NBI Clearance Sample: What Does It Look Like in 2026?

You just got your NBI clearance and want to check if everything is correct or maybe you are planning to apply and want to know what the card will look like when you receive it.

If you haven’t applied yet, it’s a good idea to first understand the full process by following this complete guide on how to register NBI clearance online, so you know what happens before reaching the releasing stage.

This article shows you exactly what an NBI clearance sample looks like in 2026 what appears on the front, what’s printed on the back, and how to check if your clearance is correct and valid.

What Does an NBI Clearance Sample Look Like in 2026?

The NBI clearance in 2026 looks like a government ID card not a paper certificate. The NBI moved to this compact card format to make the clearance harder to forge and easier to carry.

It is printed on security paper roughly the size of a credit card. It fits in the ID slot of your wallet.

Before visiting, you can also check the NBI clearance centers and branch locations to find the nearest branch available.

Here is the full layout of what the NBI clearance sample contains:

The card prints in blue ink on cream or off-white security paper. You will notice fine microprint lines running along the card edges. This pattern cannot be photocopied clearly it is a built-in anti-forgery feature.

💡 Pro Tip: At the NBI Megamall branch and NBI Robinsons Ermita branch, releasing officers hand you the card face-up. Check the result text immediately before stepping away from the window. At busy branches like NBI SM Manila, queues at the releasing counter move fast you have only seconds to spot an error before the next person is called.

What Is Printed on the Front of the NBI Clearance Sample?

The front of the NBI clearance carries your identity information and your result. Here is every field you will find, in the order they appear:

Personal Information Fields

• Full Name — printed in ALL CAPS (Last Name, First Name, Middle Name format)
• Date of Birth — in MM/DD/YYYY format
• Place of Birth — city or municipality as registered
• Civil Status — Single, Married, Widowed, or Separated
• Citizenship — Filipino for most applicants
• Sex — Male or Female

Clearance Result Field

This is the most important line on the entire card. It appears in bold text below your photo and reads one of two things:

• “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” the NBI found no criminal record linked to your identity
• “HIT” your name matched a record in the database and requires additional verification

Your 2×2 photo is printed on the front left. It is captured during your biometrics appointment at the NBI branch you cannot submit your own photo.

⚠️ Warning: If your name is misspelled on the front or your birthdate is wrong do not accept that card. Tell the releasing officer immediately before you leave the window. Errors corrected on the same day at the branch cost nothing. Once you walk out, you will need to file a new application and pay the full ₱155 fee again.

💡 Pro Tip: Read your name out loud against your valid ID while still at the releasing counter. Many applicants scan the card quickly and miss a transposed letter or missing middle name. This small check saves you a second trip.

What Is on the Back of the NBI Clearance Card?

The back of the NBI clearance contains your address, verification details, and biometric data. Here are all the fields:

Back Fields

• Home Address — as entered during online registration at clearance.nbi.gov.ph
• Reference Number — your unique NBI application tracking number
• Date Issued — the exact date your clearance was printed and released
• Valid Until — exactly one year from the date issued
• Right Thumbprint — your actual fingerprint impression, applied at the branch
• QR Code — scannable code linked to the NBI verification portal
• Authorized Signature — signature of the NBI Regional Director or Branch Head

The QR code is the most important security feature on the back. Employers, POEA-accredited agencies, and embassies can scan it instantly to confirm the clearance is genuine without calling NBI directly.

⚠️ Warning: Never laminate your NBI clearance. Lamination destroys the QR code’s scannability and damages the embedded security features. Many employers and most embassies reject laminated clearances outright. Use a transparent card sleeve instead if you want to protect it.

What Does “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” Mean?

“NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” means the NBI database found no criminal record connected to your name, birthdate, and fingerprints. This is the result most applicants receive.

The phrase appears in bold in the center of the front of the card. When you see this on your NBI clearance sample, your clearance is complete and ready to use.

Where This Result Is Accepted

You do not need to do anything extra when your card shows this result. Your clearance is valid for one year from the date printed on the back and you can read more about how long NBI clearance is valid and when to renew it to avoid issues later

💡 Pro Tip: For OFW applicants submitting to POEA or a foreign embassy, some agencies require your NBI clearance to be apostilled by the DFA. Your clearance must be less than six months old at the time you submit it for apostille. Do not wait until the last minute DFA apostille queues can take one to two weeks.

What Does a HIT Status Look Like on the NBI Clearance?

If your NBI clearance sample shows “HIT“ instead of “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND,” do not panic. A HIT result does not automatically mean you have a criminal record.

A HIT means your name, birthdate, or other details matched a name in the NBI database. This happens often with common Filipino names — Jose Santos, Maria Reyes, and similar names regularly trigger a HIT simply because of a name match.

What the HIT Card Looks Like

The card will display “HIT” in place of the usual clearance result text. The NBI branch will hold the card and begin manual verification. They will give you a return date.

HIT Processing Timelines

You do not need to visit the branch every day during a HIT. The NBI will contact you via the mobile number or email you registered. You can also check your application status at clearance.nbi.gov.ph using your reference number.

⚠️ Warning: If you have a pending court case even a minor civil matter the NBI may flag your clearance as a HIT with complications. Resolve any pending legal matters before applying. Consult a lawyer if you are unsure whether an old case is still active.

How to Verify if Your NBI Clearance Sample Is Authentic ?

Any employer, agency, or individual can verify an NBI clearance in under a minute using the QR code on the back of the card.

Steps to Verify Using the QR Code

1. Open your phone camera or any free QR scanner app
2. Point the camera at the QR code on the back of the clearance
3. A link will appear tap it to open the NBI verification portal
4. The portal will display the applicant’s details if the clearance is genuine
5. If the QR code gives an error or links to a non-NBI page the card may be fake

You can also verify manually by entering the reference number at clearance.nbi.gov.ph.

Security Features on a Genuine NBI Clearance Sample

💡 Pro Tip: The NBI dry seal is the single most overlooked security check. It is an embossed impression pressed over your photo. If you hold the card at an angle under light and see no raised impression the clearance is invalid. Philippine Consulate General offices abroad specifically check for this seal before accepting the clearance.

What to Do at the Releasing Counter Before You Leave?

Most applicants grab their card and walk away without checking it. This is the most expensive mistake you can make. Here is exactly what to check before leaving the releasing window:

Step 1: Read your full name and check every letter against your valid ID.

Step 2: Check your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format.

Step 3: Confirm the clearance result text says “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” (unless you expected a HIT).

Step 4: Flip the card over and check that your address is correct.

Step 5: Scan the QR code with your phone while still at the branch. Confirm it links to the NBI portal.

Step 6: Check the “Valid Until” date is exactly one year from today’s date.

If anything is wrong, tell the officer immediately. Same-day corrections at the branch are handled on the spot. If you leave and come back the next day, the branch may ask you to start a new application.

⚠️ Warning: Some applicants at high-volume NBI branches including NBI Quezon City and NBI Pasay have received cards with blurry photos due to printer issues. If your photo is unclear or too dark, request a reprint before leaving. You are entitled to a legible, scannable card.

If you cannot personally return to claim your clearance, you may need to prepare an authorization letter to claim NBI clearance, although approval depends on the branch.

NBI Clearance for OFW: Does the Sample Look Different?

The NBI clearance card for OFW applicants looks the same as a standard clearance. There is no separate OFW format or color. The difference is in the purpose field entered during your online registration not in the physical card itself.

What OFWs Need to Know About the Card

If you are based abroad and need to renew your NBI clearance, you can send your previous clearance (issued 2014 or later) to the NBI Mailed Clearance Section at UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila, through an authorized representative.OFWs should also check the NBI clearance color for abroad requirements since some embassies have specific submission rules.

Most Common Mistake Filipinos Make When Receiving Their NBI Clearance

The mistake: Accepting the card and walking out without checking it.

This happens at every busy NBI branch, every single day. Applicants wait hours, feel relieved when their name is called, and pocket the card without looking at it properly.

Three days later, they notice their middle name is missing. Or their birthdate reads 1990 instead of 1980. By then, they are back at square one a new application, a new appointment, and another ₱155 fee.

How to avoid it:

Do the six-step check listed in Section 7 of this article at the window, before you move. It takes 45 seconds. It can save you a full day of reapplying.

The most common field errors are:

• Middle name truncated or missing entirely
• Date of birth with transposed month and day
• Home address showing old address from a previous application
• Photo too dark or out of focus

If you spot any of these, speak up immediately. NBI branch staff are accustomed to on-the-spot correction requests.

How to Pay for Your NBI Clearance in 2026

The total NBI clearance fee in 2026 is ₱155 this is ₱130 for the clearance itself plus ₱25 for the e-payment system fee. You pay this online during your appointment booking, before you go to the branch.

Accepted Payment Methods

You pay nothing at the NBI branch on the day of your appointment. Payment is always done online before you arrive.

💡 Pro Tip: If your GCash payment fails or times out, do not pay again immediately. Check your GCash transaction history first. A failed screen does not always mean the payment did not go through. Paying twice creates a duplicate that the NBI portal will not process you will need to contact NBI support to resolve it.

FAQ

Final Summary

Your NBI clearance sample in 2026 is a compact, wallet-sized card that contains your photo, fingerprint, personal details, clearance result, and QR code on both the front and back. It is valid for one year from the date it is issued.

Before going to your appointment, make sure you understand the full application process so you can avoid mistakes, delays, or the need to reapply. Being prepared will help you complete everything smoothly and receive your clearance without any issues.