NBI Clearance Fee: How Much Does It Cost in 2026
As per the official website, the NBI clearance fee is ₱130 plus a ₱25 e-payment charge. This will bring the total to ₱155 for regular applicants in 2026. However, the exact amount may vary for some applicants depending on the payment method, as service charges may differ across payment channels. The NBI clearance is absolutely free for first-time job seekers for one time only. In this post, we have discussed the full fee breakdown and the service charges against the NBI clearance. We have also discussed the case of FTJS (First-Time Job Seekers) to avail of a free NBI clearance
NBI Clearance Fee (2026)
NBI Clearance is ₱155. This includes ₱130 for the NBI clearance fee and ₱25 for the e-payment service charges. You have to pick up the clearance from the NBI branch with the standard fee option. For door-to-door delivery, an additional fee of ₱200 is charged. These charges are flat regardless of your purpose of clearance, whether it is employment, travel abroad, a certain transaction, or any legal purpose. There can be add-on charges depending on the service and the payment channel. The following table illustrates the details on the fee breakdown.
| Payment / Delivery Method | Total Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven CLiQQ, Bayad Center, or Bank Counter | ₱155 | ₱130 base + ₱25 e-payment fee |
| GCash Digital Wallet | ₱160 | ₱30 payment service fee |
| Credit Card or Debit Card | ₱164 (reported) | Due to additional Card processing charges |
| Door delivery (Metro Manila) | ₱355 | ₱200 is the additional delivery cost |
| First-Time Job Seeker (RA 11261) | FREE | Barangay Certificate and Oath of Undertaking are additionally required |
| Clearance Renewal | Same fee as new application | No separate discounted rate |
NOTE: Bayad Center, 7-Eleven CliQQ, and over-the-counter bank payments charge ₱155.
Digital wallets and cards usually add more service charges in addition to the actual fee.
Is NBI Clearance Free for First-Time Job Seekers?
Yes, it is free. First-time job seekers have no NBI clearance fee, according to the Philippine government. Republic Act No. 11261. As an FTJS, you need a valid Barangay Certificate confirming your status plus a signed Oath of Undertaking to avail yourself of the free clearance facility. However, the FTJS free clearance facility can be availed of only. You have to pay the regular fee after availing yourself of the 1st chance.
Free Clearance Requirements for FTJS
The following are the general requirements to avail of the free NBI clearance as a first-time job seeker:
- A Barangay Certificate with a stamp and dry seal signed by the Barangay Captain. This certificate should clearly mention your status as a first-time job seeker and also confirm your residence in that barangay for at least the past 6 months.
- An Oath of Undertaking for being an FTJS, signed by you at the barangay hall.
- A valid ID issued by the government.
- Bring an extra ID on the appointment day; this will help you in case of a HIT.
- The NBI Clearance requirements article lists all the IDs accepted by the NBI.
- Your online application for NBI clearance as a “first-time job seeker.”
NOTE: While applying for the NBI clearance on the official portal, ensure you apply as FTJS; the regular fee will be charged to you.
Common Mistake: Assuming any Barangay Certificate will be accepted for the free NBI clearance. Some Barangay offices do not have the dry seal. Presenting such a barangay certificate is reported not to be accepted at many NBI branches. Always confirm with the barangay hall about the dry seal in advance to avoid the extra trip. In such a case, you should request the barangay captain for a signed letter on letterhead to confirm the non-availability of the dry seal.
Some first-time job seeker applicants have reported that they were being charged a fee online. In several cases, this issue resolved on its own within a day, so wait for 24 hours in such cases.
Important Tip: If the FTJS portal shows a fee, never make the payment; once paid, it will not be refunded. Try logging back in a few hours later or the next day.
NOTE: If you do not want the hassle of obtaining a barangay certificate and other requirements for FTJS to get free clearance, you can pay for it. You can pay the fee and apply as a regular applicant.
Why Does the Fee Change by Payment Method?
This is due to different service rates charged by the payment service provider. GCash charges a service fee of ₱30 instead of ₱30. Thus, the NBI clearance fee paid through GCash will be ₱160 instead of ₱155. The other payment gateways like 7-Eleven CliQQ, banks, or the Bayad Centers charge a standard fee of ₱155.
A few applicants have noticed GCash displaying “service fee is waived” on the payment screen, yet the total charged still comes out to ₱160. This is the GCash system labeling rather than the actual discount. Before making the payment, confirm the final amount. Save your payment receipt or the proof of payment with you. This will help you to avoid any payment confirmation issues.
Credit and debit card payments have been reported at around ₱164, a few pesos higher due to the card processor’s own additional surcharge. This extra amount is separate from anything NBI itself controls.
NBI Clearance Renewal Fee
NBI Clearance renewal costs the same as a new application, as per the current NBI Clearance Online system. You’ll still pay ₱155 for branch pickup, ₱160 through GCash, or more if you add door-to-door delivery. There’s no separate, discounted rate just because you’re renewing rather than applying for the first time.
Fully online renewal, without any branch visit, only works if your previous clearance was issued on or after October 16, 2016. Older clearances are redirected into the standard application process instead. Door-to-door delivery generally arrives within 3 to 7 working days for cities in Metro Manila and Luzon, while the delivery time for the Visayas and Mindanao is 7 to 10 working days.
For the NBI clearance renewal, always apply in the renewal section. Applying as a fresh applicant will not work for you due to a past record against your ID. The article NBI Clearance Renewal covers the online step-by-step renewal application process in detail.
Common Payment Problems
Seeing your payment marked as “Pending” doesn’t mean it failed. Sometimes, the payments are not reflected immediately; these payments are reflected automatically after some time. As a rule of thumb, you should wait for 2-4 hours for GCash and Maya payments to be reflected. Wait for 24 hours for OTC payments, including bank and Bayad Center, to be reported if they are not reflected automatically.
Common Mistake: Some applicants in a hurry make a duplicate payment, as the NBI portal still shows “pending” after the first payment. Always wait for a few hours in such a case for the payment to get reflected in the system and update the status automatically. The system only recognizes one payment per reference number, so a second payment usually gets stuck rather than replacing the first. Always check with your payment provider before trying again.
In case of HIT status, there is no extra verification cost. You have to pay once for the NBI clearance fee. The same application fee will be valid after HIT status is removed to get your clearance.
A few applicants have reported that some small satellite branches ask for an additional ₱5 to charge for an envelope. This is not the official NBI fee. If you bring your own envelope or you do not need an envelope, you do not have to pay for these charges. If you’re paying through GCash specifically, how to pay NBI Clearance using GCash breaks down the exact steps and screen confirmations worth double-checking.
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Conclusion
If you are planning to apply for NBI clearance as a regular applicant or as a first-time job seeker, or you want the renewal of your expired clearance, you should know about the fee. Knowing the exact fee amount and the payment methods will save you a lot of time and effort. The standard fee through most of the payment service providers comes out to a total of ₱155, including service charges and the base NBI clearance fee of ₱130. GCash charged an additional ₱5, making the total fee ₱160. For payments through some debit cards or credit cards, you might be charged an additional service fee depending on the payment service provider. First-time job seekers are entitled to a free clearance one time. However, they have to present the barangay certificate along with an oath of undertaking in addition to a valid ID.
