Your old NBI clearance has expired, or an employer is asking for a fresh one. The good news is that many people no longer need to line up at a branch just to renew. If your old clearance qualifies, you can do your nbi clearance renewal online, pay through an official payment channel, and then pick up the new certificate or have it delivered.
This guide follows the process published by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) itself, on its How to Apply page and in its Citizen's Charter.
LBC Tracks is an independent guide site and is not part of the NBI or any government agency.
Who can use NBI clearance renewal online
Online renewal is for people who already have an NBI clearance record. According to the NBI Citizen's Charter, the Online Renewal service is for people previously issued a clearance from October 2016 onwards. You apply through the renewal portal, pay online or through authorized electronic payment channels, and claim the certificate on site or have it sent through door to door delivery.
The NBI How to Apply page adds an important condition. It says that if you had a clearance issued after 2014 and you have no changes to your personal details, you can skip the branch entirely by choosing the "NBI Clearance Online Renewal" option on the home page, and have it delivered to your doorstep by courier.
Expect to use the regular route, with a branch visit, if this is your first clearance, if your personal details have changed, for example a change in your name, or if the portal cannot match your old record.
One more thing: a renewal is checked against the NBI database just like a new application, so a name match can add a "hit" step, explained below.
What you need before you start
For online renewal, the Citizen's Charter checklist is short: portal access at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, and a paid Reference Number. Prepare these before you sit down:
- Your old NBI clearance details, so you can enter your information exactly as it appears on your old record.
- An active mobile number and email address, for the One-Time Password, or OTP, that verifies your registration.
- A payment method the portal accepts, such as GCash.
- If you choose delivery, your complete and correct delivery address. Our guide on LBC address formatting tips shows how small address mistakes can delay a delivery.
- If you choose pickup, one valid ID to present when you claim your certificate.
If the portal sends you to the regular route instead, you will need two valid government issued IDs for your branch visit. The NBI lists examples such as a Passport, Driver's License, National ID, UMID, Postal ID, or a PSA Birth Certificate. The IDs must be original and not expired. A valid government ID is also what a branch will ask for when you claim a parcel, as we explain in whether someone else can claim your LBC package.
Step by step: how to renew online
The Citizen's Charter lists the renewal steps in this order:
Step 1: Register online and get a Reference Number. Go to https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph and use the "NBI Clearance Online Renewal" portal. Register or log in, complete the renewal application, and get your Reference Number. Keep it safe. You will use it for payment and for claiming.
Step 2: Pay through an authorized channel. Pay using your chosen authorized electronic payment channel, such as GCash, 7-Eleven or Bayad Center. Keep your proof of payment.
Step 3: Wait, then verify if your clearance is ready. After 24 hours, not counting holidays, Saturdays and Sundays, verify readiness by text message to the cellphone numbers indicated in the online instructions on the portal.
Step 4: Claim your certificate, or wait for delivery. If you chose pickup, go to the Releasing Unit and present your paid Reference Number or one valid ID. The Charter lists this pickup point at the 2nd Floor of the NBI Clearance Building on UN Avenue, Manila. If you chose delivery, wait for the certificate to arrive.
Fees and payment options
For online renewal, the Citizen's Charter lists these fees:
- Clearance fee: Php 130.00
- Electronic payment convenience fee: Php 30.00
- Delivery within NCR: Php 200.00, only if you choose delivery
- Delivery outside NCR: Php 350.00, only if you choose delivery
So if you pick up your certificate yourself, the total is Php 160.00. Delivery adds the fee for your area.
For regular applications, the NBI How to Apply page lists the basic clearance fee at Php 130, plus a minimal e-payment service charge, usually around Php 25 to Php 30, depending on the channel.
The payment methods named by the NBI are GCash, Maya, 7-Eleven, Bayad Center, and Online Banking. Pay only through the channels offered inside the official portal.
Pickup, delivery and waiting time
Based on the Citizen's Charter, processing for online renewal is 24 hours. After that, verify readiness using the text verification step above. For delivery, the Charter lists 5 working days within NCR, and 7 to 10 working days outside NCR.
For pickup, proceed to the Releasing Unit, at the 2nd Floor of the NBI Clearance Building on UN Avenue, Manila, and present your paid Reference Number or one valid ID.
If your renewal has a "Quality Control" or QC notation, the Charter says to proceed to the Quality Control Unit, at the 3rd Floor of the same building, for an interview, then claim your certificate at the Releasing Unit.
If you cannot renew online: book an nbi clearance online appointment
If online renewal does not accept your record, do not worry. You simply use the regular application process, and your nbi clearance online appointment is booked through the same official website. The NBI How to Apply page lists the process in two phases.
Phase 1 is the online application. Go to https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph and register if you do not have an account yet, using an active mobile number and email address for the OTP verification. First time job seekers availing the free clearance under RA 11261 should use the dedicated First-Time Job Seekers Portal instead. Next, log in and complete the Applicant Information Form, making sure the spelling matches your valid IDs perfectly, then click "Save Information" and review your profile. Click "Apply for Clearance", and select the valid government ID you plan to bring. Choose your branch, then an available date and time slot, AM or PM. Last, pay the fee and save the Reference Number the system generates, because you will use it to pay and as your gate pass at the branch. The NBI also notes a 15-day grace period once your transaction is marked "PAID", so you can typically visit within 15 days of your target window if you miss the exact date.
Phase 2 is your branch visit. Once your status shows "PAID", bring your printed or digital Reference Number or QR code, your proof of payment, and two valid government issued IDs that are original and not expired. First time job seekers should also bring the original Barangay Certificate stating their status, and their signed Oath of Undertaking. At the branch, staff will take your digital photo, fingerprints and electronic signature. The officer will ask you to check a monitor and confirm your details are correct before printing. Read that screen carefully. It is your last easy chance to catch a spelling error.
What happens if you get a hit
A "hit" sounds scary, but the NBI itself says not to panic. A hit simply means you share a similar or identical name with someone who has a pending case or record in the database. The NBI calls this incredibly common.
If your name is clear, with no hit, you proceed straight to the printing window and get your clearance in hand within minutes at the branch. If you have a hit, your application needs manual clearing by panel reviewers. The officer will ask you to return after a specified period, usually 5 to 10 working days, and claim your clearance on that date without paying extra.
So a hit is a delay, not a rejection, and it does not mean you have a criminal record. It only means a similar name needs to be separated from your record by a human reviewer. Bring your valid IDs when you return, and keep your Reference Number and receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my NBI clearance fully online?
Yes, if you qualify. The Citizen's Charter says Online Renewal is for people previously issued a clearance from October 2016 onwards, and the How to Apply page says it is for people with no changes to their personal details. If you qualify, you register, pay, and claim your certificate by pickup or delivery, without a biometrics visit.
How much is nbi clearance renewal?
The Citizen's Charter lists Php 130.00 for the clearance fee and Php 30.00 for the electronic payment convenience fee. Delivery adds Php 200.00 within NCR or Php 350.00 outside NCR. Always confirm the total on the official portal before you pay.
What payment methods can I use?
The NBI lists GCash, Maya, 7-Eleven, Bayad Center, and Online Banking. Use only the channels offered inside clearance.nbi.gov.ph.
How long does renewal delivery take?
Processing is 24 hours, then delivery takes 5 working days within NCR and 7 to 10 working days outside NCR. You can verify readiness after 24 hours, not counting holidays and weekends, through the text step in the portal instructions.
My details changed after marriage. Can I still renew online?
Based on the NBI guidance checked for this guide, the skip the branch renewal option is for people with no changes to their personal details. If your details have changed, expect to book an appointment instead, so the NBI can update your record in person.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Bring your Reference Number or QR code, your proof of payment, and two valid government issued IDs, original and not expired, such as a Passport, Driver's License, National ID, UMID, Postal ID, or PSA Birth Certificate.
How long is an NBI clearance valid?
The official NBI pages checked for this guide do not state a fixed validity period. Check the dates printed on your certificate, and ask the employer or office requesting it how recent it needs to be, because many offices set their own requirement.
Your next step
If your old clearance has no changes in your personal details, start now: open https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph, choose the NBI Clearance Online Renewal option, and complete your registration and payment today. If the portal does not accept your old record, book your appointment through the same website right away, and bring your two valid IDs and Reference Number on your scheduled date. Keep your Reference Number and receipt safe.