NBI Clearance from Abroad | Complete Guide (2026)

NBI clearance from abroad is now possible; you don’t need to return to the Philippines to apply for it. Overseas Filipinos can now avail of the NBI clearance facility while staying abroad without flying back to the Philippines. The process is not that complicated. You just have to follow the right approach. In this guide, we have explained a step-by-step guide for the clearance and renewal processes.

Actually, there are two methods for NBI clearance from overseas; it can either be done through mail or through a nominated representative. Both methods are explained in this guide. However, the mailed clearances from abroad are exclusively handled by a dedicated section at the NBI main office in Manila. None of the other branches or offices has been assigned the clearance section to process overseas clearance applications.

What Is NBI Mailed Clearance?

NBI-mailed clearance is an official process structured for overseas Filipinos who are currently outside the Philippines. They can apply for clearance from abroad through a mailed process, rather than personally visiting the Philippines for clearance purposes only. In this process, the overseas person can submit the required documents and application through mail to the Mail Clearance Section at the NBI main Manila office. Moreover, they can also nominate a person and send that person to submit the documents on their behalf.

Who Can Apply for NBI Clearance from Abroad?

All overseas applicants can apply for NBI clearance from abroad. There can be two types of applicants’ categories depending on their type of application, which can be either for a new clearance application or for a clearance renewal.

The applicants to whom the clearance was issued before 2014 are not eligible for renewal; they will be treated as new applicants, and they have to apply for the NBI clearance. The applicants who are issued NBI clearance after 2014 can apply for the renewal category.

Requirements for NBI Clearance from Abroad

The following are the general requirements and the essential documents for the clearance:

Document	Details
NBI Form No. 5	Get it free from the Philippines Embassy or Consulate
Passport	Bio-Date Page copy of the passport
2×2 ID Picture	Fresh photograph with white background not older than 3 months
Fingerprint form	Form with fingerprint impressions, duly signed by the officer

How to get Form No. 5?

Form 5 provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs is free of cost and not for sale. There are two ways to collect a Form No. 5.

Direct Collection:

Forms can be obtained through the Philippines embassy or consulate in your country of stay. Visit the embassy or the consulate with a copy of your passport and valid Philippine ID.

Through Representative:

Alternatively, your representative can also get this form from the Mailed Clearance Section on the 3^rd floor of the main NBI Clearance Building, Manila, which is situated at UN Avenue, Manila. While receiving the Form 5 from the main NBI clearance office, the representative has to present the required documents.

Which documents are required for Form No. 5 Collection through a representative?

The representative has to present the following documents to receive Form 5 on your behalf:

• Authorization letter signed by the applicant authorizing the representative to take up the clearance application on his behalf.
• Photocopy of the Bio-Data page of the applicant’s passport
• Valid government-issued ID of the representative

Important Tip for Fingerprints: Visit the Philippines embassy or consulate or the nearby police station to get your fingerprints done on the form in the presence of an official on duty. The duty officer must write their name and designation, sign, stamp, and place it on the form to attest to your fingerprints.

Procedure to Apply for NBI Clearance from Abroad

There are two methods to apply for NBI clearance from abroad. This can be applied directly through mail or through a representative. In the following section, both options have been discussed, and the step-wise procedure is explained in detail to apply for clearance using both options.

1^st Option: Through Direct Mail

Prepare a set of documents as mentioned above. The step-wise procedure to get the documents ready is being explained in the next section. Send these documents along with a fee of ₱200 Philippine currency or its US dollar equivalent to “National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Mailed Clearance Section, 3rd Floor NBI Clearance Building, UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000.” The fee breakdown is mentioned in the table below.

Fee	Amount
Clearance Fee	₱130
Mailing Cost	₱70
Total	₱200

2^nd Option: Through a Representative

If you have someone available inside the Philippines who can submit your application on your behalf, then this option can also be chosen. The following will be the requirements:

• Nominate your representative through an “Authorisation Letter” signed by you in which the representative has been nominated for clearance purposes on your behalf.
• Your nominated representative has to register online on the official NBI clearance website.
• During an online appointment, the representative will select “NBI Main Clearance Center” as the preferred site. (Refer to the article on the NBI appointment online for more information on the appointment procedure.)
• Select the payment option and pay the clearance fee.
• Note down the application reference number after the payment.
• The representative will visit the mailed clearance section of the main NBI Manila office on the appointment day along with the following documents:
  • Original Authorisation Letter signed by you as the applicant.
  • Form No. 5 is completed by you.
  • Copy of your passport with the biodata page.
  • Fingerprints are completed by you.
  • 2×2 Fresh Photograph
  • Valid government-issued ID of the representative

NOTE: For the Authorisation Letter, there is no need for a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for the mailed clearance process.

Step-by-Step Procedure for New Applicants

Once your required documents are ready, you are set to go through the procedure to apply for NBI clearance from abroad. Follow the steps below:

1. Collect Form No. 5 from the Philippines’ embassy or consulate free of cost.
2. Fill out the form with correct details.
3. If you are a married female applicant, write down your first name, father’s surname, husband’s surname, and mother’s maiden surname.
4. Visit the embassy, consulate, or the nearby police station to have fingerprints on the form with a rolled impression in the presence of an officer on duty. Mention the details of the duty officer with a signature, seal, designation, name, and place on the back of the form.
5. Affix a 2×2-sized fresh photograph of yourself with a white background. It should not be older than three months.
6. Take a photocopy of your passport’s biodata page and attach it to the above-mentioned documents.
7. Cross-verify all the documents to ensure that there is no mistake. Then put all the documents in an envelope and mail them to the NBI main office in Manila, addressing their mailed clearance section (Option A). Alternatively, you can send documents to your representative with an authorisation letter, who will apply for the clearance in the Philippines on your behalf (Option B).

Common Mistake: Some applicants attach their photographs, which are old or have colored backgrounds. Make sure the size is 2×2, the background is white, and it is not older than three months. The photos not meeting the criteria might not be accepted and cause delays in the clearance processing.

How to Get an NBI Clearance Renewal from Abroad

As the overseas Filipinos can get their NBI clearance as new applicants, they can also get their old NBI clearance renewed from abroad without visiting the Philippines. In case of NBI clearance renewal from abroad, the previous clearance should have been issued in the year 2014 or later. If the old clearance was issued before 2014, that clearance will not be renewed; such applicants have to apply for an NBI clearance with a new application, whose process has been explained in the above sections.

In case there is a change in your personal details, like address or social status, you need to update your data, and you have to submit a new application with Form No. 5 and other documents. Thus, the renewal is only for applicants whose personal details record has not changed since last clearance and whose last clearance was issued in or after 2014. All other applicants have to apply as new applicants.

The renewal category applicants do not need to submit Form No. 5 or other forms, provided their personal details are not changed.

Refer to the detailed guide on NBI clearance renewal to go through the complete step-by-step process.

Processing Time and Receiving Your Clearance

As per official NBI information, the maximum processing time of the NBI mailed clearance is five days from the date of receipt of your documents at the Mailed Clearance Section. However, if applied through a representative, the clearance can be released the very next day of the representative’s visit to the NBI main office for document verification. If applied for directly, the NBI clearance certificate is mailed to you at your mentioned address after release. After receiving the clearance copy, do the two things

• On the certificate, there’s a space provided for you to affix your right thumb’s impression. Do it immediately after receiving the clearance.
• Verify the NBI dry seal on the original clearance certificate and keep a soft copy of the same for the record

What’s the Validity of NBI Clearance?

NBI clearance is valid for one year from the issuance date. Its validity period is the same whether you get it from abroad or are within the Philippines.

Advice: Some employers, embassies, or immigration offices may demand the NBI clearance validity of at least 3 to 6 months, depending on their specific requirements. In such cases, renew your clearance well before the time to ensure the specific requirements.

Contact the NBI Mailed Clearance Section

As the overseas clearance applications are handled by the mailed clearance section of the main NBI clearance office in Manila. So, you can directly contact them in case of queries or inquiries. The following are the contact details of the mailed clearance section:

Contact	Details
Phone Number	+63 85238231 loc. 5465
Email Address	[email protected]
Office Address	Mailed Clearance Section, 3rd Floor, NBI Clearance Building, UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Philippines

Important Note: The clearance process mentioned here is for Filipino citizens residing overseas outside the Philippines. However, if you are a foreign national, this process is not for you. The foreigners planning to reside inside or already residing inside the Philippines also require the NBI clearance. The process to avail NBI clearance as a foreign national has been addressed in a separate detailed guide. You can refer to the comprehensive guide on NBI clearance for foreigners for that application.

FAQs

Conclusion

In order to apply for an NBI clearance from abroad, there is no requirement to return to the Philippines. The clearance can be applied through the mailed clearance process. In the mailed clearance process, the application can be sent directly to the mailed clearance section at the NBI main office along with Form No. 5, a fingerprint form, a 2×2 picture, and a passport copy, with a fee of ₱200 enclosed with the documents. Alternatively, the same process can be processed through an authorised representative in the Philippines who will register himself or herself on the official portal, apply online for an appointment, pay the fee, get a reference number, and visit the main NBI office with complete documents, an authorisation letter, and a valid ID.

In case of any query, contact the NBI Mailed Clearance Section at +63 85238231 loc. 5465 or email [email protected] for direct assistance.