How To Get A Philippine National ID

Last Updated on – Dec 14, 2022 @ 6:20 pm

“Pambansang Pagkakakilanlan” says the top part of the piece of plastic that is the Philippine National ID.

And while my 90’s-kid self thinks Shaider’s “Pulis Pangkalawakan” title still trumps it (beats everything else, IMO), I’d have to admit “Pambansang Pagkakakilanlan” sounds like a rousing title that’s fit PhilID’s purpose.

But kidding aside, what exactly is it for?

What is the Philippine National ID?

The Philippine National ID is one of the three components of the Philippine Identification System (more on this later). It’s a government-issued document that can be used for day-to-day transactions in the Philippines.

The goal is to have a universal ID that can be used for applying for various services and eligibility requirements (private and public), and access to social welfare and benefits granted by the government. 

You can use it to apply for other IDs (passport, driver’s license, NBI, etc.,), present it for employment requirements and tax-related transactions, admission in government hospitals, schools, for opening bank accounts, voting registration, and more.

It aims to be the “one” ID that Filipinos (and alien residents) will have and can use for the purposes mentioned above. 

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What is the Philippine Identification System Act or PhilSys Act?

The PhilSys Act or Republic Act 11055 was signed into law in August 2018 to establish the Filipino Identification System. It was created to provide both Filipino and foreign residents a single and unified proof of identity for the purpose of making public and private transactions easier.

It’s also intended to act as a deterrent against unlawful acts.

The Philippine Identification System is made up of 3 components:

1. PhilSys Number (PSN) – This is a randomly-generated, unique, and permanent identification number that will be assigned to each person (citizen or alien) upon birth or registration via PSA (based on the rules and provisions set on the Implementing Rules & Regulations of the PhilSys Act). The PSN will be recognized and incorporated across all government agencies including government-controlled corporations. No person can have more than one PSN. It also shall not be pre-determined or pre-assigned to any person (will only be generated upon registration or birth) and can’t be chosen.
2. PhilSys Registry – It’s a database that stores the PSN including all registration records, history, and related information of all registered persons in the PSN. 
3. Philippine National ID (Phil ID) – A non-transferrable card that is to be issued to all eligible persons registered in PhilSys per the guidelines issued by the PSA. 

Section 3 of the PhilSys Act states the following:

The PhilSys shall be primarily be established to provide a valid proof of identity for all citizens and resident aliens as a means of simplifying public and private transactions. The PhilSys aims to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and the private sector, subject to appropriate authentication measures based on a biometric identification system.

Furthermore, the PhilSys shall be a social and economic platform through which all transactions including public and private services can be availed of and shall serve as the link in promotion of seamless service delivery, enhancing administrative governance, reducing corruption, strengthening financial inclusion, and promoting ease of doing business.

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Who are eligible for the National ID?

All Filipino citizens, regardless of where they live (OFWs and dual citizens), can apply for the Philippine National ID.

Also eligible are foreign residents currently living in the country.

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What personal information or data are included in the PhilID?

The Philippine National ID will contain the following pieces of information:

• PhilSys Number
• Full Name
• Gender
• Blood Type
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Biometrics data (full fingerprint and iris scan)
• Photograph
• Address
• Citizenship (Filipino or Resident Foreigner)
• Marital Status (optional)
• Mobile Number (optional)
• Email address (optional)

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, they have completed the procurement process for the registration kits this year (2019).

The next steps on the timeline are procurement for the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), System Integrator (SI), setting up of registration centers, and card creation (in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas). 

The pilot test registration is currently ongoing for a select group of individuals and will run until June 2020.

The PSA aims to test the full end-to-end registration process (registration to issuance) by May 2020. They plan on opening it to the general public the month after (June 2020).

Both the PhilSys Act and Data Privacy Act of 2012 enforce strict rules on the various circumstances the data that will be stored in the PhilSys registry can be shared and accessed.

In addition, the government plans to conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) in order to reveal any potential cracks in the system via the Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) stage.

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Is the Philippine National ID free?

Absolutely. The PhilID is free and there are no charges for Filipinos who want to get it. However, you need to pay for the transfer of damaged or lost IDs.

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What are the benefits of having a National ID?

Having a universally-honored ID will allow for seamless transactions for both private and government settings.

It reduces the hassle of having to present multiple IDs or personal documents for requirements.

And with the implementation of biometrics to ensure authenticity and validity of each person’s identity, it could also act as a deterrent against potential crimes.

Individuals asked to present their National ID are less likely to commit a crime since their identity is known. 

Here’s one example that comes to mind:

Say you’re trying to buy a used laptop in Facebook Marketplace.

After sending an inquiry PM to the seller, you agreed to meet up and do the transaction. “Sir, pwede makita National ID mo?”, you ask. “Oo naman po, eto”, he says and proceeds to show you his ID. 

In this scenario, the ID acts as a security measure for providing the seller’s true identity.

If there’s a need to replace a faulty unit or return the product, then you won’t have much trouble making contact.

Granted, it’s not a 100% fool-proof solution, but it does add some layer of security over transactions.

And it works the other way around too, sellers or businesses can request to ask you to show your National ID as a security protocol before they let you buy or use their service (a car rental service, for example).

As I see it, it not only serves as proof of a person’s identity, it also acts as a deterrent for decreasing the likelihood of someone committing unlawful acts since their identity is known. 

Increasing financial inclusion in the Philippines is also one of the primary issues that the National ID system aims to address.

With each Pinoy bearing a universally-acknowledged proof of identity, the government hopes more citizens will be able to apply for financial products (such as loans, credit cards, life insurance, etc…) and have their own bank accounts. 

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What are the uses of the Philippine National ID?

We now know the benefits, but what about the actual scenarios where the Philippine ID can be used?

Here are some of the most common instances it can be utilized.

• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for availing benefits and social services provided by the government
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for applying for travel visa and passport
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity to apply for services and benefits provided by various government agencies like PhilHealth, GSIS, SSS, PagIBIG (HDMF), and others
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for voter registration
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for driver’s license application
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for various tax requirements and transactions
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for availing of government-based health services and institutions
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity required for government transactions
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for applying at public and private schools, universities, learning centers, and similar institutions
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity when applying for employment
• Can be used as a valid document and proof of identity for opening financial accounts and conducting finance-related transactions
• All other transactions and eligibility requirements that require some proof of identity

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Limitations of Use of the Philippine National ID

Section 14 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the PhilSys Act states:

“Proof of identity shall not be necessarily construed as proof of eligibility to avail of certain benefits and services which shall be determined based on applicable rules and regulations of the government authorities and agencies concerned. Issuance of the PSN and/or PhilID shall not likewise be construed as incontrovertible proof of citizenship”.

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Different Formats of National ID

The Philippine Statistics Authority is set to release three kinds of PhilID cards namely, in print, downloadable, and mobile formats.

The goal of PSA is to deliver 20 million digital national IDs in 2022, together with 30 million physical cards. These digital cards will have the same functions and validity as the physical PhilID cards, but the printable format will contain security features. It will also have a unique digital signature embedded in a QR code for safe authentication.

The pilot test of the printable version of the national ID will start in October, and the mobile version will be launched by the end of the year.

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Philippine National ID (PhilID) Requirements

Here are the requirements for applying for a Philippine National ID:

1. PhilSys Application Form (Form No. 1) – The applicant will need to complete and submit the PhilSys application form to any designated registration center.
2. Primary Documents – The following documents need to be submitted along with the PhilSys application form:
   • PSA-issued birth certificate and one (1) government-issued identification document with full name, photo, and signature or thumb mark; or
   • Philippine ePassport issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs; or
   • Unified Multi-purpose Identification (UMID) Card issued by the Government Service Insurance System or Social Security System; or
   • Land Transportation Office (LTO)-issued Student – License Permit or Non-Professional/Professional – Driver’s License
   • Other equivalent identification documents as may be determined in the guidelines issued by the PSA.
3. Secondary Documents (Optional – to be presented if the primary requirements are not available)
   • PSA-issued birth certificate or NSO-issued Certificate of Live Birth with Birth Reference Number (BreN); or
     • LCRO-issued Certificate of Live Birth
     • PSA-issued Report of Birth
     • PSA-issued Certificate of Founding
   • Any government-issued identification document reflecting at least the full name, front-facing photograph, and signature or thumb mark, such as
     • Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Identification Card
     • Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) ID
     • Seaman’s Book
     • Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
     • Senior Citizen’s ID
     • SSS ID
     • Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ID
     • License to Own or Possess Firearms (LTOPF) ID
     • NBI Clearance
     • Police Clearance/ID
     • Solo Parent’s ID
     • PWD ID
     • Voter’s ID
     • Postal ID
     • Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) ID
     • Philhealth ID
     • Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA)-issued Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV)
     • National ID from other countries
     • Residence ID from other countries
   • Identification documents issued by the private sector which comply with the requirements set by the PSA, such as:
     • Employee ID
     • School ID
     • Barangay Clearance/Certificate
     • Barangay ID
     • City/Municipal ID

Resident aliens will need to present their Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) or ACR ID. 

If a married woman presents identification documents that bear her maiden name, she will be asked to present PSA-issued marriage certificate if she decided to take her husband’s surname.

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How to Apply for a Philippine National ID (Application and Registration Process)

Here’s a bird’s eye view of the Philippine National ID registration process.

Step 1: Visit https://register.philsys.gov.ph/

Go to https://register.philsys.gov.ph/ and fill up the required information. This includes your full name, gender, date and place of birth, blood type, and address.

Step 2: Go to the registration center

Proceed to the designated registration center of your choice to have your biometrics, fingerprint, iris scan information, and ID photo taken on the day of your appointment.

Make sure to bring your necessary documents for validation.

Step 3: Wait for your PhilSys Number (PSN) and Phil ID (National ID)

Wait for your PhilID card to be delivered by PhilPost. This includes your 12-digit PhilSys Number or personal serial number (PSN) to be issued by PSA, and the 16-digit PhilSys Card Number (PCN).

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List of Registration Centers for the Philippine National ID

• For Resident Filipino Citizens
  • PSA Regional and Provincial Offices;
  • Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs);
  • Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its members and their dependents;
  • Social Security System (SSS) for its members and their dependents;
  • Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);
  • Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF);
  • Commission on Elections (COMELEC);
  • Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost); and
  • Other government agencies and GOCCs as may be assigned by the PSA.

• For OFWs

Filipino citizens who live abroad can register in the nearest Philippine Embassy or Philippine Foreign Service post (and any other registration centers that may be designated by the DFA in coordination with the PSA).

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How to request for changes or corrections in your PhilSys data 

Should there be a need to modify or correct any information reflected in your PhilSys data, the following steps need to be taken:

• Changes in name, gender, DoB, Place of Birth, and Marital Status
  • File a PhilSys Registration or Correction Form at registration centers
  • Submission of annotated PSA-Issued Birth or Marriage certificate (depends on what needs to be corrected)
  • The person will also be asked to verify his or her identity through biometric authentication
• Changes/Correction in Citizenship
  • File a PhilSys Registration or Correction Form at registration centers
  • Submit the appropriate supporting documents
  • The person will also be asked to verify his or her identity through biometric authentication
• For authenticated registered individuals who wish to change their address, mobile number or email address
  • File a PhilSys Registration or Correction Form at registration centers
  • Or do the above via the web-based PSA portal (to be provided by the PSA)
  • The person will be authenticated via OTP (One-Time Pin) and biometrics (facial recognition)
• For minors or persons with disability that are unable to provide consent
  • Changes in their data shall be made with the assistance of their PhilSys-registered parent or guardian at registered centers
• Correction of typographical errors and updates/recapture of biometrics data
  • Will be performed under the provisions outlined under section 12 of the IRR of the PhilSys Act and will be validated per the registration procedures implemented by the PSA

Check out our other essential guides:

• Guide to Pag-IBIG Fund: Online Registration, Benefits & Programs
• Complete Guide to SSS Online: Registration, Contribution & Benefits
• Complete Guide to NBI Clearance: Online Application & Renewal
• How to Get a Philippine Passport: DFA Online Appointment & Requirements
• Complete Guide to Philhealth: Online Registration, Contribution & Benefits
• How to Get (or Renew) a Driver’s License in the Philippines
• Complete Guide to Car Registration & Renewal in the Philippines
• Travel: 78 Visa-Free Countries for Philippine Passport Holders
• How to Get a Philippine Postal ID
• How to File & Pay Taxes Online in the Philippines