What Is An NBI Clearance?

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance is

a government document released to an individual upon
request. It certifies that the said individual, at the time
of request, is not involved in any ongoing criminal cases
in the Philippines.

Unlike a Police Clearance (which is only limited to a

particular area), an NBI Clearance covers the entire
Philippines. A person’s NBI Clearance is valid for a year
upon its request, and should be used before then.

What Is An NBI Clearance Used For?

An NBI Clearance has many uses, but is most often
required by potential employers as proof that you aren’t
involved in any pending criminal cases. It will also show
if you have a criminal record.

Hiring managers will use this information when

considering your application. Here are some other
examples of where your NBI Clearance is required.

1. Local uses for your NBI Clearance:

 Business Requirement
 Enlistment for the Armed Forces of the
Philippines/Philippine National Police
 Adoption

2. International uses for your NBI Clearance:

  Immigration
 Visa Applications
 International Travel

These are just some of the possible applications for an

NBI Clearance, and there are many more. Generally, it’s
a good idea to always have a valid NBI Clearance on
hand, as you’ll often need to take some time off to
process requesting for one.

What Are The Requirements For An NBI

Clearance?
1. Valid IDs

You’ll need at least two (2) of the following Valid IDs:

 Valid passport
 Voter’s ID
 Driver’s License
 PRC License
 SSS ID
 GSIS UMID
 Postal ID
 School ID
 TIN ID
 Philhealth ID
 Authenticated Birth Certificate
 Alien Certificate of Registration
 Senior Citizen ID
  Previous Copy of NBI Clearance

Note that these are the only Valid IDs that will be

accepted for your NBI Clearance request. Any other ID
not on this list will not be accepted.

Some pointers you need to take note of regarding your

valid IDs:

 Your ID should be a government-issued ID or

provided for by the school you currently attend. Do
not bring a school ID for a school you are not
currently enrolled in.
 It should be an original document. Photocopies of
your ID will not be accepted.
 Your IDs must be valid and current. Expired IDs will
not be accepted.
 It must state your full name.
 It must bear a recent recognizable photograph that
clearly matches you.
 It must be in good condition, with clearly legible
text and a clearly visible photograph.

2. Application Fee (P130)

As of March 2018, the current application fee for an NBI
Clearance is P130. Make sure to bring this amount in
cash.

Bring extra money as well in case you need to buy water

(stay hydrated!) or snacks while processing your
request. You should also bring your own pen.

3. Wear proper attire

As a general rule when going to government offices, it’s
a good idea to wear something smart but casual. Wear
clean, neat clothes. Here’s a guideline you can follow.

For Men:

 T-shirts (Avoid shirts with offensive material)

 Polo shirts
 Pants
 Closed shoes

For Women:

 Sleeved shirts/blouses
 Pants/slacks
 Dresses not shorter than an inch above the knees
 Skirts not shorter than an inch above the knees
 Closed shoes

Clothes to AVOID:

 Tank tops
 Clothing with offensive designs/statements
 Shorts
 Sports clothing
 Revealing clothing
 Slippers
 Soiled/dirty clothes
As part of the application process, your photo will be
taken for identification purposes. For this photo, you’ll
be requested to remove all accessories, such as
earrings, necklaces, and piercings. You’ll also be asked
to remove cosmetic contact lenses.

For your convenience, consider leaving your accessories

at home, and wearing glasses instead of your contacts if
they have cosmetic colors.

Where Can I Find NBI Branches?

Currently, there are 63 Clearance Centers nationwide
where you can process your NBI Clearance.

Below is a list of NBI satellite offices, which are mostly

found in shopping malls or city halls, for convenience:

 NBI Clearance Center – U.N Avenue, Ermita. Manila

 Robinson’s Place – Basement 1 Ermita, Manila
 Robinson’s Otis – Level 2 Guanzon St., Paco, Manila
 Ever Gotesco Recto – Level 3 Cinema 3 Recto Ave.,
Manila
 Quezon City Hall – Makatarungan St, Diliman,
Quezon City
 Robinson’s Galleria – Basement 1 Ortigas Ave.,
Quezon City
 Robinson’s Novaliches – Novaliches, Quezon City
 Montalban Rizal Municipal Hall – Ground Flr., Rizal
 Robinson’s Cainta – Level 2 Junction Cainta, Rizal
  Victory Shopping Center – Alabang, Muntinlupa City
 Mandaluyong City Hall – Maysilo Circle,
Mandaluyong City
 Las Pinas City Hall or SM Center Las Pinas – Las
Pinas City
 Robinson’s Metro East – Level 4 Marcos Highway,
Pasig
 Duty Free Fiesta Mall – Ninoy Aquino Ave.,
Paranaque City
 Empire Mall – EDSA, Pasay City
 Marilao Municipal Hall – Beside PNP Station,
Marilao, Bulacan
 Lipa City Hall – Lipa City, Batangas
 Robinson’s Dasmarinas – Dasmarinas, Cavite

There are many other sites where you can process your
NBI Clearance. 

How Do I Apply For My NBI Clearance Online?

As mentioned earlier, instead of immediately heading to
your nearest NBI Clearance Site, you can start with
applying online from the convenience of your own home
and at your own time.

Below is the complete process for applying for your NBI

Clearance online.

Step#1: Registering Online
1. To apply for your NBI Clearance online, you’ll need to
set up an account.

Go to the NBI Clearance Online Services website. You’ll

see the “REGISTER” section on the right side of your
screen.

Click the “YES” check box if you have an old NBI

Clearance, or click the “NO” box if you do not. If you
clicked “NO,” the required fields will change.

Fill in these fields. Note that the NBI website only allows
one email per user.

Make sure you have access to this email, and ensure

that all information you’ve entered is complete and
correct, as you won’t be able to change this later.

2. Once finished, click the “I ACCEPT TERMS OF

SERVICE” checkbox, and click the “SIGN UP” button.

A new window will appear with the description of the

service and information on privacy.

After reading, click the “I AGREE” button.

3. A new window will appear with the details you’ve

entered.
Ensure that all information is correct, as this is the last
time you’ll be able to edit it.

When done, click the “YES” button to proceed and finish

your registration.

Step #2: Filling up your Online Application Form

4. Log in using the email and password you entered
during registration.

5. Complete all the necessary details in the APPLICANT

INFORMATION page.

After filling up the NBI Clearance Application Form, click

the “SAVE INFORMATION” button.

You’ll be redirected to a summary of the personal

information you just input.

You can edit this by clicking the “EDIT” button if you see
any errors.

Step #3: Scheduling your NBI Clearance Online

6. Once finished with the previous step, click on the
“APPLY FOR CLEARANCE” button.

7. A new window will appear asking you for the valid ID
you’ll bring for verification.

Choose your preferred ID from the drop-down menu.

Though the website only asks you for one, remember to
bring two during your actual appointment.

8. A new window will appear. Read and understand the

Important Message and click the “CLOSE” button.

9. You’ll now have to schedule your appointment for

your NBI Clearance, and choose the branch where you
want process it.

At the top of the window, choose your preferred branch

from the drop down menu.

This will be the branch where your photo and biometrics

will be taken, and where you will claim your NBI
Clearance.

10. Then, choose your appointment date and time (AM

or PM) for your NBI Clearance Appointment.

Blue colored boxes are vacant slots, while red colored

boxes show slots that are already taken.

Step #4: Paying for your NBI Clearance Application

Fee
11. There are six ways you can pay for your NBI
Clearance Application Fee. These are the following:

 Banks (Over the Counter) – Pay in cash over the

counter at a nearby bank
  Banks (Online) – Pay the fees through online
banking partners
 Mobile Payment (GCASH) – Pay using GCASH
 MultiPay – Pay using your MultiPay Wallet
 ECPay – Pay through ECPay or ECPay
affiliates/partners
 7-Eleven – Pay at any 7-Eleven branch near you

12. Once you pick your preferred payment method, a

new window will appear showing your total fee for your
NBI Clearance.

Additional fees may appear for e-payment services.

Once you click “PROCEED TO PAYMENT,” a new window

will appear showing you your Reference Number.

13. Use your Reference Number to pay for your NBI

Clearance Fee using the selected method you chose.

Note that this Reference Number is also your pass to

enter the NBI Clearance Center for the final steps of
your application.

14. Check the status of your NBI Clearance Online

Application under “TRANSACTIONS” on the left side of
the website.

After payment, its status will change from “PENDING” to

“PAID.”
15. Wait for your scheduled appointment.

On your appointment day, bring all necessary

requirements, including your two (2) Valid IDs, your
printed NBI Clearance Application form, your NBI
Clearance Reference Number, and your payment receipt.

Follow the appropriate dress code, and arrive on time.

16. Ask for assistance and show that you are an online

applicant.

Complete photo capture and fingerprint scanning, and

claim your NBI Clearance.

Where Can I Find My Application Form And

Reference Number?
When applying online, your Application
Form and Reference Number are important for
completing your NBI Clearance process.

It’s easy to forget to print out your form, which includes

your reference number—which is then needed to enter
any NBI Clearance Center.

If you’ve lost track of your Application Form or your

Reference Number, don’t worry; you can easily access
these two.

Follow the steps below:

 1. First, log on to the NBI Clearance Application
website.
2. On the left of the page, you’ll find a link called
“TRANSACTIONS.” Click this link.
3. A new page will load showing all the previous
transactions you’ve made using the website,
including information such as reference number,
payment status, and appointment date. You can
copy your reference number from here.
4. On the right side of the page, click the “DETAILS”
button for the transaction you want to see.
5. A new window will appear showing the payment
status of your application, the reference number,
and appointment schedule. You’ll also see a button
“PRINT APPLICATION FORM.” Click this to print
your form.

What Is A HIT?
When claiming your NBI Clearance, you may sometimes
hear about someone having a “HIT,” or find out that you
yourself have a “HIT.”

A “HIT” is the term used by NBI Clearance Centers if the

applicant has the same or similar name with another
person who has a pending criminal case. This requires
the NBI to verify your identity further before they can
release an NBI Clearance to the applicant.

Possible reasons for a “HIT”:

 1. You have a pending criminal or administrative case
before the court, Ombudsman, Sandigan Bayan, or
another administrative or quasi-judicial body.
2. You have the same or similar name with another
person who has a pending or ongoing case.
3. You have a previous criminal or administrative case,
and the status of this case needs to be further
verified by NBI personnel.
4. Your NBI Clearance has been held by request of
other government agencies.

All NBI Clearance applicants with a “HIT” are subject to

further verification of the applicant’s identity with the
Identification and Records Division at NBI Manila.

Applicants are usually told to return after eight (8) to ten

(10) working days to claim their NBI Clearance after
verification has been completed.

What Is An NBI Clearance Quality Control

Interview And What Do I Do?
An NBI Clearance Quality Control Interview is a process
held at the NBI Clearance Main Office.

During this interview, NBI personnel will review and

verify your identity as an NBI Clearance applicant.

You’ll be asked questions about your identity and your

recent whereabouts. These interviews are scheduled for
certain applicants who have had a “HIT.”
If you’ve been requested to undergo an NBI Clearance
Quality Control Interview, remember the following:

1. Don’t panic. This is a routine interview needed to

verify your identity.
2. Be on time.
3. Bring two (2) Valid IDs that are accepted for NBI
Clearance. Government-issued IDs are best.
4. Follow appropriate dress code.
5. Bring your NBI Clearance Receipt.

What to Expect During the Interview

While tedious, the interview is free and will not cost you
anything, except your time. Below is an overview of
what happens during the interview:

1. You’ll be asked certain questions to help verify your

identity.
2. After answering these questions, you’ll be given an
Affidavit of Denial, which you’ll be required to fill
out.
3. After filling out this form, you’ll then take an oath
with the NBI Clearance Resident Lawyer.
4. Next, your Affidavit of Denial will be notarized, and
you’ll give the Affidavit of Denial to the staff who
interviewed you.
5. They will provide you with the new releasing time of
your NBI Clearance.
 6. Proceed to the Printing and Releasing section to
claim your NBI Clearance.

What If I Can’t Claim My NBI Clearance In Person?

Sometimes, your schedule will keep you from being able
to claim your NBI Clearance in person, especially if your
request came up with a “HIT.”

Luckily, you can have someone else pick it up for you,

with the use of an Authorization Letter.

An Authorization Letter is a document you write giving

explicit permission to your chosen Authorized Person to
claim your NBI Clearance on your behalf.

These are the basic information you should include in

your Authorization Letter:

 Your Name
 Name of your Authorized Person
 Date
 Personal details of both you and the authorized
person, such as age, address, and contact numbers
 Explicit consent to have said Authorized Person
claim your NBI Clearance
 Signatures (You and the Authorized Person)

Things your Authorized Person should remember:

 Observe proper dress code.

  Bring an original valid ID of the person whose NBI
Clearance you are picking up.
 As the Authorized Person, they must bring their own
one (1) valid ID, or two (2) to be sure. Government-
issued IDs are better.
 Proceed directly to the releasing window and
present the signed Authorization Letter, your Valid
ID, and the Authorized Person’s ID.

If there are no issues in verifying identity, the NBI

Clearance Releasing Personnel assigned should release
your NBI Clearance to your Authorized Person.

With the new online application and renewal process for

NBI Clearance, it’s much easier and less time
consuming to get your copy of this important document.

Still, it has strict requirements that have to be followed

to the letter. Make sure you’re prepared when you go to
process your NBI Clearance, so your experience will be
hassle-free.