National ID: Online Registration, Application and Requirements in the Philippines

The latest and updated guide on registering for a National ID in the Philippines with its simple "three-easy step" process. Photo for illustration purposes only.

(UPDATED) Phil ID, official name: Philippine Identification System ID or PhilID (also known as National ID, PhilSys ID,  Philippine Identification Card, and National ID of the Philippines), is the national ID system for all the citizens of the Republic of The Philippines, including foreign permanent residents. It is a foundational digital ID system with goals to transform how services are delivered in the Philippines and accelerate its transition into a digital economy, including enabling presence less, paperless, and cashless transactions.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the agency supervising the issuance of the PhilSys ID, said on their website that it will be a means of simplifying public and private transactions. It is also a social and economic platform that promotes seamless social service delivery and strengthens financial inclusion for both public and private services. 

As of writing, more than 30 million Filipinos have already finished the first step of PhilSys registration, including the 2.6 million who registered this 2021. The Philippine Identification System or PhilSys provides valid proof of identity to all individuals residing in the Philippines. 

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How to register Philippine National ID online?

There are three easy steps to get a Philippine National ID or PhilSys ID. Among them is to register or apply online through the PhilSys website. Anyone can access the National ID online registration link either through your mobile device or desktop computer.

Individuals may directly go to the National ID online registration link at register.philsys.gov.ph. You may also follow the latest and updated steps below on how to get a  Philippine National ID card:

Step 1: Go to register.philsys.gov.ph and fill out the required information

●     Once you can go to the mentioned web address, you need to provide a mobile number or email address to get an OTP code (this is a 6-digits code that will be sent to your mobile number or email address).

●     Upon receiving your OTP code, you must input it on the box and click the "verify button" to proceed.

●     After verifying the OTP code, you will be redirected to an online application form that you need to fill out. You need to input all the required information, which will be reflected in the PhilSys registry for your National ID Card. Take note: You must provide only true and accurate information to avoid the penalties provided in the law.

After filling out the form and completing the steps above, you may book your preferred registration center and appointment schedule to proceed with the Step 2 registration process. You should save the application reference number (ARN) you obtained from Step 1 registration. 

Make sure to save a copy of the ARN and your QR code which you will present at the PhilSys registration center. In the Step-2 process, you must bring the original copy of your supporting documents. For the list of the registration centers for Step 2 of the Philippine National ID registration process, you may check it here: https://www.philsys.gov.ph/registration-center/.

Take note: Applicants for the national ID must follow PSA's "three-step registration process," wherein Step 1 collects demographic information such as full name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, blood type, and permanent address.

Step 2: Proceed to your designated registration center with your supporting documents

Upon completion of the first step or Step 1 of your national id registration, you must proceed to the designated registration center of your choice on the day of your appointment schedule. PhilSys will record your biometric information such as fingerprint, iris scan, and your front-facing photograph. They will also verify your supporting documents on-site.

(Step-2 registration for National ID card. A screener will be available in the registration center. They will be the ones to evaluate and verify your supporting documents. Photo from Facebook/Robinsons North Tacloban)

You may check the list below for the requirements of National ID:

●     Here is the list of the primary documents required upon completing the Step-2 registration for the national id (you are required to bring an original copy of at least one of the following documents):

○     DFA-issued Philippine Passport or ePassport.

○     GSIS or SSS-issued Unified Multi-purpose Identification Card (UMID);

○     Land Transportation Office (LTO)-issued Student’s License Permit or Non-Professional/Professional Driver’s License

○     PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth AND one (1) government-issued identification document which bears your full name, front-facing photograph, and signature or thumb mark.

(If there are discrepancies between the PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth and the government-issued ID presented, the PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth would be considered as a secondary supporting document).

●     If the applicant doesn’t have the primary documents above, they may bring the following secondary documents for verification of their national id registration:

○     PSA-issued Certificate of Live Birth/NSO-issued Certificate of Live Birth with Birth Reference Number (BreN)

○     LCRO-issued Certificate of Live Birth

○     PSA-issued Report of Birth

○     PSA-issued Certificate of Foundling

○     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

 

The following identification documents below shall be accepted as secondary supporting documents provided that they have a front-facing photograph, signature/thumbmark, full name, permanent address, and date of birth.

 

○     Employee ID

○     School ID

○     Barangay Clearance/Certificate or Barangay ID

○     City/Municipal ID

Once your biometric information is recorded and your supporting documents are verified, you will proceed to the Step 3 process of the national id registration. Said process is much easier than Step-1 and Step-2 because you will just need to wait for the issuance of your National ID card or PhilSys ID in your registered delivery address.

Step 3: Issuance of your PhilSys Number (PSN) and Philippine National ID Card

Your PhilSys Number (PSN) and PhilSys ID will be delivered to your address by the Philippine Postal Corporation or PHLPost. You must present your transaction slip or any valid IDs to the courier. Take note: Refrain from posting your national id card on social media as it contains your personal information.

According to PSA, PSN is a unique and permanent identification number assigned to each registrant. It contains highly sensitive data and should remain confidential, and is only shared when required by law. Aside from the PSN, another critical piece of information in the card is the PhilSys Card Number or PCN. 

It can be used when availing of services in public or private without the physical national ID card. 

While the PhilSys ID (official: PhilID) or the National ID card is a non-transferable card that contains demographic and biometric information. It also includes the PhilSys Card Number (PCN), which the ID holder may use for transactions to protect their PSN.

(National ID Philippine Card sample. For illustrative purposes from PhilSys)

The PhilSys ID stores 13 data points centrally, according to PSA: 

The identification document (PhilID Card) shall display:

• The assigned PhilID Card Number (PCN)

• The full name (Given Name, Middle Name, Surname)

• Sex (Male, Female)

• blood type (O+/-, A+/-, B+/-, AB+/-)

• birth date

• birthplace (city/town, province/state, and country)

• marital status (optional)

• photograph of the bearer.

Meanwhile, the PhilSys central registry will also store the bearer's;

• mobile number (optional);

• email address (optional);

• biometrics data (full fingerprints set), and;

• iris scan. 

Why do we need a National ID card?

According to the  2017 World Bank's Findex survey, three out of every 20 Filipinos have not been provided with government services due to a lack of ID. Meanwhile, four out of every 20 Filipinos in the country's 40% poorest population have not been provided with government services due to a lack of valid proof of identity.

These are just a few reasons why the Philippine government is implementing a national ID card registration while ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols to combat COVID-19.

In addition, PSA said on their website: www.philsys.gov.ph/use-cases/: "The PhilID (PhilSys ID) can be used by citizens and resident aliens in the Philippines as a valid proof of identity for public and private transactions."

"For government transactions, it can be used for the application for social and welfare benefits, such as those offered by the GSIS, SSS, PhilHealth, HDMF, and other government agencies.

It may also be utilized for passports and driver’s license applications, and tax-related transactions. Additionally, the identification card may be presented as proof of identity for admission to any government hospital, health center, and other related institutions."

"For private transactions, the PhilID can be used for bank transactions such as the opening of bank accounts."

The Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 announced on May 7, 2021, that persons aged 15-17 and above 75 in the Philippines are now allowed to go outside their homes to register for the national id card. In areas under modified, enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), those below 18 years old and over 65 years old are not allowed to go out unless for essential purposes.

Is the Philippine National ID Card free?

Yes, it's free, and there are no charges on registering or availing of the National ID card or PhilSys ID. This is clarified by the Philippine Statistics Authority-11 on a government-news website. To quote, "PSA-11 said national ID is free, although there is a need to pay for the transfer of the lost or damaged Philippine ID."

PSA-11 also added that it is not mandatory to register for a National ID. Still, it would be much easier to transact with any government or private entity by using the said identification card.

Conclusion

It's been long overdue for the Philippines to have a unified digital identification system, and it's a must for Filipinos to have a PhilSys ID since, according to PSA, it will pave the way for an inclusive, digital and centralized identification system. It will also accelerate the country's digital economy by using it for cashless transactions currently dominated by mobile wallets from private companies.

The use of PhilSys ID, not only for identification but also for the digital economy, is necessary for the Philippines since it is the world's 29th largest economy by nominal GDP and the 13th largest economy in Asia. Business Insider also projected that the country's economy will be the 5th largest in Asia and 16th biggest globally by 2050.

Therefore, a National ID system that revolves around centralized and digital identification to strengthen financial inclusion is needed to be prepared for the future. —AJ Yes