Our guide to the free NBI clearance for first-time jobseekers covers who qualifies.
Renewing with no changes
You may not need a branch visit at all. Online renewal needs the NBI ID number printed on your old clearance, while the eGovPH app needs a verified eGovPH account. Our NBI clearance renewal guide compares the options.
A new surname, a civil status change or a correction
Bring the original PSA document that proves the change, such as a marriage certificate or a corrected birth certificate. These always need a branch visit. See how to renew at a branch with changes for the document to bring in each case.
Foreign nationals living in the Philippines
Bring your passport and your ACR I-Card. Here’s the full process for the NBI clearance for foreigners.
Filipinos living abroad
If you can’t renew online, you’ll need NBI Form No. 5 with your fingerprints, processed through a Philippine embassy or consulate. Our guide to getting an NBI clearance from abroad explains each route.
Requirement mistakes that cause a wasted trip
- Bringing a different ID from the one you selected online.
- Expired IDs or photocopies instead of originals.
- Only one government ID. You need two.
- No PSA document when your name or civil status has changed.
- Shorts, sandos or slippers.
- Using the regular portal as a first-time jobseeker and paying for a clearance you could have had free.
FAQs: NBI clearance requirements
Not usually. You need it only if you’re using it as one of your two IDs, or to prove a correction to your name or birth details.
No, not for a regular NBI clearance. First-time jobseekers need a barangay certification, which is a different document from a barangay clearance.
Normally, yes. A screenshot of the payment confirmation works. If you paid at a payment center, bring the paper receipt.
No. You need two. If you have none, the quickest pair for most people is a free National ID plus a PSA birth certificate.
Once your payment shows as Paid, you have a 15-day grace period to visit the branch you chose.
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