NBI clearance application goes online

Those days when Filipinos have to take a day off from work just to secure a clearance issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will very soon be over.

In a statement, Department of Justice secretary Leila De Lima said that NBI clearance applications can now be made through the agency’s website beginning January 24, Friday.  Applicants only have to fill out an online application form  at www.doj.gov.ph/nbi or at www.nbi.gov.ph to accomplish this step.

Applicants will then have to bring the print-out to any of NBI’s 55 satellite offices  for payment and biometric enrollment prior to the releasing of the actual clearance certificate.

Early this month, De Lima announced the completion of an improved search engine and query database, a step which she explained will hasten the accurate releasing of clearances. “With the implementation of the NBI system, we shall continue to roll-out and implement solutions to progressively eliminate queues and simplify processes,” she said, adding that “online application is the logical next step after the switch.”

nbi clearance now online
NBI clearance application can now be done online (Credits: Department of Justice’s Twitter page)

In the same news release, newly appointed NBI Director Virgilio L. Mendez  reiterated that the system is only on its third full week of operation and that significant progress can be expected in the coming weeks with the delivery of additional equipment and increase in personnel.

The online NBI Clearance System is part of the flagship National Justice Information System (NJIS) which aims to link and share information among justice sector institutions.

QUICK NOTES: I was already able to fill out the form through the NBI website. However, I had to click the “submit” button repeatedly since I’m getting an error message. As Director Mendez said, website glitches are to be expected. I just hope it won’t be as horrendous as the previous version of the Obamacare website in the United States. LOL

After you’ve done providing all the needed personal information, the accomplished form will then appear on the screen. There is no way for a user to save the document in any format (PDF, Word, etc.) except by copying-and-pasting. Because of this, the proper page layout cannot be retained. This is one area I hope they can work on soon.

Also, it is not clear how NBI will entertain walk-in clearance applicants beginning on Friday. Will there be a separate lane for them? I am raising this concern in recognizance of the fact that a majority of Filipinos still do not have access to the internet.

(I plan to finish my clearance renewal at the NBI satellite office in Ever Commonwealth early next week. Let’s see how this development improves things. 🙂 )

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Mark Pere Madrona

The Filipino Scribe (TFS) is managed by Mark Pere Madrona, a multi-awarded writer and licensed professional teacher from the Philippines. Mr. Madrona earned his master’s degree in history from the University of the Philippines-Diliman last 2020. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in journalism cum laude from the same university back in 2010. His area of interests includes Philippine journalism, history, and politics as well as social media. Know more about him here: https://www.filipinoscribe.com/about/.

6 thoughts on “NBI clearance application goes online

  1. Have you gotten your nbi clearance? Were u able to get your clearance on the same day or did they require you to pay the fees, schedule an appointment and return another day?

    1. Hi there. I visited Ever Commonwealth last Thursday to much to my dismay, the NBI office there has already been closed. I’m still researching about where to accomplish the process instead.

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