NBI Clearance Online: Register, Pay, Appear, Collect
National Bureau of Investigation · clearances
Quick answer
Register at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, complete your profile, pick a branch and slot, and pay ₱130.00 plus a ₱30.00 convenience fee. Bring your reference number and two valid IDs. With no HIT you walk out with the clearance the same day.
Last verified
Where these figures come from
About these figures: the numbers below come from NBI's official published sources: NBI | How to Apply for NBI Clearance (https://nbi.gov.ph/how-to-apply-nbi-clearance/, retrieved 2026-08-31); NBI | Citizen's Charter Handbook 2025 (1st Edition) (https://nbi.gov.ph/uploads/2025/04/2025-CITIZENS-CHARTER-HANDBOOK-1st-EDITION.pdf, retrieved 2026-08-31); NBI | Citizen's Charter, NBI Clearance for First Time Job Seekers (https://nbi.gov.ph/citizens-charter/nbi-clearance-first-time-job-seekers/, retrieved 2026-08-31). Agencies change fees and rates without notice, so confirm with NBI before you rely on them. Last verified: 2026-08-31.
The NBI clearance process is now front-loaded online. You register, pay and book before you go, and the branch visit is reduced to biometrics and printing. The charter puts that visit at 15 minutes 13 seconds for a first-time applicant, excluding the queue.
Phase 1: online
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to clearance.nbi.gov.ph and register, or log in. Use an active mobile number and email address, because you verify with a One-Time Password |
| 2 | Complete the Applicant Information Form: personal details, family background, education and employment. Make the spelling match your valid IDs exactly. Click Save Information and review your profile |
| 3 | Click Apply for Clearance. A pop-up asks which valid government ID you will bring |
| 4 | Choose an NBI branch, then an available date and time slot, AM or PM |
| 5 | Pay the fee and copy, screenshot or print the Reference Number the system generates |
First-time job seekers use a different door. Under RA 11261 the clearance is free, and NBI runs a dedicated portal at firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph. The NBI clearance requirements guide covers what that route needs.
What you pay
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clearance fee | ₱130.00 |
| Electronic payment convenience fee | ₱30.00 |
| Total | ₱160.00 |
The charter names the payment step at 2 minutes, and NBI lists GCash, Maya, 7-Eleven, Bayad Center and online banking as channels. The registration step before it is timed at 10 minutes.
The Reference Number matters more than people expect. It is what you present at the payment channel, and it is also your gate pass at the branch. Losing it means starting the transaction again.
The 15-day grace period
NBI’s guidance describes a 15-day grace period once your transaction is marked PAID: you can typically visit your chosen branch within 15 days of your target window even if you miss the exact date.
That is worth knowing before you panic-rebook. Check that your portal transaction page reads PAID before you travel to a branch.
Phase 2: the branch
| Step | What happens | Published time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You present your reference number at the biometrics window; the operator captures your digital photo, fingerprints and electronic signature | 2 minutes 35 seconds |
| 2 | The officer asks you to check every typed detail on a monitor before printing | Part of the same step |
| 3 | The printing operator prints and releases the clearance certificate | 38 seconds |
What to bring:
- your printed or digital Reference Number, or QR code
- proof of payment or receipt
- two valid government-issued IDs, original and not expired
NBI names a passport, driver’s licence, National ID, UMID, postal ID or a PSA birth certificate among the acceptable documents.
Dress code. Branches enforce one for the official photo. Sandos, tank tops, shorts and slippers are out. NBI recommends smart casual or a collared shirt.
The release, and the HIT
| Outcome | What happens |
|---|---|
| No HIT | Your name is clear of matches in the database. You go straight to the printing window and get the clearance in hand within minutes |
| With HIT | Your name matches or resembles someone with a pending case or record. You return on a scheduled date 8 working days later and go to the Releasing Section. No extra payment |
| With HIT, for Quality Control | You are interviewed at the Quality Control Section against the derogatory record, timed at 10 minutes 20 seconds |
NBI’s own how-to-apply page frames the HIT wait as “usually 5 to 10 working days”, which brackets the charter’s 8 working days. Its advice is worth repeating: a HIT is incredibly common and is not an accusation.
Published totals, by route
| Route | Total processing time | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| First-time applicants, or a previous clearance issued before October 2016, no HIT | 15 minutes 13 seconds | ₱160.00 |
| First-time job seeker, online application, no HIT | 2 minutes 15 seconds | Free |
| First-time job seeker, walk-in, no HIT | 3 minutes 15 seconds | Free |
| First-time job seeker, with HIT | 8 working days, 13 minutes 13 seconds | Free |
| First-time job seeker, with HIT and a Quality Control interview | 8 working days, 23 minutes 33 seconds | Free |
| Previously issued after 16 October 2016, online renewal | 1 day, 12 minutes 38 seconds | ₱160.00 plus delivery |
That last row is the one to check yourself against. If your last NBI clearance was issued after 16 October 2016, you may not need a branch visit at all. The NBI clearance renewal guide covers it.
Walk-in, if you must
NBI still publishes a walk-in flow at the main office, and the steps are the same work in a different order.
| Step | What happens | Published time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proceed to the NBI free online clearance application; a data encoder encodes your personal information, at the ground floor holding area | 2 minutes |
| 2 | Proceed to over-the-counter payment; the cashier issues an official receipt | 40 seconds |
| 3 | Proceed to biometric and image capture on the 2nd or 3rd floor: fingerprint, image, signature | 1.5 minutes |
| 4 | Proceed to the printing area for issuance of the clearance | 20 seconds |
Where and when: NBI Clearance Building, U.N. Avenue, Manila, Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Direct line 524-77-47, trunkline 523-82-31 local 5509.
What this page does not cover
NBI does not publish, on the pages read for this guide, appointment slot availability, how far ahead slots open, what happens if you miss the 15-day grace period, the clearance’s validity period, or a reprint fee. None of those are stated here.
Related
NBI clearance requirements and fees covers the ID list, the delivery charges and the free first-time job seeker route. NBI clearance renewal covers the route that skips the branch entirely.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do I apply for an NBI clearance online?
- At clearance.nbi.gov.ph. Register with an active mobile number and email address, because you verify the account with a One-Time Password. First-time job seekers use the separate portal at firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph instead.
- What do I pay and how?
- ₱130.00 for the clearance plus a ₱30.00 electronic payment convenience fee. Payment channels NBI names are GCash, Maya, 7-Eleven, Bayad Center and online banking. The system generates a Reference Number, which is both your payment code and your gate pass at the branch.
- What if I miss my appointment date?
- NBI's guidance describes a 15-day grace period once your transaction is marked PAID, meaning you can typically visit your chosen branch within 15 days of your target window.
- What do I bring to the branch?
- Your printed or digital Reference Number or QR code, proof of payment, and two valid government-issued IDs, original and not expired.
- What happens at the branch?
- Biometrics capture of your digital photo, fingerprints and electronic signature, then data verification on a monitor, then release. The charter times biometrics at 2 minutes 35 seconds and printing and release at 38 seconds.
- What is a HIT and what do I do?
- It means your name matches or resembles someone with a record. The charter has you return on a scheduled date 8 working days later. Some applicants are interviewed at the Quality Control Section, timed at 10 minutes 20 seconds. You pay nothing extra.
- Is there a dress code?
- Yes. NBI branches enforce one for the official photo. Avoid sandos, tank tops, shorts and slippers; NBI recommends smart casual or a collared shirt.
- How long is the whole visit?
- The charter publishes a total of 15 minutes 13 seconds for first-time applicants and those whose previous clearance was issued before October 2016, excluding the queue.