NBI Clearance Sample: What Does It Look Like?
An NBI clearance sample in 2026 is not a paper certificate. This is a compact card printed on official NBI security paper. Both sides of the cards are printed with information. On the front of the card, it shows your photograph, name, birth date, and clearance status. On the back side, your address, reference number, and QR verification code are printed. On the back side, there is space for your thumb impression where you have to thumbprint your right thumb on receiving the NBI Clearance card.
Many people are curious about the card and the information on it after receiving their NBI clearance card. They also want to know that if the card they have received is legitimate and their clearance status is genuine and verifiable from the QR code on the card.
What Is an NBI Clearance Sample?
The NBI clearance is an official document in the Philippines that is issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). It verifies that the person has no criminal record in the Philippines. This is an essential requirement for visa applications, legal matters, employment, and other official transactions.
In 2026, the NBI clearance sample does not look like an old-style paper certificate. But this is like a compact card machine printed from both sides on a security paper carrying various information fields about the applicant and his/her clearance status. The current NBI clearance specimen looks nothing like the old paper certificates. It also carries a dry seal of the NBI affixed to it. Moreover, the card carries biometric data as well as a digital verification feature by scanning the unique QR code printed on the card.
For your personal verification of the clearance, or for employers who want to verify the clearance status of their employees can scan the digital QR code printed on the card. On scanning the QR, the system-generated clearance results will be displayed, mentioning the personal information of the applicant and the clearance status.
What Does the Front of an NBI Clearance Show?
The front side of the NBI clearance sample has your personal details and the status of the clearance. All the information on the card is machine-printed on a security paper. There is no handwritten content on a genuine card. The following table illustrates the fields marked on the NBI clearance sample card:
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| NBI Logo + Seal | Logo of the National Bureau of Investigation and dry seal embossed |
| Photo | 2×2 photograph of applicant captured at NBI office during biometrics |
| Full Name | Last Name, Middle Name and First Name |
| Birth Date | Applicant’s date of birth entered during application process |
| Birth Place | City or municipality |
| Civil Status | Marital Status: Single, Married, Divorced/Separated or Widowed |
| Citizenship | This is nationality, which is Filipino for most of the cases |
| Sex | Male or Female |
| Clearance Result | NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND or HIT |
The result of the clearance is printed in bold on the card. This is the most important information on the NBI clearance for yourself, your employee, or others. The photograph printed on the card is the same which was captured by the NBI staff during the biometrics at the NBI branch on your appointment day. You cannot submit your other photo for the card.
One of the most important things is the NBI dry seal, which is directly embossed over the photo on the front side. All the applicants must verify the embossed seal upon receiving the NBI clearance certificate. The dry seal can be seen by holding the card under the light. If you don’t find the dry seal with raised impressions in the photo, the card is not valid.
Important Tip: Before stepping away from the releasing counter, read your full name letter by letter against your valid ID. A transposed letter or missing middle name is easy to miss in the moment, but will cause problems every time you submit the card. Same-day corrections at the branch cost nothing. Returning the next day means starting a new application.
What Fields are on the Back of NBI Clearance Card?
Like the front side, the backside of the car is also machine printed with details including your address, issuance date, validity period, and the reference number. It also carries a digital verification feature through QR, which is also printed on the back side of your card. Moreover, there is a dedicated space for your thumb impression where you need to print your right thumb impression upon receiving the clearance card. This is a mandatory requirement as per NBI official instructions. Many applicants just check the front side of the card. Both sides should be thoroughly checked. The following table shows all the details you can see on the backside of the latest NBI clearance specimen:
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Home Address | Your same address as entered during application process |
| Reference Number | This is unique application reference number for tracking |
| Date Issued | The date on which the clearance was printed and released |
| Valid Until | One year from issuance date |
| Right Thumbprint | Actual thumb impressions to be printed on dedicated space |
| QR Code | For digital verification, it connects to central NBI clearance system |
| Authorized Signature | Signature of the authorized NBI officer |
The QR code printed on the backside of the card provides a digital verification feature. Employers and other agencies or embassies can scan the digital QR code to verify your clearance status and the authenticity of the clearance card.
Scanning the QR code with your phone, it connects you to the central database record of the NBI, where the particular applicant’s information and the clearance status are stored. You can view the details and verify the clearance status as well as the authenticity of the NBI card and the information on it without contacting the NBI directly.
Important Advice: Never laminate your NBI Card!
A large number of applicants get their NBI cards laminated for the safety of the card. But there is a high risk that lamination will damage the QR code. If the QR code is damaged, that means the digital security feature of verification is lost. Many embassies and employers reject the laminated NBI cards because the reason of QR code not being scanned. For card protection, you can use a transparent card sleeve instead of lamination, which will not affect the surface of the card carrying the QR code and other information.
Understanding the NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND Result
On the NBI clearance sample, the most important line is “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” against the clearance status. You must know what these wordings mean. It means that “No criminal record was found in the NBI database against your name and other information provided”.
During the application process, you enter personal information including name, address, date of birth, social status, and other information. Moreover, your fingerprints and photograph are captured by the official at the NBI branch before the final submission of the application to the system. Once all details are submitted to the system, the system scans all these biometric details and compares them with the data in the central NBI database. If no record matches your details, you do not have a criminal record, and the clearance is issued to you.
If you get clearance with the wording “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND”, no further action is required by you on the clearance matter; clearance will be issued to you, which will be valid for one year from the date of issuance. On the contrary, if some criminal record is found, then there will be a HIT status.
Acceptance of the NBI clearance Card
If you get the clearance as per the specimen with “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND”, it is valid for one year and acceptable for many official and legal matters. The following table illustrates some common uses of the NBI clearance and its acceptance:
| Purpose | Accepted |
|---|---|
| Local Jobs and government employment | Yes |
| Agencies and embassy submission for VISA and immigration | Yes |
| OFW and POEA processing | Yes |
| Business permit applications | Yes |
| School, College or university enrollment | Yes |
| Bank transactions | As a secondary document |
What Does HIT Status Mean on NBI Clearance?
A HIT status on the NBI clearance sample does not always mean the applicant has a criminal record. This can sometimes happen if your name, birth date, and other personal details match with someone having a criminal record in the NBI database. In such a case, you need to undergo further verification at the NBI branch with additional verification documents.
Normally, it happens with common Filipino names. When the system finds a possible match, it raises the flag on the application for further review by the NBI branch. In such cases, the NBI branch holds the application till further verification process is complete. The NBI branch staff will give you a new date and time for the review interview for further verification. On completion of verification, the clearance is issued again. We have a complete guide on the process to deal with HIT status. In case you get a HIT status, refer to our guide on “How to deal with a HIT?”
How to Verify Your NBI Clearance Is Genuine
Your employer, agency, embassy, or you yourself can verify the authenticity of your NBI clearance within minutes. First of all, see the embossed dry seal on the picture on the card to check if the card is original. You can see it in the light, and you can also feel the raised seal impressions by moving your thumb or finger on it. As per official info by the NBI, the original card always has a dry seal embossed over the picture on the card.
There are two official methods to verify the NBI clearance:
- Through QR Code
- Using Reference
Verification using the QR Code:
- Get the NBI Clearance of the applicant whose clearance is to be verified
- Check for the QR code printed on the back side of the clearance card
- Open the camera or the QR code scanner app on your smartphone
- Focus the camera on the QR code on the back of the card
- After capturing, a link will be displayed. Open that link, which will redirect you to the official portal
- The portal will display the applicant details and clearance status if the car is genuine
- QR code will give an error during the scan if the card is fake.
Note: Cross-check the information shown on the portal link and match with the same printed on the card.
Verification using the Reference Number
If you don’t have the physical copy of the NBI card, you can still verify the clearance status; you just need to know the Reference Number printed on the backside of the card. Note down that reference number with you.
- Open the NBI clearance official website
- Proceed to the verification section
- Type the Reference Number and press Enter
- The results will be displayed for the correct reference number
As an employer, agency, or individual, if you are looking for a detailed verification process, you can refer to our step-by-step comprehensive guide “NBI Clearance Verification”.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Before You Go
Having good information about the NBI clearance sample, its appearance, and what information it carries is helpful before you go to the NBI branch for clearance. It saves you the time of going back to the NBI branch if there is an error on the card.
In 2026, the NBI clearance sample is a compact card printed on NBI security paper. Both sides of the card are machine-printed. The front side carries your personal information clearance result and photo with the NBI dry seal embossed. On the backside, the reference number, thumb impression, and QR code are mentioned along with other details.
The clearance result can either be “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” or “HIT”. The first means your clearance is complete, ready to use, and valid for one year. The second means additional verification will be required by the NBI.
