Is NBI Clearance Needed for Passport Application

In the Philippines, applying for a passport can be tricky if you are not familiar with the requirements and application process. NBI Clearance is one of the most important documents for Philippine citizens and it may be necessary for passport application under some circumstances. We will guide you through the things you need to know about it in this article.

What is NBI Clearance?

NBI stands for National Bureau of Investigation. The NBI Clearance is a document issued by the Philipines government to prove that you are not involved in any crime in this country and therefore you are cleared for a number of applications. It will also show existing criminal records if you have any.

It is widely used locally and internationally. For local uses, it is often required for employment purposes, business purposes, enlistment for the Armed Forces of the Philipines/Philippine National Police, and adoption. For international uses, it concerns employment, immigration, Visa application, international travel, and so on.

The NBI Clearance is different from the Police Clearance, which only shows criminal records within a region. The NBI Clearance covers the entire Philippines and it is valid for only 1 year.

Is NBI Clearance Needed for Passport Application?

NBI Clearance is not necessary for passport requirements for new applicants. However, it is needed in certain cases when some supporting documents are required. 

When is NBI Clearance Needed for Passport Application?

As mentioned above, NBI Clearance is not included in the core requirements for passport application, but it will be required under the following conditions:

1. Late-registered Birth Certificate

The original and photocopy of the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) authenticated Birth Certificate is very important for passport application. If your Birth Certificate was registered at least 10 years ago, then no additional documents will be needed, whereas if your Birth Certificate was registered within 10 years, you must submit an ID that pre-dates the registration or your current ID with NBI Clearance.

2. Can’t Submit Birth Certificate or Report of Birth

• If you are born after 1950 and you don’t have a Birth Certificate, you have to file for late registration of the Birth Certificate before you go on with the application. You can contact the LCR (Local Civil Registrar) or the Consular Office in the jurisdiction in which you were born. After you get your Birth Certificate, you need to submit it along with NBI Clearance.
• If you are born on or before 1950 and have no proof of birth, you need to submit an original and photocopy of the PSA authenticated Certificate of No Birth Record and Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons attesting your identity.

3. Voter’s ID

The voter’s ID or the Voter’s certification can be accepted as proof of identification as long as it has a dry seal and it is signed by an Election Officer. If you present the voter’s certificate as your valid ID, you should also provide NBI Clearance or Police Clearance.

Please note the policy concerning a Voter’s ID or Voter’s Certificate being a valid ID for passport application has been adjusted since 2022. It is said that Voter’s IDs or Voters’s Certificates issued from the COMELEC main office in Intramuros, Manila are no longer needed. Make sure you check with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) for the latest policy.

4. Apply for a Passport with the Spouse’s Last Name after Marriage

For married women, if you are using your spouse’s last name, you have to submit a PSA authenticated Marriage Contract which has to be on a Security Paper or a Report of Marriage. Both original and photocopy of the document are required to present. In addition, if the marriage took place within 6 months before the date of application, NBI Clearance will be needed. 

That being said, you do not have to present a Marriage Contract if you keep your maiden’s name after marriage.

What is Needed for Passport Application?

The online passport application is quite simple, but there are different requirements for adult applicants and minor applicants. To help you get started on preparing the documents needed, we are sharing the following lists of documents. Application forms, Birth certificates, and valid ID are the things you must prepare. On top of that, there are other documents required based on your own condition.

Here below are the passport application requirements for your reference:

For adult applicant

1. Completed application form

The application form for your passport should be completed to schedule your appointment. It is usually filled out online and once you are done with the form and paying the fee, an e-mail confirmation will be sent to you. You can download the application form attached to this e-mail. It is best you apply 3 months ahead of your travel date so that you can make sure there is a slot early enough for your application process.

2. Birth Certificate

• Your Birth Certificate should be authenticated by the PSA and it should be printed on Security Paper.
• Both original and photocopy of the document are required.
• If your PSA authenticated Birth Certificate is not clear, you need to get a copy from the LCR.

3. Valid ID

Any of the following IDs is acceptable as a valid proof of identity:

• Philippine Identification (PhilID) / ePhilID
• Social Security System (SSS) Card
• Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Card
• Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Card
• Land Transportation Office (LTO) Driver’s License
• Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) ID
• Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) E-Card
• Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Voter’s ID or Voter’s Certificate issued from COMELEC main office in Intramuros, Manila.
• Philippine National Police (PNP) Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence
• Senior Citizen ID
• Airman License (issued August 2016 onwards)
• Philippine Postal ID (issued November 2016 onwards)
• Seafarer’s Record Book (SRB) or Seafarers Identity Document (SID) (*must be issued Feb 2020 onwards) issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
• School ID (if applicable)
• ID showing Philippine citizenship issued by the host government (For applicants based overseas)

Please remember no matter what kind of ID you present, it should be clear and readable. Original and photocopy of ID are required. Also, it should be consistent with the document presented on your application form.

4. Supporting documents

• Marriage Contract

If you are a married woman who uses your spouse’s last name, you must also submit your Marriage Contract authenticated by PSA on Security Paper or Report of Marriage.

• NBI Clearance

If your Birth Certificate is late-registrated which means it is registered within 10 years, you should provide an ID that pre-dates the registration or your current ID with NBI Clearance.

• Certificate of No Birth Record

If you are born on or before 1950, a PSA authenticated Certificate of No Birth Record and Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons attesting to your identity must be submitted.

Different supporting documents are applied to different conditions of the applicant. Make sure you go over the DFA website for more detailed information before you apply.

For minor applicant

The requirements for minor applicants are similar to the adults, but you should still check out some additional requirements as follows:

1. Completed application form

2. Accompanied by a parent

Both the minor applicant and either of his parents (or authorized adult companion) are required to make an appearance at the DFA office.

3. Birth Certificate

4. Marriage Certificate

If only 1 parent is accompanying the minor, a marriage certificate should be presented.

5. Passport or valid Government ID of either parent

Please refer to the valid ID list for adults from the above.

6. School ID (if applicable)

7. Certified True Copy of LCR Birth Certificate

For newborn babies who are less than 1 year old, a Certified True Copy of the LCR Birth Certificate is needed if the baby was born in the Philippines. This also needs to be PSA authenticated. If the baby was born abroad, a Report of Birth or first endorsement from the Consular Records Division is required.

More requirements for specific cases may occur, you should check with the DFA before your application.

How to Make Passport Size Photo Online Free?

Submiting a passport photo which is up to the Philippine standard is important. Nowadays, AI tools are available online for you to take your passport photos easily. You can get a perfectly compliant passport photo without stepping out of your house, which saves much time in the application process. It is FREE!

This is how you do it step by step:

Step 1. Find a well-lit area

Find an environment in your house that has plenty of natural light, but also be careful of too much shadow in the background because the photo will not be acceptable with any shadow. In addition, it is best to set up a white background and remove all the unnecessary things in front of it for the photo shoot.

Step 2. Take a photo using a cellphone

Stand in front of the white background and make sure your hair doesn’t cover any part of your face. You can either ask someone to take the photo for you or simply just fix your cellphone on a tripod. Keep yourself about 1 meter away from the camera and take dozens of clicks. The person who take the photo should make sure the camera doesn’t shake and the photos taken are clear.

Step 3. Make passport size photo online with AiPassportPhotos

• Visit this website. Photo specifications will be automatically chosen based on your country and document type. You don’t have to worry about photo size and background color requirements for a Philippine passport.

• Tap “Upload a Photo” and select the best shot you take. You will have your compliant passport photo in 15 seconds. See the example below.

Step 4. Download the passport-size photo

Click “FreeDownload” and you will come to the below page. Digital version of the passport photo and the printout template are both available for free download.

FAQ

📌Is NBI Clearance a valid ID in the Philippines?

No. NBI Clearance is a document showing that you are not involved in any crime in Philipphines.

📌Can I get a passport without a valid ID in the Philippines?

No. A valid ID is necessary for passport application.

📌Is NBI Clearance required for passport renewal？

Normally, it is not required. However, there are cases when your renewal will be treated as new application, such as lost expired passport, passport being damaged and so on. Under these cases, a NBI Clearance may be required.

Conclusion

Although NBI Clearance has many uses in Philippines and it is always a good idea to have a valid NBI Clearance on hand, it may not be necessary when it comes to passport application. In this article, we have listed all the situation where NBI Clearance is needed in the process of passport application. Hope it will be helpful and make your application much easier.