Key takeaways
- A biodata is a fact sheet, not a sales document: short entries, complete dates, no paragraphs.
- Standard Philippine biodata format: long bond paper, 2×2 photo at the top right, signature over printed name at the bottom.
- Employers may not require you to state your age or birth date in an application (RA 10911); leave such fields blank where they are not needed for the job.
- Write government numbers only if you have them; you do not need a TIN or SSS number to apply, and the employer registers new hires after hiring.
- Character references should be three people who are not relatives and who agreed to be called.
The three ways to use this format
| If you want to… | Choose | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| See how a finished biodata looks before you start | See a filled example | A complete sample for Maria Clara S. Dela Cruz, applying as Customer Service Representative |
| Type your details once and print a clean copy | Fill it online | Your biodata on long bond (8.5 × 13 in), with blank sections removed or marked N/A, ready to print or save as PDF |
| Write it by hand at an agency, school or job fair | Blank, to fill by hand | An empty biodata form with the same layout and a 2×2 photo box; print and fill in black ink |
Most applicants use the online version and print two copies: one to submit, one to keep for interviews. If the employer hands you its own biodata form, use theirs; ours is for when you are told to bring one. Nothing you type is stored on our servers after you download it. For the government equivalent, use the Personal Data Sheet (CS Form 212) instead.
What a biodata is and when Filipino employers ask for one
Biodata is short for biographical data. In the Philippines it means a standard one-page form that summarises who you are and where you have studied and worked. It grew out of the pre-printed forms sold in bookstores and sari-sari stores, which is why so many employers still recognise its layout at a glance: photo at the upper right, personal data first, then family, education, work and references.
Employers that hire many people for similar roles like it because every applicant's information sits in the same place. You will still be asked for a biodata by manpower and staffing agencies, factories and warehouses, security and janitorial agencies, restaurants and malls, household-help agencies, schools hiring non-teaching staff, barangay and LGU job programmes, and some overseas recruitment agencies. Corporate offices and BPOs usually prefer a resume and an online application, then ask for a biodata or company information sheet only after you are hired.
- The job post says “bring your biodata” or “submit biodata with 2×2 photo”.
- You are applying through a manpower agency or a PESO job fair (see where to look for jobs).
- The role is skilled or semi-skilled work where the employer cares more about your details and references than a long career narrative.
- You are applying for household work; the employer will need your details to register you with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG under the Batas Kasambahay.
Signs that a biodata is the right document
Biodata format: paper, photo and length
The common biodata format is one page of long bond paper (8.5 × 13 inches, sometimes called folio or legal size in stores). Short bond (8.5 × 11 inches) is acceptable when an employer asks for a PDF by email. Keep it to one page; if your work history is long, list the most recent three or four jobs and write “more upon request”.
Attach a recent 2×2 photo (2 × 2 inches) in the box at the upper right. Most HR officers expect a white background, a plain collared top, your face fully visible with no sunglasses, cap or heavy filter, and a photo taken within the last six months. Glue the photo flat; staples tear when the form is photocopied. If you submit by email, use a clear digital photo instead of a phone snapshot of a printed one.
- Position applied for
- Customer Service Representative
- Name
- DELA CRUZ, Maria Clara S.
- Date and place of birth
- March 15, 1998, Lucena City, Quezon (optional, see the RA 10911 section)
- Civil status / Citizenship
- Single / Filipino
- Present address
- 123 Mabini Street, Barangay San Isidro, Quezon City, Metro Manila 1100
- Mobile / Email
- +63 917 123 4567 / maria.delacruz@example.com
- Education
- BS Business Administration, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, 2019
- Work experience
- Makati Business Solutions Inc., Customer Service Representative, June 1, 2021 to present
- Skills
- English and Filipino customer support, typing 55 wpm, MS Excel, CRM ticketing
- References
- Three non-relatives with position, company and mobile number
One page, every date complete, no paragraph longer than a line, signature over printed name at the bottom.
How to submit a biodata for a job
- 1
Read the job post twice
Copy the exact position title into the first line of your biodata. If the post lists several roles, make one biodata per role rather than writing “any position”.
- 2
Fill it in one sitting
Use the online version or a blank in black ink. Write N/A in fields that do not apply to you so HR knows you did not skip them.
- 3
Check every date and number
Recruiters compare your biodata with your certificate of employment, diploma and IDs. Wrong months are the most common mismatch.
- 4
Attach the photo and sign
Glue a recent 2×2 photo and sign over your printed name. An unsigned biodata looks like a draft.
- 5
Pair it with a short letter
A one-page application letter on top of the biodata tells the employer why you fit the job; the biodata only says who you are.
- 6
Keep copies and a list of where you applied
Write the company, date and position on your copy. You will need it when the agency calls you back weeks later.
Do not attach photocopies of IDs, birth certificates or clearances unless the post asks for them. Those come later, with the pre-employment requirements listed in our employment documents checklist. If someone else will drop off your application, give them a signed authorization letter.
How to fill it, section by section
The ten groups below follow the order of the form. For each, here is what to write, what an HR officer checks and what usually goes wrong.
Position applied for
Write the exact title used in the job post: “Customer Service Representative”, not “CSR” or “call center”. Agencies sort biodata by position, and a vague entry such as “any available position” gets put at the bottom of the pile. If the form has a line for expected salary, you may write a figure such as ₱25,000 per month or “negotiable”; leave it blank if you have not seen the salary range yet.
Some forms also ask for the date you can start. Write a real date (“available from November 3, 2026”) or “immediately”. If you are still employed, count your 30-day notice under Article 300 of the Labor Code before promising a start date; see our resignation letter page.
Personal data
This group covers your full name (surname, first name, middle name, and Jr. or III if any), sex, civil status, citizenship, and often date of birth, age, place of birth, height, weight and religion. Write your name exactly as it appears on your PSA birth certificate and government IDs. If you use a married surname, write it consistently on every document you submit.
Date of birth and age are optional for job applications: RA 10911 makes it unlawful for an employer to require you to declare your age or birth date in an application. You may still write them if you want to. Religion, height and weight are only relevant to a few jobs (height for some security and uniformed roles, for example); for an office job you may leave them blank or write N/A.
| Field | Usually | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Full name, sex, citizenship | Fill | Copy from your PSA birth certificate |
| Civil status | Optional | Needed later for tax and benefits, not to judge the application |
| Date of birth, age | Optional | Employer may not require it in the application (RA 10911) |
| Place of birth | Optional | Harmless, but not needed to apply |
| Height, weight | Only if job-related | Security, uniformed or physically demanding roles |
| Religion | Leave blank or N/A | Rarely related to the work |
Personal fields: fill, optional or leave blank
Contact and address
Give one mobile number you answer, one email address that looks professional (firstname.surname works), and your present address in full: house number and street, barangay, city or municipality, province and ZIP code. If you are renting near the workplace but your family home is in the province, fill both the present and the provincial or permanent address lines. Agencies often send messages by SMS, so make sure your number is active and has load.
Common mistakes: writing only “Quezon City” without a street, giving a landline nobody picks up, or using an old email you no longer open. HR officers rarely try twice; if the call fails, they move to the next applicant.
Government numbers
Most biodata forms have lines for SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG and TIN, and newer ones add the PhilSys Number (PSN) from your national ID. Write only the numbers you already have, copied digit by digit from the card or record. If you have none yet, write N/A; you do not need them to apply.
After you are hired, the employer helps you register: BIR Form 1902 for a TIN as a new employee, SSS E-1 or My.SSS online, the PhilHealth PMRF and the Pag-IBIG MDF. First-time jobseekers get most pre-employment documents free once under RA 11261, including NBI and police clearances and a barangay clearance. The full list and current fees are on our employment documents table.
Family background
The traditional biodata asks for your father's name and occupation, your mother's maiden name and occupation, and, if married, your spouse's name and occupation and the names of your children. Employers use this mainly for emergency contacts and, after hiring, for benefits and dependants. It is not a basis for choosing between applicants.
You may write N/A for spouse and children if they do not apply, and you may keep this section short. Instead of listing every child's birth date, “2 children” is enough at application stage. Do include an emergency contact person with a mobile number, because that is the line HR actually uses.
Educational background
List your schooling from the highest level down: graduate studies, college, vocational or TESDA course, senior high school, high school, elementary. For each, give the school's full name, the degree or strand, and the year you graduated (or the years attended if you did not finish). Write the course in full: “Bachelor of Science in Business Administration”, then the major if any.
Add honours and licences where they help: cum laude, Dean's Lister, TESDA NC II, or a PRC licence with its number. If you are a fresh graduate, this section matters most; include your on-the-job training company and dates either here or under work experience. Make sure the years match your diploma or transcript, since the employer will ask for copies later.
Work experience
Start with your current or most recent job. For each, write the company name, its city, your position, and the inclusive dates as month and year (“June 2021 to present”). Add one line of duties if space allows. Most forms also ask for the reason for leaving; keep it neutral and short: “end of contract”, “career growth”, “project ended”, “relocated”.
Gaps are normal; do not fill them with invented jobs. Recruiters verify by calling the company or asking for a certificate of employment, which your former employer must issue within three days of your request under Labor Advisory No. 06, s. 2020. If a past employer closed, write “company closed” beside the entry.
| Field | Weak | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Company | MBS | Makati Business Solutions Inc., Makati City |
| Position | agent | Customer Service Representative |
| Dates | 2021–now | June 2021 to present |
| Reason for leaving | toxic boss | Career growth |
Work experience entry: weak vs strong
Skills
List four to eight skills an employer can test or verify: languages (English, Filipino, Bisaya), computer skills (MS Excel with pivot tables, Google Workspace, Canva), typing speed, driving licence type and restriction codes, machine operation, cooking, bookkeeping software. Avoid personality words such as “hardworking” or “God-fearing”; they take space and say nothing a recruiter can check.
Match skills to the post. A warehouse biodata should mention forklift experience; a CSR biodata, call handling and CRM tools. If you have a TESDA certificate, list its title and level here as well.
Character references
Give three people who know your work or character and are not related to you: a former supervisor, a teacher, a barangay official, a pastor or a long-time client. For each, write the full name, position, company or office, and mobile number or email. Ask them first, and tell them which job you applied for so they are not caught off guard when HR calls.
Relatives as references are the most common reason this section is ignored. Close friends with no work connection are only slightly better. If your only work reference is a current boss who does not know you are applying elsewhere, write “available upon request” for that line and give two other names.
Signature
Sign above your printed name at the bottom and write the date. Many biodata forms include a certification line such as “I hereby certify that the above information is true and correct”; signing it means you vouch for every entry, and employers do check them against your COE, diploma and IDs. Read the dates once more before you sign.
Use a blue or black ballpoint pen, not a gel pen that smears. For an emailed biodata, sign on paper and scan, or use a clear image of your signature; a typed name in a script font is not a signature.
Eight biodata mistakes that cost the job before the interview
| The mistake | Why it matters | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Writing “any position” as the position applied for | The agency cannot route your form to a hiring manager | Write one exact job title per biodata |
| Old or filtered photo, or a cropped group selfie | HR compares the photo with you at the interview | Recent 2×2, white background, no filter |
| Unreachable mobile number or a joke email address | Recruiters call once and move on | Active number and a firstname.surname email |
| Dates that do not match your COE or diploma | Looks like padding, even when it is a typo | Copy months and years from your documents |
| Relatives as character references | Treated as no reference at all | Three non-relatives who agreed to be called |
| Leaving fields empty without N/A | Looks unfinished or careless | Write N/A where a field does not apply |
| Handing ID copies and numbers to an unverified recruiter | Identity theft and fake job offers | Check the agency first; give IDs only after hiring |
| No signature or date | An unsigned form reads as a draft | Sign over printed name and date it |
Biodata vs resume vs CV vs PDS: which one to submit
Filipino applicants often use these words interchangeably, but employers mean different documents. Send what the post asks for; if it says “resume or biodata”, a resume is usually the stronger choice for office work and the biodata for agency and skilled work.
| Document | What it is | Used for | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biodata | Fixed form: personal data, family, education, work, references, photo | Agency, factory, household, LGU and many local jobs | 1 page, long bond |
| Resume | Your own layout focused on skills and results | Private companies, BPOs, online applications | 1–2 pages |
| CV (curriculum vitae) | Full academic and professional record | Teaching, research, medicine, some jobs abroad | 2 pages or more |
| Personal Data Sheet | CS Form No. 212 (Revised 2025), sworn, 4 pages | Government positions | 4 pages + Work Experience Sheet |
For a government job, a biodata is never a substitute for the PDS; government agencies require the CSC form. For a teaching post in a public school, you will need both the PDS and a letter of intent or application letter. For private schools, the biodata or resume with an application letter is enough.
What an employer may and may not ask on a biodata form
The law rarely forbids a field outright; what it forbids is using the information to discriminate, or collecting more than the purpose needs. So the practical rule is simple: you may leave a personal field blank or write N/A where it is not needed for the job, and a fair employer will not hold that against you.
Age and birth date (RA 10911)
The Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act makes it unlawful for an employer to publish job notices with an age preference or limit, to require applicants to declare their age or birth date in the application, or to decline an application because of age. You may volunteer your birth date; you may not be required to. Your birth date is needed after hiring for SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG registration, which is a different purpose.
Legal basis: RA 10911 (2016), Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Primary sources: RA 10911 on Lawphil
Proportional collection of personal data (RA 10173)
Under the Data Privacy Act, personal information must be collected for a declared, specified and legitimate purpose and must be proportional to that purpose (Section 11). A biodata for a cashier job does not need your religion or your children's birth dates. If an employer insists on clearly excessive data, you may ask what it will be used for; complaints go to the National Privacy Commission at privacy.gov.ph.
Legal basis: RA 10173 (2012), Data Privacy Act, Sec. 11 (general data privacy principles: legitimate purpose and proportionality).
Primary sources: RA 10173 on Lawphil · National Privacy Commission
Civil status, pregnancy and religion
Philippine law protects women workers against discrimination because of marriage or pregnancy verify. In practice, write your civil status if the form asks, but you do not have to explain plans to marry or have children, and an interviewer should not make hiring depend on them. Religion is almost never related to the work; N/A is a perfectly good answer. If you believe you were rejected for one of these reasons, keep the job post and your biodata copy and ask for advice at the DOLE hotline 1349 or a lawyer or PAO before filing anything.
Free documents for first-time jobseekers (RA 11261)
If this is your first job, the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act waives government fees once for documents such as the NBI clearance, police clearance, barangay clearance, a medical certificate from a public hospital (laboratory fees excluded), PSA birth and marriage certificates, a TOR from a state university or college, and your TIN. Get a barangay certification that you are a first-time jobseeker (you must have lived there at least six months); it is valid for one year.
Legal basis: RA 11261 (2019), First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act.
Primary sources: RA 11261 on Lawphil
Kasambahay: the employer must register a household worker with SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG under RA 10361, so a household biodata usually asks for these numbers after the worker is hired. OFW applicants: licensed agencies use their own application forms, and recruitment rules are under the DMW; check the agency's licence before you hand over any biodata.
Other names people search for
- Bio-data form
- Biodata format for job application
- Biodata sample Philippines
- Biodata for job pdf
- Biodata form long bond paper
- Blank biodata form
- Personal information sheet
- Personal history form
- Applicant information form
- Biodata template (Word, PDF)
- Biodata ng aplikante
More employment formats and the 18-item employment file checklist are on the employment hub.
Frequently asked questions
+What is a biodata in the Philippines?
A biodata is a one-page form that summarises your personal details, contact information, family background, education, work experience, skills and character references, with a 2×2 photo and your signature. Filipino employers, manpower agencies and job fairs use it because every applicant's information sits in the same place. It is different from a resume, which you design yourself, and from the Personal Data Sheet, which is the sworn CSC form for government jobs.
+What is the correct biodata format for a job application?
Use one page of long bond paper (8.5 × 13 inches) with the position applied for at the top, a 2×2 photo in the upper right box, then personal data, contact and address, government numbers, family background, education, work experience, skills and three character references. End with your signature over your printed name and the date. Write N/A where a field does not apply, keep entries short, and copy dates exactly from your documents.
+Is a biodata the same as a resume?
No. A biodata is a fixed form that lists facts about you in a standard order, including family and personal data. A resume is your own layout that focuses on skills, results and work history, and it normally leaves out family details. Agencies, factories and household-help employers often ask for a biodata; corporate offices and BPOs prefer a resume. If a job post accepts either, choose the one that best matches the employer.
+Do I need to write my age and birth date on my biodata?
Not for the application itself. RA 10911, the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act, makes it unlawful for an employer to require applicants to declare their age or birth date. You may still write them if you want to, and you will have to give your birth date after hiring for SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG registration. Leaving the field blank or writing N/A at application stage is acceptable.
+What size photo should I attach to my biodata?
Most Philippine employers expect a 2×2 photo, meaning 2 inches by 2 inches, taken within the last six months. Use a plain white background, a collared top, your face fully visible and no beauty filter, cap or sunglasses. Glue it flat inside the photo box at the upper right instead of stapling it. For an emailed biodata, insert a clear digital photo rather than a phone picture of a printed one.
+Can I leave the religion field blank on a biodata?
Yes. Religion is rarely related to the work, and under the Data Privacy Act an employer should only collect information that is proportional to a legitimate purpose. Writing N/A or leaving it blank is a normal choice and should not count against you. The same goes for height and weight unless the job has a genuine physical requirement, such as some security or uniformed positions.
+Who should I put as character references in my biodata?
List three people who know your work or character and are not related to you by blood or marriage: a former supervisor, a teacher, a barangay official, a pastor or a long-time client. Give each person's full name, position, company and mobile number. Ask them first and tell them which job you applied for. Relatives are usually treated as no reference at all, so avoid them.
+Do I need an SSS number or TIN before submitting a biodata?
No. Write the numbers you already have and mark the rest N/A. After hiring, the employer helps you register: BIR Form 1902 for a new employee's TIN, SSS E-1 or My.SSS online, the PhilHealth PMRF and the Pag-IBIG MDF. If it is your first job, RA 11261 lets you get your TIN and several clearances without government fees once.
+Can I download a biodata form as a PDF?
Yes. Fill in the online version on this page and save it as a PDF from the print screen, or print the blank biodata to fill by hand. Both use long bond paper layout and include a 2×2 photo box. If an employer asks for a biodata by email, a PDF keeps your layout intact on any phone or computer, unlike a Word file that can shift when opened.
+Is a biodata enough to apply for a government job?
No. Government agencies require the Personal Data Sheet, CS Form No. 212 (Revised 2025), signed under oath with a Work Experience Sheet attached. A biodata or resume may be added, but it does not replace the PDS. For a public school teaching post you will also need an application letter or letter of intent and the documents listed in the vacancy notice.
Related formats and guides
Official sources
- RA 10911 – Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act — Bars requiring age or birth date in job applications.
- RA 10173 – Data Privacy Act of 2012 — Legitimate purpose and proportionality in collecting personal data (Sec. 11).
- RA 11261 – First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act — Fee waivers for pre-employment documents for first-time jobseekers.
- National Privacy Commission — Where to raise data privacy complaints.
- PhilJobNet — DOLE's free job-matching portal.
Deepak Middha, Chartered Accountant
18 years in hedge funds; writes and maintains sulat.ph. Figures, deadlines and articles on this page were checked against the Labor Code, DOLE issuances and the agencies' own pages, last on 2026-10-22. Items marked verify are awaiting confirmation from an official source.