How do I get an NBI clearance?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Get an NBI clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation: register and book an appointment on the NBI Clearance online portal (clearance.nbi.gov.ph), pay the fee through the accepted payment channels, then appear on your appointment date for biometrics and a photo. An NBI clearance is valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance. The fee is set by the NBI and paid through official channels — never through a fixer.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
How long is an NBI clearance valid?
One (1) year from the date of issuance, per the NBI's Citizens' Charter. After that you renew it — renewal can often be done online, with the clearance delivered or claimed.
How much does it cost?
The clearance fee is set by the NBI (plus any e-payment service charge). Pay only through the portal's accepted payment channels — a fixer offering a 'faster' clearance for extra cash is illegal under the anti-red-tape law.
What if I get a 'hit'?
A 'hit' means your name matched a record and your release is held for verification. It is not automatically a criminal record — see the separate answer on resolving an NBI hit.
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How to get and fix your government papers without a fixer — a PSA birth, marriage, or death certificate and a CENOMAR (order via PSA Serbilis / PSAHelpline), correcting a misspelled name or wrong first name administratively under RA 9048 and a wrong day/month of birth or sex under RA 10172 (no court needed; the birth YEAR still needs a Rule 108 court petition), late registration of an unregistered birth, the PhilSys national ID and its acceptance as valid proof of identity under RA 11055, applying for or renewing a passport at the DFA and its 10-year adult validity under RA 10928 (amending RA 8239), what to do when you lose your passport, getting an NBI clearance and resolving a 'hit', police and barangay clearances, registering to vote and transferring or reactivating your registration with COMELEC (RA 8189, mandatory biometrics under RA 10367), the cedula / Community Tax Certificate under the Local Government Code (RA 7160), and your anti-red-tape rights against fixers and undue extra requirements under RA 11032 (Ease of Doing Business Act) and RA 9485.