Guide To The Most Powerful IDs In The Philippines – And How To Get Them

5 min read By eCompareMo on March 16, 2018

The world of valid IDs and necessary documents in the Philippines can be tricky. For starters, there is no universal guide to all the valid IDs in the Philippines. Also, both public and private companies have different takes on what’s considered as valid.

To settle the issue once and for all, we’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to secure the most important pieces of identification and other supporting documents. Having these on hand will make processes such as credit card and loan application easier and quicker.

We have also organized the IDs and documents into different levels, so you’ll know which ones to get first.

1. Ready the secondary documents

Before we begin the application period proper, you may want to secure some secondary documents that will make the process easier:

• Baptism certificate
• School ID with registration form
• Alumni ID
• Transcript of records from university or college
• Marriage certificate (for married individuals)
• Proof of residence like utility bills
• Medical certificates

2. Apply the for the easiest and cheapest 

To start your journey in securing all the available forms of identification, you need to obtain the easiest and most common documents first. In addition to being easy to get, they’re also pretty cheap and require you from little to no legwork at all.

Social Security System (SSS) Personal Record (Form E-1)

Where to get it:

The SSS branch near you or through the SSS website. Tip: Use Microsoft Internet Explorer to browse the SSS website to avoid problems during registration.

Documentary requirements: Birth certificate or two secondary documents.

How much: Free of charge!

Tax identification number

Where to get it: The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s eREGISTRATION website.

How much: Free of charge!

Barangay clearance

Where to get it: Your respective barangay hall. To get a barangay clearance, they’ll ask you to get a community tax certificate first. However, most barangay offices just bundle the two if you’re getting the clearance.

How much: Price varies per barangay.

PSA-certified birth certificate

Where to get it: Either from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) main office in Quezon City or their numerous PSA Serbilis Centers nationwide; or through the PSA e-Census website.

How much: P140 for walk-in applicants and P330 for online applications. People who apply for the latter will receive their birth certificates in 3-5 days for Metro Manila residents and 4-9 days for residents outside Metro Manila.

Student driver permit

Documentary requirements: PSA-certified birth certificate

Where to get it: Any Land Transportation Office (LTO) branch

How much: P317.63

Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) ID

Where to get it: Your local post office. Tip: To know your local post office location is, use the Philpost’s post office location directory.

Documentary requirements: Birth certificate, secondary documents, proof of residence.

How much: P504.

Validity: Three years for Filipino residents and foreigners with Special Retiree’s Resident Visa and one year for the rest of the foreign residents.

3. Apply for the IDs you need at least one valid ID for

Now that you have some basic documents, you can combine your existing IDs and documents to get more powerful ones.

These IDs and documents are also often required by employers from potential employees.

Unified multipurpose ID (UMID)

Where to get it: Any branch of the following agencies:

• SSS
• Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
• Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
• Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund)

Documentary requirements: One valid ID or two secondary documents

How much: Free of charge for first-time applicants!

Notes: Delivery of UMID to your doorstep ranges from one to three months so please be patient.

Voter’s ID

Where to get it: Your city or municipal Commission on Elections office.

Documentary requirements: One valid ID or two secondary documents.

How much: Free of charge!

Notes: Timeline of the release of voter’s ID varies per constituency, meaning some people may get them months after registration or even years.

Police clearance

Where to get it: Your nearest Philippine National Police station/precinct.

Documentary requirements: Recent cedula, barangay clearance.

How much: P100.

Validity: One year after issuance.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance

Where to get it: Register through the NBI clearance registration website and schedule an appointment in one of their NBI branches nationwide.

Documentary requirements: Birth certificate, secondary documents.

How much: P130.

Validity: One year after issuance.

Non-professional driver’s license

Documentary requirements: PSA-certified birth certificate, student permit valid for at least 30 days.

Where to get it: Any LTO branch nationwide.

How much: P820.26.

Validity: Five years after issuance.

3. Apply for the most powerful IDs and documents

These ID and documents are the toughest to get because of the number of perquisites needed as well as the higher processing fees.

Professional driver’s license

Where to get it: Any LTO branch nationwide.

Documentary requirements: PSA-certified birth certificate, student permit valid for at least six month or non-professional driver’s license valid for at least one year.

How much: P820.26.

Validity: Five years after issuance.

Philippine passport

Where to get it: Any Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) passport processing center

Documentary requirements: PSA-certified birth certificate, at least one valid ID, supporting documents.

How much: P950 for regular processing (15 days), P1,200 for expedited processing (7 days)

Notes: A ll passport applicants must first schedule an appointment at their preferred DFA branch. It is important to appear at the date and time chosen. No-show passport applicants will face a 30-day reapplication ban.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) ID

Documentary requirements: Two or more valid IDs, overseas employment certificate.

Where to get it: Any Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) branch.

How much: Free of charge!

4. Apply for special IDs and documents

There are some valid IDs you can only acquire under certain circumstances. If you’re a professional in the following fields, these cards are a must in your wallet:

Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID

Exclusive for: Passers of the board exams administered by any of the 43 Professional Regulatory Boards under the PRC.

Where to get it: Any PRC office nationwide.

Documentary requirements: Duly accomplished oath form, cedula, passport size photo in plain background with complete name tag.

How much: P600 for the baccalaureate applicants and P450 for the non-baccalaureate applicants.

Validity: one year after issuance.

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID

Exclusive for: Passers of the Philippine Bar Examination administered by the Supreme Court.

Where to get it: You can choose from the any local IBP Chapter Office, National IBP Office, or application through mail.

Documentary requirements: Roll number from the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court, two valid government IDs, IBP lifetime membership fee receipt.

How much: P300.

Validity: Two years after issuance.

Senior Citizen’s ID

Exclusive for: Senior citizens of the Philippines (60 years old and above).

Where to get it:  Your municipal Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs branch.

Documentary requirements: Birth certificate, latest 1×1 colored photo, one valid ID.

How much: Free of charge!

Sources: Isensey, PSA.gov, Ecensus, BIR, Philpost, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Regulatory Commission