What is NBI clearance?
NBI stands for National Bureau of Investigation. As the name implies, an NBI clearance is an official issuance of record by this investigative agency which summarizes the criminal cases filed against a person if there are any. Because of this, NBI clearance became one of the standard required documents as proof of identity, requirement for employment & travelling abroad and act as supporting legal document.
An NBI clearance contains the details of the applying person such as the full name, address, date and place of birth, citizenship, civil status, gender, picture, fingerprint, signature, date of issuance, validity, purpose and remarks regarding criminal record
Applying for NBI clearance used to be a walk-in process wherein the applicant needs to visit the NBI office to fill up the application form and wait for a long queue. Due to this tedious process, NBI has implemented online application system wherein the applicant has to set an appointment for getting the clearance in his preferred NBI branch. This new process has somewhat sped up the overall process as the agency will no longer be crowded by applicants just to fill out the form. This online application prepares the applicant’s clearance ahead of time by letting the applicants register online and supply their personal info to NBI data server for their record keeping.
How to apply an NBI Clearance Online?
First, login to your NBI online account via NBI Clearance website. (This tutorial presumes that the applicant has already registered their account online prior to this application step). Once you are in the said page, you are entitled to read and understand their data privacy content. You can then select which language to proceed then just click I Agree button.
On the upper part of the page, enter your registered Email address and password then click SIGN IN. (see below image)
Once you are logged in, click the APPLY FOR CLEARANCE button located at the upper right corner of the page. (see below image)
For confirmation, you will be required to select the type of your ID you are going to present once you claim your clearance at NBI. Just select your preferred ID and enter its ID number then click I Agree button. Below are the government ID’s accepted during NBI verification:
- UMID (SSS & GSIS)
- PASSPORT
- PHILHEALTH
- VOTER’S ID OR CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
- BIR
- PRC LICENSE
- BIRTH CERTIFICATE AUTHENTICATED BY PSA
- DRIVER’S LICENSE
- PAG-IBIG (NOT THE LOYALTY CARD)
- POSTAL ID
- CERTIFICATION FROM THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR
- CERTIFICATION FROM THE MALACANANG IN CONNECTION WITH INDEGENIOUS GROUPS, TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP, FOUNDLING
- SOLO PARENT ID
- COMPANY ID – GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
- POLICE CLEARANCE ISSUED BY POLICE STATION WHERE APPLICANT IS RESIDENT OF THE STATION’S JURISDICTION
- SEAMAN’S BOOK AND SIRV
- SCHOOL ID TOGETHER WITH CURRENT REGISTRATION CARD
- SENIOR CITIZEN ID
- MARINA
Once you have clicked the I Agree button, an important reminder about your reference number will be prompted in the screen. Just click the Close button as shown below.
Then on the next page, select the NBI branch you prefer to visit to claim your clearance. Once you have selected the preferred branch, the Calendar will display which schedule date and time are available (in color blue) including the available slots. To set your appointment, just select the available date and time (AM or PM) you wish to visit the selected NBI branch.
Once you have selected your appointment date, time and branch, you are now ready to pay for the clearance. NBI clearance is now a multi-purpose clearance wherein you can use the clearance whichever purposes it may serve (employment, travel abroad and etc.)
For your payment, just select the method of payment you deem easier, convenient and accessible to you. For the purpose of this blog, I will select GCash mode of payment. Once you selected your mode of payment, you will be redirected to payment channel depending of the payment method you selected wherein you will receive your reference number for this transaction. (Below is the sample for GCash payment, just click Proceed button to continue.)
Again, the summary of your appointment will be displayed on the screen including the total amount you need to pay. NBI clearance fee costs PHP 130.00 with additional e-payment service fee depending on the mode of channel selected (PHP 25.00 for GCash). Then just click Proceed to Payment.
Then using your GCash account, pay your NBI clearance under Government biller categories (choose NBI). Just enter the Reference number generated in your NBI clearance application (see sample below). Then just follow the instructions in the following context.
Once your payment is verified, your transaction status for NBI clearance should display PAID as shown below. (This can be verified on the main page of your NBI home page under Transactions Menu)
Once you confirm your payment, just wait for your schedule date and time. To get your clearance, visit the NBI branch you selected in your appointment. Your appearance is needed for photo capturing and biometrics. Likewise, don’t forget to bring the ID you selected to present during this online application for NBI validation.
If you don’t have a “hit” remarks nor any criminal records, releasing of clearance will be done on the same day. Else you will be asked to return after a few days for their further verification of your identity.
