NBI Clearance Fee 2026 Complete Cost Guide
Every peso you need to know before you pay. New application, renewal, GCash, delivery, first time job seekers and what happens if your result comes back HIT.
The NBI Clearance fee is ₱155 for a new application or renewal with branch pickup, made up of a ₱130 clearance fee and a ₱25 e payment service fee. Paying through GCash brings the total to ₱160. Door to door delivery within Metro Manila costs ₱355. First time job seekers pay ₱0 under RA 11261. A HIT does not add any extra charge.
NBI Clearance Fee At A Glance
| Scenario | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| New application, branch pickup | ₱155 |
| Renewal, branch pickup | ₱155 |
| Payment via GCash | ₱160 |
| Renewal, door to door delivery in Metro Manila | ₱355 |
| Renewal, delivery outside Metro Manila | Higher, shown at checkout |
| First time job seeker under RA 11261 | ₱0 |
| Result comes back HIT | No extra charge |
| Application by mail from abroad | ₱200 |
This table covers every common scenario. The sections below explain each one and why the amount is what it is.
What Makes Up The ₱155 Fee
The NBI charges two separate amounts and combines them into a single payment. The first is the clearance processing fee of ₱130. The second is an e payment service fee of ₱25, charged by the payment system, not the NBI itself. Add them together and you get ₱155, the amount you pay online before your appointment date.
You pay this once. There is no additional fee at the branch on the day you visit, and the amount is the same whether you are applying for the first time or renewing an existing clearance with branch pickup.
Does The Fee Change By Purpose
No. The ₱155 fee is the same whether your clearance is for employment, travel, a visa application, a business permit, school requirements or any other purpose. The NBI does not charge more based on why you need the document. A clearance marked for one purpose can generally be used for others as long as it is still valid, which is why many applicants choose multi purpose clearance.
NBI Clearance Fee By Payment Method
| Payment Method | Service Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|
| GCash | ₱30 | ₱160 |
| Maya | ₱25 | ₱155 |
| 7 Eleven CLiQQ kiosk | ₱25 | ₱155 |
| Bayad Center | ₱25 | ₱155 |
| Online banking | ₱25 | ₱155 |
| Debit or credit card | ₱25 | ₱155 |
| Over the counter cash partners | ₱25 | ₱155 |
GCash is the only channel with a different total. It adds ₱30 instead of ₱25 because of GCash’s own transaction charge on top of the standard NBI system fee, bringing your total to ₱160 instead of ₱155. If you want to pay the lower amount and still use a phone, Maya charges the standard ₱25. Full walkthrough here: how to pay NBI Clearance using GCash.
NBI Clearance Renewal Fee
Renewal costs the same ₱155 as a new application when you choose branch pickup. The NBI does not charge more for a second, third or tenth clearance. What changes the total is whether you pick up your clearance at the branch or have it delivered.
| Renewal Option | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Branch pickup | ₱155 |
| Door to door delivery, Metro Manila | ₱355 |
| Door to door delivery, outside Metro Manila | Higher, varies by region |
Quick Renewal is available if your previous clearance was issued from October 16, 2016 onward and your personal details have not changed. It can be completed fully online with either pickup or delivery. If your details changed, such as a new civil status or a name correction, the renewal is treated as a new application and requires a branch visit for updated biometrics. Full process here: how to renew your NBI Clearance.
NBI Clearance Delivery Fee
Door to door delivery within Metro Manila brings your total to ₱355. This covers the ₱155 clearance fee plus the courier charge for delivering the printed clearance to your address. Delivery typically takes 3 to 7 working days within Metro Manila.
Outside Metro Manila, including Visayas and Mindanao, the delivery charge is higher and depends on your exact location. The precise amount for your address appears at checkout on the official portal before you confirm payment, so always check the final total there rather than relying on a fixed number from any guide, including this one.
If you are overseas and need your renewed clearance mailed internationally, courier costs are considerably higher, often around ₱1,000 depending on your country. See our full guide for applying for an NBI Clearance from abroad for the mail and representative routes available to OFWs.
Is NBI Clearance Free For First Time Job Seekers
Yes. Under Republic Act 11261, the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, a qualified applicant gets one NBI Clearance completely free. The fee is not discounted, it is waived entirely, so the portal shows ₱0.
To qualify you need a Barangay Certification stating you are a first time job seeker and have lived in your barangay for at least six months, an Oath of Undertaking, and a valid ID. The benefit applies to employment purposes only and can be used once in a lifetime. You also apply through a separate portal, firsttimejobseekers.nbi.gov.ph, not the regular NBI Clearance site. Full requirements and steps here: NBI Clearance for first time job seekers.
Does A HIT Cost Extra
No. A HIT does not add any fee. You pay ₱155 once during your online application, and if the NBI finds a name match during verification, the additional checking is covered by that same payment. There is no separate HIT fee at any point in the process, regardless of what some other guides may claim.
The only cost you might face is indirect, such as transportation if you need to return to the branch on a later date to claim your clearance. The NBI itself charges nothing extra for the verification. Full explanation here: what a HIT means and what to do next.
NBI Clearance Fee From Abroad
Filipinos applying from outside the Philippines pay ₱200 total when applying by mail, made up of the ₱130 clearance fee plus a ₱70 mailing cost, payable by money order or bank draft to the Director, NBI. This applies to applications processed through the NBI Main Office in Ermita, Manila, since all overseas applications go through that office only.
If your clearance will be used abroad in a country that requires it, you will also need a DFA Apostille, which is a separate charge from the DFA, not the NBI. Regular apostille service typically runs around ₱100, with an expedited option around ₱200. Confirm the current schedule on the DFA website before you apply, since government fees can be updated at any time.
Common Fee Mistakes That Cost People Money
Paying twice by mistake. This happens more often than you would expect. An applicant pays through GCash or 7 Eleven, sees a Pending status in the portal, panics, and pays again through a different method. The NBI portal recognizes only one payment per reference number, and the second payment is difficult to recover. Wait at least a few hours, and up to 24 hours for over the counter payments, before assuming a payment failed. Check the Transactions tab in your account first. Only pay again if your bank or wallet provider confirms the first payment did not go through.
Paying a fixer for a faster clearance. No legitimate channel can speed up processing by charging more than ₱155. If a page, agent or social media post asks for a higher amount to guarantee faster release, it is not an official NBI channel. Pay only at clearance.nbi.gov.ph or the payment partners listed on that portal.
Losing the appointment after paying. Your payment is generally non refundable, and missing your appointment usually means booking and paying again. For first time job seekers this is more serious, since missing the appointment forfeits the one time free benefit permanently.
Fee Facts People Often Get Wrong
- The standard fee is ₱155, not ₱160. ₱160 only applies if you pay through GCash specifically.
- A HIT never adds a fee. Any guide claiming an extra charge for HIT verification is incorrect.
- The fee does not change based on your purpose. Employment, travel and visa applications all cost the same.
- Free corrections. Minor typo corrections on your online application are handled at no cost.
- Paying more does not speed up processing. Release timing depends on whether your name matches a record, not on how much you paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The NBI Clearance fee is straightforward once you know the two numbers behind it. ₱155 covers a standard new application or renewal with branch pickup, ₱160 applies only if you pay through GCash, and ₱355 covers delivery within Metro Manila. First time job seekers pay nothing under RA 11261, and a HIT never adds a charge. Confirm the exact total shown on the official portal before you pay, and never send money to anyone claiming they can process your clearance faster for a higher fee.
