OBTAINING A NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI) CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FROM OUTSIDE THE PHILIPPINES

I. FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS, THOSE WHO NO LONGER HAVE THEIR OLD NBI CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES, or THOSE WHO HAVE NBI CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES ISSUED BEFORE 2014

1. Obtain an NBI clearance application form (NBI Form 5) from the Embassy in Ottawa. The NBI clearance application form is free, but if applicant cannot visit the Embassy, they may request for one to be mailed to them by emailing their complete mailing address and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;

2. Applicant should prepare two colored ID photos with white background (sized 2" x 2", must be taken not more than 3 months before date of application), photocopy of valid passport and government-issued identification card/s. Affix one of the ID photos onto the space provided on the NBI Form No. 5;

3. Accomplish the form and have fingerprint impressions (rolled) taken. Applicant may have themselves fingerprinted at the Embassy for a fee of CAD36.25 or at their local police station/ RCMP detachment/ accredited fingerprinting agency. The official who assists applicant in taking the rolled fingerprint impressions must also sign and write down their name and designation on the space provided in the NBI clearance application form;

4. The fingerprinted and police-signed form and the other requirements (extra ID photos and copies of passport & IDs) should then be sent to their representative in the Philippines to apply for the NBI clearance certificate on applicant’s behalf at the NBI Main Office in Manila. The applicant must provide an authorization letter for their representative to apply on applicant's behalf. The applicant's NBI clearance certificate will be released to their representative, who will then have to send it to the applicant abroad.

5. Register online at https://clearance.nbi.gov.ph/. New applicants are required to sign up and to sign in to apply for a clearance. Take note of the reference number that will appear onscreen after registering as this will serve as the NBI’s code in the retrieval of the applicant’s data and status of application.

II. APPLICANTS WITH EXISTING NBI CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES ISSUED AFTER 16 OCTOBER 2016 AND LATER, WITH NO CHANGES IN NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, OR PLACE OF BIRTH

The applicant can go to the website clearance.nbi.gov.ph and click the NBI CLEARANCE ONLINE RENEWAL. Complete the online form to verify if the applicant is eligible for online renewal. If eligible, follow the steps indicated. 

For further information on NBI clearances, the appropriate NBI offices may be reached at tel. +63-2-8523-8231 to 38 Local 5523, 5430 & 5509; 8524-1277; or 8522-8788; or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..