Key takeaways
- The PhilSys National ID (PhilID or its digital version) is free, and RA 11055 requires government and private offices to accept it as proof of identity.
- Clearances are not IDs: the NBI clearance (₱130 + ₱30 e-payment) and the police clearance (₱150 + convenience fee, valid six months) prove you have no record; they do not replace a photo ID.
- Barangay fees are set by each barangay's ordinance. In the four barangay citizen's charters we found, a clearance or residency certificate cost ₱50–₱100 and an indigency certificate was free.
- First-time jobseekers get the NBI, police and barangay clearances free, once, under RA 11261 — ask the barangay for the first-time jobseeker certification.
- Apply only on the official websites linked in each guide. Lookalike appointment and "processing" sites charge fees the agencies do not.
Master table
Philippine government IDs and clearances at a glance
Fees, processing times and validity as published by each issuing office, checked on 10 November 2026. Where an office does not publish a figure, the cell says so instead of guessing.
| Document | Issuing office | Who needs it | Fee | Processing time | Validity | Accepted as primary valid ID? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhilSys National ID (PhilID, ePhilID, digital ID) | PSA (PhilSys) | Every Filipino and resident alien; the default ID for any transaction | Free; updating and renewal free (RA 11055 Sec. 6(c)(3)) | Card delivered by PHLPost; no fixed time published — track with your TRN | No expiry for citizens (PhilSys FAQ; the law sets no period) | Yes — government and private offices must accept it, subject to authentication (RA 11055 Secs. 12–13) | PhilSys guide |
| Passport | DFA | Travel abroad, OFWs; strong primary ID | ₱950 regular, ₱1,200 expedited, + ₱50 payment-centre fee | Metro Manila 10 working days (5 expedited); outside 12 (7 expedited). DFA advisory of 8 April 2026: releases may take 10–15 working days until further notice | 10 years; 5 years under 18 (RA 11983 Sec. 12) | Yes — on the NBI and PNP accepted-ID lists | Passport guide |
| NBI clearance | NBI | Jobs, visas, licences; travel abroad | ₱130 + ₱30 e-payment = ₱160 (NBI Citizen's Charter 2025) | About 15 minutes on the same visit with no hit; 8 working days with a "hit" | Not stated by the NBI — check the dates printed on your clearance | No — a clearance, not an ID | NBI guide |
| Police clearance (NPCS) | PNP | Jobs and local transactions | ₱150 + payment-channel convenience fee | At your appointment after biometrics; no official processing time is published | 6 months (NPCS terms) | No — a clearance, not an ID | Police clearance guide |
| Postal ID | PHLPost | Anyone who needs a photo ID quickly | ₱550 regular, ₱650 rush (PHLPost Citizen's Charter 2026) | Regular about 24 days by mail; rush same day, next working day or 5 working days at listed post offices | 3 years (1 year for foreign residents with an ACR I-Card) | Yes — on the NBI and PNP lists; DFA accepts it as a primary document (PHLPost, Nov 2024) | Postal ID guide |
| Driver's licence | LTO | Drivers | Licence ₱585; student permit ₱150 (LTO Citizen's Charter 2025) | No official processing time published; the LTMS e-licence is valid at traffic stops (LTO, Jan 2026) | 5 years; 10 years on renewal with no violations (RA 10930) | Yes — on the NBI and PNP lists | LTO licence guide |
| UMID / MySSS Card | SSS | SSS members (no SS number yet? SSS E-1 guide) | No SSS fee; the partner bank may charge | Up to 20 working days (SSS Citizen's Charter 2026) | Old UMID cards remain valid; new UMID cards ended 1 Oct 2025 (MySSS Card instead) | UMID: yes, on the NBI and PNP lists. MySSS Card: other offices "not mandated to accept it" (SSS) | UMID guide |
| Voter's ID / voter's certification | COMELEC | Registered voters | Registration free; voter's ID printing on hold; voter's certification free for all registered voters (COMELEC advisory, July 2026) | Check with your election officer | Not stated | Voter's ID or certification is on the NBI list | Voter registration guide |
| PWD ID | City/municipal PDAO (NCDA system) | Persons with disability, including cancer and rare disease patients | First ID free | Varies by LGU — no national standard; ask your PDAO | Follow the date on your card. NCDA AO 001 s.2026 phases in lifetime validity for permanent disabilities (5-year revalidation if non-apparent) over 3 years, with re-registration through your PDAO | Yes — on the NBI and PNP lists | PWD ID guide |
| Solo parent ID | City/municipal social welfare office | Solo parents under RA 11861 | Free | Within 7 working days of complete documents (RA 11861) | 1 year, renewable | Yes — on the NBI list | Solo parent ID guide |
| Senior citizen ID | OSCA of your city or municipality | Filipinos 60 and older | Free (RA 9994) | Set by your LGU (Pasay's charter: 16 minutes) | The law sets no expiry; ask your OSCA | Yes — on the NBI and PNP lists | Senior citizen ID guide |
| Barangay clearance | Your barangay | Jobs, business permits, loans | Set by barangay ordinance (₱50–₱100 in four published barangay charters, 2025) | 15–30 minutes in those charters | No national rule; six months is common practice | No | Barangay clearance generator |
| Certificate of indigency | Your barangay | PAO, medical, burial, scholarship, DSWD AICS | Free in all four published barangay charters we found | 12 minutes to 1 hour in those charters | No national rule | No | Indigency generator |
| Certificate of residency | Your barangay | School, bank, PWD and solo parent IDs | ₱50–₱100 in four published barangay charters (2025) | Minutes, per those charters | No national rule | A barangay residence certification is on the PNP's accepted-ID list for police clearance | Residency generator |
| Cedula (community tax certificate) | City/municipal treasurer or barangay | Residents 18+ who work, do business or own property | ₱5 + ₱1 per ₱1,000 of income, max ₱5,005 (RA 7160 Sec. 157) | Minutes at the counter | Calendar year of issue | No — it has no photo | Cedula calculator |
As of 10 November 2026. Sources: RA 11055 and the PhilSys FAQ; DFA consular passport fees and processing advisory; NBI Citizen's Charter 2025 (pp. 44–49); pnpclearance.ph (terms and how-to-apply guide); PHLPost Citizen's Charter 2026; LTO Citizen's Charter 2025 and RA 10930; SSS Citizen's Charter 2026 and the MySSS Card page; COMELEC; NCDA AO 001 s.2026; RA 11861; RA 9994 and Pasay City's charter; barangay citizen's charters of Looc and Salagsag (Salay, Misamis Oriental), New Banicain (Olongapo City) and Barangay 758 (Manila); RA 7160. Accepted-ID column: NBI Citizen's Charter 2025 list of 21 IDs and the 26 IDs in the NPCS terms. Links in each guide.
IDs
Government IDs
Photo IDs issued by national agencies and your city or municipality. Start with the PhilSys National ID: it is free and every office must accept it. For a TIN and the free Digital TIN ID, see how to get a TIN.
Clearances
NBI, police and barangay clearances
Clearances certify that you have no record or pending case. Employers usually ask for one or two of them; first-time jobseekers get them free once under RA 11261.
Tools
Cedula calculator
Work out your community tax before you queue: the Local Government Code's formula, cap and late-payment interest, line by line.
Barangay documents
Barangay certificates, complaints and the cedula
Free generators for the three certificates barangay offices issue most, each with a resident's request letter, plus the documents for disputes that start at the barangay.
| You need… | Ask the barangay for | Use our tool |
|---|---|---|
| Proof you have no record in the barangay, for a job or business permit | Barangay clearance | Barangay clearance generator |
| Proof you cannot afford a service, for PAO, a hospital or AICS | Certificate of indigency | Certificate of indigency generator |
| Proof you live in the barangay, for school, a bank or an ID | Certificate of residency | Certificate of residency generator |
| To pay the community tax printed on those certificates | Cedula (treasurer or barangay) | Cedula calculator |
| To settle a dispute with a neighbour before going to court | Barangay conciliation; a Certificate to File Action if it fails | Barangay complaint or KP Form 7 |
Barangay certificates are signed by the Punong Barangay and bear the barangay's dry seal; our generators prepare the text for barangay staff, or the request letter for residents.
By situation
Which document do I need for…
The documents most often asked for in six everyday situations. The office you deal with has the final list, so ask for it in writing.
| Situation | Usually asked for | Also useful | Start here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting a job | Valid ID (PhilSys), NBI or police clearance, barangay clearance | PSA birth certificate (get it through someone with an authorization letter for PSA); for government jobs the personal data sheet | Employment documents hub |
| Opening a bank account | One or two valid photo IDs (the PhilID must be accepted under RA 11055) | Proof of address such as a certificate of residency if your ID shows an old address | PhilSys guide |
| Applying abroad or as an OFW | Passport, NBI clearance | If names differ across documents, an affidavit of discrepancy; a notarized SPA for someone acting for you | Passport guide |
| Government assistance (AICS, medical, burial, legal aid) | Certificate of indigency, valid ID | Senior citizen, PWD or solo parent ID for their own benefits | Indigency generator |
| Starting a business | Barangay clearance for the business permit (RA 7160 Sec. 152(c)), cedula | DTI or SEC registration, then the mayor's permit at your city or municipality | Barangay clearance guide |
| School enrollment | PSA birth certificate, certificate of residency where the school asks for proof of address | If you lost a document, an affidavit of loss | Residency generator |
Typical lists as of November 2026; each employer, bank, school, embassy and agency sets its own requirements.
First-time jobseekers: which documents are free
The First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act (RA 11261) waives government fees, once, for a jobseeker applying for a first job. Get the barangay certification that you are a first-time jobseeker first, then present it with your ID at each office. The full employment checklist is on our employment documents hub.
| Document | Free for first-time jobseekers? | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| NBI clearance | Yes, once | NBI clearance |
| Police clearance | Yes, once (barangay certification + 1 valid ID) | Police clearance |
| Barangay clearance | Yes, once | Barangay clearance |
| PSA birth and marriage certificates | Yes, once | Authorization letter for PSA |
| Passport, postal ID, driver's licence | Not covered by RA 11261 | See each guide |
RA 11261 (2019), Secs. 3–5, read on Lawphil on 10 November 2026.
Lost or wrong ID: what to do
| Problem | What fixes it | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Lost a passport, licence, UMID or postal ID | An affidavit of loss; for a lost passport, valid or expired, also a police report (RA 11983 IRR); for a postal ID, report it to PHLPost within five working days | Affidavit of loss |
| Lost your PhilID | PSA has not opened a lost-card process yet; use your digital National ID meanwhile | PhilSys guide |
| Name or birth date differs between documents | An affidavit of discrepancy, then correct the source record | Affidavit of discrepancy |
| Someone else must get your PSA document | An authorization letter and both IDs | Authorization letter for PSA |
| A sworn statement must be notarized | Appear before a notary with a photo ID | How to notarize a document |
Buod sa Tagalog
Ang pinakamadaling unang ID ay ang PhilSys National ID: libre ito at dapat itong tanggapin ng lahat ng opisina. Para sa trabaho, karaniwang hinihingi ang NBI clearance (₱130 + ₱30) o police clearance (₱150 + convenience fee) at barangay clearance. Ang bayad sa barangay clearance at certificate of residency ay itinatakda ng bawat barangay, at kadalasang libre ang certificate of indigency. Libre nang isang beses ang NBI, police at barangay clearance para sa first-time jobseeker. Mag-apply lamang sa mga opisyal na website na naka-link sa bawat gabay.
Frequently asked questions
+What are the primary valid IDs in the Philippines?
There is no single national list, but the IDs that appear on both the NBI's 2025 list and the PNP clearance system's list include the PhilSys National ID, passport, driver's licence, UMID, PRC licence, postal ID, PWD ID and senior citizen ID. The PhilSys ID has a special status: RA 11055 requires every government and private office to accept it as proof of identity.
+Which government ID is the easiest to get?
The PhilSys National ID is free and only needs one primary document, such as a PSA birth certificate, at a registration centre; you can use the digital version while the card is delivered. The postal ID costs ₱550 and can be released the same day at some Metro Manila post offices under PHLPost's rush service for ₱650. Senior citizen and solo parent IDs are free for those who qualify.
+What is the difference between NBI clearance and police clearance?
The NBI clearance checks the National Bureau of Investigation's nationwide records, costs ₱130 plus a ₱30 e-payment fee, and a hit means an 8-working-day verification. The police clearance checks PNP records through the National Police Clearance System, costs ₱150 plus a convenience fee, needs only one valid ID and is valid for six months. Employers state which one they want.
+Is a barangay clearance a valid ID?
No. A barangay clearance certifies that you have no derogatory record in the barangay; it has no photo and is not an ID. Separately, the PNP's National Police Clearance System lists a barangay residence certification among the documents it accepts to identify you for a police clearance. For other offices, bring a government photo ID such as the PhilID.
+How much does a barangay clearance cost?
Each barangay sets its own fee by ordinance; there is no national rate. In the barangay citizen's charters we found online for 2025, a barangay clearance cost ₱50 to ₱100, a certificate of residency ₱50 to ₱100, and a certificate of indigency was free. First-time jobseekers get the barangay clearance free once under RA 11261.
+Can I apply for government IDs online?
Partly. You book NBI clearance, police clearance and passport appointments online and pay online, but you still appear in person for photos and biometrics. NBI Quick Renewal and police clearance renewal can be done without appearing if you qualify. The PhilSys digital ID is downloaded online, but registration itself is at a registration centre.
+Is sulat.ph a government website?
No. Sulat.ph is an independent site and is not affiliated with any agency or local government. Our guides summarise official sources and link to them, with the date each was checked. Apply only on the official websites linked in each guide, and confirm fees and requirements with the issuing office, because they can change without notice.
Official sources
- RA 11055, Philippine Identification System Act (Lawphil) — Free PhilID for citizens; sufficient proof of identity subject to authentication (Sec. 12); transactions where it must be honoured (Sec. 13). Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- DFA consular office: passport fees — ₱950 regular, ₱1,200 expedited. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- NBI Citizen's Charter 2025 (PDF) — Clearance fee, accepted IDs, hit processing time. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- PNP National Police Clearance System — One valid ID, 26 accepted IDs, six-month validity. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- PHLPost Citizen's Charter 2026 (PDF) — Postal ID fees, processing tiers, validity. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- SSS: MySSS Card — MySSS Card replaces new UMID cards; old cards still valid. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- NCDA Administrative Order No. 001, s. 2026 — Unified PWD ID and validity rules. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- RA 11861, Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act (Lawphil) — Solo parent ID: free, one year, seven working days. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- RA 9994, Expanded Senior Citizens Act (Lawphil) — Senior citizen ID and benefits. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- RA 11261, First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act (Lawphil) — Free clearances once for first-time jobseekers. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
- RA 7160, Local Government Code (Lawphil) — Barangay clearance (Sec. 152(c)); community tax (Secs. 156–164). Checked 10 Nov 2026.
Deepak Middha, Chartered Accountant
18 years in hedge funds; writes and maintains sulat.ph. Every fee, processing time and validity period in the tables above links to the agency page, citizen's charter or law it comes from, and was checked on 2026-11-11. Where a figure could not be confirmed from an official source, the table says “check with the issuing office” instead of guessing.
Related tools and documents
- PhilSys National ID →
- Passport Requirements →
- NBI Clearance →
- Police Clearance →
- Postal ID Requirements →
- LTO Driver's License →
- UMID and MySSS Card Requirements →
- Voter Registration →
- PWD ID Requirements →
- Solo Parent ID Requirements →
- Senior Citizen ID Requirements →
- Barangay Clearance →
- Certificate of Indigency →
- Certificate of Residency →
- Cedula Calculator →
- Employment documents hub →
- Affidavit of Loss →
- Affidavit of Discrepancy →
- Authorization Letter for PSA →
- How to notarize a document →