You need to claim a parcel, open an account, or apply for a passport, and the counter asks for a valid ID. Which one should you bring?
The honest starting point: there is no single official master list of valid IDs in the Philippines. Each office publishes its own list for its own service.
So this guide goes ID by ID, using only what each agency says about its own card, plus one real example: the DFA list of IDs accepted for passport applications.
Quick note: LBC Tracks is an independent guide site, not part of any government agency or of LBC Express. We explain official rules in plain words.
There is no single master list, and that is normal
Think of them as a set of government IDs offices commonly accept, not one fixed national ranking.
The DFA list shows how this works. For a passport application, the DFA first names the Philippine Identification, in card, electronic, and digital forms. It then lists IDs that may be used instead: the SSS card, UMID card, LTO driver's license, PRC ID, voter's ID or voter's certificate from the COMELEC main office, Postal ID, and a valid or latest passport for renewal.
The DFA also sets a quality rule worth copying anywhere: IDs presented should be readable, untampered, and consistent with your other documents. Keep one strong government ID ready, check its expiry date, and check the office's own list before you travel.
National ID: PhilID, ePhilID, and Digital National ID
The National ID comes from the Philippine Identification System, or PhilSys, under Republic Act No. 11055, led by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Under that law, as the Department of the Interior and Local Government explains, the PhilID serves as the official government issued identification document when you deal with national agencies, local governments, government corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges, and private sector entities.
The DFA accepts all its forms: the physical PhilID, the Electronic Philippine ID, and the Digital National ID. For the digital form, a printed copy must be submitted, generated through national-id.gov.ph or the eGovPH app during processing.
If you are choosing your first ID, start here. Other services build on it: the SSS requires members to be registered with the PSA under the National ID system before they can get its newest card, covered below.
Philippine passport and driver's license
The passport is both a travel document and one of the strongest IDs you can present at home. The DFA says only a Filipino citizen is eligible to get one. Under the New Philippine Passport Act, Republic Act No. 11983, a regular passport for a Filipino who is 18 or older at application is valid for ten years. For a Filipino under 18, it is valid for five years.
The driver's license is issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO). It shows you are allowed to drive, and it also works as a photo ID. The DFA accepts it for passport applications, and adds that a student permit may be accepted if it is in card format.
For both, check the expiry date printed on the document, and renew before it. An expired passport or license is much weaker at any counter.
SSS UMID, the new MySSS Card, and GSIS cards
If you are an SSS member, your membership card is one of the IDs counters ask for. The DFA accepts both the SSS card and the Unified Multi Purpose Identification (UMID) card.
SSS has now launched a newer card. SSS says the MySSS Card acts as an official ID, replacing the long standing UMID card, and also works as a debit card linked to a savings account. It has an EMV chip and uses PhilSys eVerify and biometric authentication.
The card is issued through SSS partner banks, starting with RCBC, and applications opened on 1 October 2025. It is available to SSS members, pensioners, claimants, beneficiaries, and representative payees who have a permanent SS number, an active My.SSS Portal account, and PSA registration under the National ID system. Members with old SSS or UMID cards may apply for it to replace a lost or existing card.
Government workers have their counterpart in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), for active members and pensioners. GSIS members have traditionally held a GSIS eCard or UMID card, and the UMID card is the form on the DFA list.
Keep your SSS or GSIS card, and keep your records updated. Outdated details can cause the same delays as an expired card.
Postal ID: the first ID many Filipinos get
The Postal ID is issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation, or PHLPost. It is a state issued functional card that verifies your identity and address, which is why it is so useful for deliveries and claims.
PHLPost says the Postal ID can be used as a valid ID and a primary document for passport applications with the DFA, and for official transactions in banks, remittance centers, and other financial institutions, as long as it is within its three year validity period.
Regular issuance costs P550.00, inclusive of tax and delivery fee. Rush processing costs P650.00. To apply, you need an accomplished application form, one proof of identity, and one proof of address, in person at a post office or capturing station.
Our guide to postal id requirements lists every document PHLPost asks for. One habit is worth repeating: write your address in the same format on every form. Our LBC address formatting tips show how.
Voter's certification and the PRC ID
Two more documents complete the picture, each for a specific group.
The first is from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), which holds your voter registration record. For passport applications, the DFA accepts a COMELEC voter's ID or a voter's certificate from the COMELEC main office in Intramuros, Manila. If a counter asks for proof tied to your voter record, the certification is the document to request. Check with COMELEC first, because schedules can change around elections.
The second is the Professional Identification Card from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). It is only for licensed professionals, such as board exam passers registered with the PRC, and proves both identity and license to practice. Renewals run through online.prc.gov.ph, and the PRC renewal page reminds professionals about the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit units required.
Most people need only one or two strong IDs from the earlier sections. These two are extra options for those who qualify.
Primary IDs and secondary IDs, in plain words
A primary ID is a strong government issued photo ID that an office accepts on its own to prove who you are. In practice, that usually means the National ID, a passport, a driver's license, a UMID or SSS card, a PRC ID, or a Postal ID within its validity period. The DFA shows this clearly: it asks for the PhilID or one ID from its list of alternatives, not a bundle of weaker papers.
A secondary document is weaker on its own. It may have no photo, or prove only one fact, such as your address or birth. Offices may accept it as backup, or ask for it with a primary ID.
No universal official ranking applies to every office, so treat these words as a guide, not a law. Bring your strongest unexpired photo ID, plus one supporting document if you have it.
Using your ID for parcels, money, and everyday transactions
You will use these IDs in three common moments.
First, claiming a parcel. Counters ask for a valid ID to match your face and name with the name on the parcel. Bring the original card, not only a phone photo, and make sure your ID name matches the sender's name on the parcel. If someone else will claim for you, read our guide on whether someone else can claim your LBC package first.
Second, money and accounts. In general practice, banks and money services usually ask for a primary government ID when you open an account, claim money, or make a large transaction. That is a general habit, not a single rule for every company, so check what your bank or service asks for.
Third, government transactions, such as a passport application or a benefit claim. Each agency publishes its own list, like the DFA list in this guide. Checking it before your appointment can save a second trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official master list of valid IDs in the Philippines?
No. Each agency publishes its own accepted list for its own service, like the DFA list for passport applications used as the example in this guide.
What is the best first valid ID to get?
For most Filipinos, the National ID is a strong first choice, because Republic Act No. 11055 makes the PhilID the official government identification for dealings with agencies and private entities. The Postal ID is also popular, because it verifies identity and address, and the DFA accepts it as a primary document.
Is the Postal ID a valid ID?
Yes, while it is still valid. PHLPost says it verifies identity and address, the DFA accepts it as a primary document, and it works for government and financial transactions within its three year validity. It costs P550.00 regular and P650.00 rush.
Can I still use my SSS UMID card?
Yes, it still appears on the DFA list for passport applications. SSS has also launched the MySSS Card, its new official ID replacing the UMID card, issued through partner banks, and members with old cards may apply for it as a replacement.
Is a voter's certificate a valid ID?
It can be, for the right transaction. The DFA accepts a COMELEC voter's ID or a voter's certificate from the COMELEC main office in Intramuros, Manila, for passport applications. Other offices set their own rules, so check their list and confirm schedules with COMELEC.
What if my only ID is expired?
Renew it first if you can. The DFA requires IDs to be readable, untampered, and consistent with your other documents, and many counters apply the same rule. Check expiry dates early, especially on your passport, license, and Postal ID.
Can I use a photo of my ID to claim a parcel?
Bring the original card. Counters need to match you with the name on the parcel, and a phone photo may not be accepted. If another person will claim for you, prepare the authorization and IDs the branch requires first.
Your next step: pick the strongest ID you have, check its expiry date today, and keep it in your wallet. If you have no government ID yet, start National ID registration or a Postal ID application this week.