Tag: Valid ID

Rush Postal ID Renewal Requirements, Price, Procedures 2021
We went to the Manila Central Post Office on February 1, 2021 to renew our postal ID. I’ll update this post to write about our experiences, including postal ID renewal requirements, price, and procedures. Please note however, that the info I’ll write will mostly be about Postal ID renewal in 2021, since that’s what we did.

Our experience in renewing our Postal ID at Manila Central Post Office

In summary, it was a tiring task to renew our postal ID at the Manila Central Post Office. The line was very long, not to mention the discomfort of wearing mask and face shield at all times amidst the pandemic. Our expectation was that there would only be few people in line just like when we applied 3 years ago, and since people should be less willing to be outside their homes due to the pandemic. We were so tired and hungry after waiting in line for about 4 hours. You guys, if you don’t need your Postal ID ASAP, maybe choose a post office or capture station that DOESN’T offer processing! 🥵

We got our original Postal ID from SM North EDSA in 2018 January. Its expiration is after 3 years, so we had to renew this year 2021. We chose to renew ours at Manila Central Post Office. Rush Postal ID renewal and application is accepted there. Upon arrival, at first we were like “whoa, ang ganda pala dito!” but a few seconds later, we were like “Ohshi* ang daming tao!!!” in shock by the number of people in line ahead of us. Maybe you guys should plan to go early. Hehe. We arrived there around 11AM. Later on we found out that it’s because that post office was one of the few places that offer rush processing.

After having our application forms, old Postal ID and its photocopy inspected near the entrance, the guards led us to a seated queue. We waited so long (about 2 hours?) until it was our turn to proceed to the next area for processing.

We fell in line in the next area where the staff assessed our requirements again before asking for our payment. An irritating hiccup happened there. The staff said she can’t issue receipt for regular processing, as she was only processing rush applications/renewals. So we had to fall in line all over again! It was really a hassle, because the guards didn’t even lead us to the line where the cashier can process non-rushed ones, when it’s clear in our application forms that we were going to go for regular processing.

After trying to calm ourselves down and having over our payment, we proceeded to the data capture section to get our photos and fingerprints taken. It’s during pandemic so it was a bit scary to take off our masks during photo shoot, and to press our fingers on the fingerprint capturing device where hundreds/thousands of people pressed theirs… but it had to be done. If you’ll also go for it during pandemic, just be extra careful okay? Take off your mask only when necessary, put it back right after your photo gets taken. Sanitize your hand right after your fingerprints are captured. My face was so shiny in my photo; it gets very oily when stressed out. My face is round and quite pale too, so it really resembled the moon back then.

What are the requirements to get Postal ID

When we applied for a Postal ID in year 2018, the following were the requirements that we presented:
1. 2 accomplished postal ID application forms
2. Birth certificate, 2 valid IDs, or passport
3. Barangay clearance, proof of billing, NBI clearance, or police clearance
4. Marriage contract if you are a married woman
5. Photocopy of all documents except the postal ID application forms
When we renewed this year 2021, we only brought
1. 2 copies of filled out application form
2. Old Postal ID
3. Photocopy of old Postal ID
Postal ID Procedures for Renewal

I don’t know about the procedures in other post offices, but following were the procedures we followed when we renewed our Postal ID in Manila:
1. Bring your requirements to the post office or capture station of your choice
2. Present requirements for initial assessment
3. Payment
4. Digital photo and fingerprint capture
5. Delivery/Pickup (30 days to deliver for regular. Does anyone know how long it takes for the rush-processed? Please comment.)
Postal ID Renewal Price

504 for regular processing

650 for rush processing of Postal ID.

Concerns regarding postal id application and renewal:

postal id renewal online

Currently, postal ID renewal is not available online.

paano mag renew ng postal id?

To renew your postal ID, you simply need to bring 2 accomplished copies of the postal ID application form and your old Postal ID to the capturing station or post office. The staff/guards will guide you on where you should proceed for every step. Try to come early because it can be crowded.

postal id capture stations

To see the list of capture stations for getting a Postal ID, check this page of the official Postal ID PH website: where to apply for the improved Postal ID?

Postal ID verification

You may be looking for the Postal ID Verification app for Android devices.

Postal ID follow up

If your residence in Makati you may follow up your postal ID application/renewal with Makati Central Post Office, and if your residence is in Manila, you may follow up with Manila Central Post Office. For residences of other cities, try contacting your main post office to follow up.

Postal ID form example

Here’s an example photo of the Postal ID application form

Postal ID sample

This is a sample of what a Postal ID looks like:
February 24, 2021
Get your Postal ID: SM North EDSA (2018 January)
If you prefer to apply for a postal ID at one of the PHILPOST branches in malls, then I think you’ll get valuable information from this page. We chose to get our postal ID from SM North EDSA; it wasn’t an easy process for us because of things we didn’t know beforehand. And now, I’d like to provide you guys information that will help you avoid the inconvenience that we had gone through. 🙂 We think the PHILPOST website may not be updated with the list of requirements for application.

You may also read about Rush Postal ID Renewal Requirements, Price, Procedures 2021.

Postal ID: SM North EDSA Requirements

Following is the list of documents you need to bring to the SM North EDSA capturing station, applicable to both application and renewal of postal ID:

Photo of Postal ID requirements at SM North EDSA
1. 2 accomplished postal ID application forms
2. Birth certificate, 2 valid IDs, or passport
3. Barangay clearance, proof of billing, NBI clearance, or police clearance
4. Marriage contract if you are a married woman
5. Photocopy of all documents except the postal ID application forms
Cost of Postal ID at SM North EDSA

At PHLPOST in SM North EDSA we were charged P504.00 for each postal ID, which is the same cost listed in the PHLPOST website FAQ.

During application for Postal ID at SM North EDSA

Once your documents are verified as valid and complete, the PHLPOST staff will take your photo, digital signature, and digital fingerprints. Such a waste that they have digital signature and fingerprint scanners but don’t have photocopy machines. It must be the lack of space in their spot.

Delivery of your postal ID

At SM North EDSA PHLPOST, there’s no rush processing and you need to wait 10-15 working days. On the postal ID application form you should be able to choose whether you’d like it to be delivered to your home address or work address.

Update: One of us received her postal ID early. We applied together for postal ID at SM North EDSA on January 27. Expected delivery date was within February 8 to 14 but she received it on February 6, 2 days earlier than expected.

…

Applying for postal ID at SM North EDSA was very inconvenient for us because the requirements listed in their website did not match the ones that PHLPOST SM North EDSA was asking from us. Read on to find out what happened.

Inconvenience #1 at PHLPOST SM North EDSA:

Inconsistent list of requirements versus what’s listed on their website

In the Philippine Postal ID website it is said that you only need 1 ID if you are presenting your birth certificate, UMID card, driver’s license, or passport… but it’s NOT TRUE. Fake news po yaan, at least at the PHLPOST SM North EDSA branch. I presented my SSS UMID to the PHLPOST staff but she said they need a total of 2 valid IDs if the ID I’m presenting is not my birth certificate or passport. We told the staff that their website says we need no other valid ID if presenting a UMID. She insisted that they are only following the memorandum passed on to them, which states that applicants are required to present 2 valid IDs if not able to present bring birth certificate or passport.

Inconvenience #2 at PHLPOST SM North EDSA:

Website doesn’t say you need to photocopy your documents; PHLPOST SM North EDSA will require you to photocopy somewhere out there because they don’t have photocopy machine

We tired ourselves out walking from building to building at SM North EDSA to look for photocopy service. National Bookstore’s was closed at that time. If you need to photocopy something in that mall, go straight to either Western Union at the Hypermarket or FAX PARCEL PRINT. FAX PARCEL PRINT also provides lamination service.

Inconvenience #3 from PHLPOST in general

PHLPOST provides inconsistent information to people, an example being the previously mentioned issue with my SSS UMID card for identification. Another example is that I messaged the Postal ID Facebook page to ask if I would be allowed to use a utility bill that’s under my husband’s name as proof of my current address. Unfortunately, they said that the utility bill needs to bear my name. I wasted time preparing other docs that would prove my residency at my current address, only to find out at PHLPOST SM North EDSA that I am allowed to use a utility bill bearing my husband’s name! Geez.

What the postal ID looked like:

Anyway, here’s what my postal ID is like. Of course I pixelated private information including my face 🙂 Most people and establishments who require valid ID honor this.
January 28, 2018
NBI Clearance online registration 2017 (Robinson’s Place Ermita and other branches)
Not that I remember exactly what the NBI Clearance renewal/application was like when I last tried to get one (4 years ago) but I can say that the current process is not so bad because Step 1 (filling out the application form) and Step 2 (payment) can already be done online.

After completing the online processes, you may then visit any NBI Clearance branch to go through Step 3 (biometrics scanning) and Step 4 (release). Of course, you may also do Step 1 and 2 right there in the NBI Clearance branch too, but I highly recommend that you do it online to avoid an even longer waiting time. Those who do not have Internet access at home may use computers at the main branch in United Nations, Manila for free.

By the way, NBI Clearance is one of the requirements to get a Postal ID so you might as well look into applying for it. We applied for our Postal ID at SM North EDSA.

If you plan to apply for NBI Clearance at Robinson’s Place Ermita branch in Manila too, scroll down and check out my Step 3, because I’m going to show a few photos of what that NBI branch looks like. 🙂

NBI Clearance online registration 2017 Requirements
- Personal information (online form)
- Payment (over-the-counter or online)
- 2 Valid IDs (In Feb. 2017 we tried to renew our NBI Clearance without presenting an ID and it was a success!)
- NBI Clearance fee (P140 for local employment when paid online, as of Feb. 2017)
My NBI Clearance online registration in 2017 at Robinson’s Place Ermita branch

Step 1: Register online at nbi-clearance.com

Login / registration page at nbi-clearance.com

First thing you need to get a new or renewed NBI Clearance online is to get an account at nbi-clearance.com. Login if you already have one, or register if you don’t have any yet.

Fill out all necessary details then when you see the screen below, click on “APPLY FOR CLEARANCE”:

“Application” page of NBI Clearance online registration

Enter the name of the ID that you will show the NBI staff when you go to their branch, for example “SSS UMID” or “PSA copy of birth certificate”. I was surprised that the NBI staffs did not ask for any ID when we renewed our NBI Clearance. Could it be because they’re not strict about renewals?

Then you will reach a page with a calendar – it’s the NBI Clearance appointment system.

Appointment schedule calendar at nbi-clearance.com

If you choose AM, you may go to the NBI branch of your choice any time before noon. And if you choose PM schedule, you may arrive anytime after noon before the closing time of your NBI branch, which in my case at Robinson’s Place Ermita was 5PM. The NBI Clearance branch at Robinson’s Place Ermita is located at Basement 1 or “Basement Parking”, which is reachable via a stairway beside National Bookstore (Enter via Sta. Monica Street or Padre Faura entrance.

You’ll notice that there are less remaining slots for AM schedules than PM, but the difference is not significant.

Step 2: Pay online for you NBI Clearance

My mom and I renewed our NBI Clearance for “local employment” and “ID purposes” and each costed us P140. The base price is P115 for the NBI Clearance only, and added to this is additional P25 fee for online payment.

Instructions for online payment:
1. A payment page will open. Select preferred ONLINE BANKING OPTION then follow instruction.
2. You will be provided a REFERENCE NUMBER.
3. Pay your fee to the selected Payment Channel using your REFERENCE NUMBER.
4. Go to TRANSACTION PAGE and print Application Form.
Initially, I was trying to pay for my NBI Clearance application via online banking at 11:31PM. But I couldn’t proceed with payment because according to the NBI Clearance online system, online banking payment is only available until 11:30PM daily! It was frustrating because it was only a minute past the cutoff. I was able to pay the next day without any problem anyway.

By the way, you should enter your “reference number” as “remark” on your online money transfer. Enter nothing else aside from the reference number.

Step 3: Fall in line at your NBI Clearance branch for biometrics, Robinson’s Place Ermita in my case

The branch that we chose for our NBI Clearance application is Robinson’s Place Ermita in Manila City. If Robinson’s Ermita is the same branch you’d like to go, then I can show you a few photos.

This is the entrance to the Basement Parking. Find it beside National Bookstore near Padre Faura or Sta. Monica entrance:

Entrance to the basement of Robinson’s Ermita, Manila. Downstairs is where you will find a NBI Clearance branch

If unsure, don’t hesitate to ask someone at the information booth about the location of NBI at Robinson’s Ermita.

Feb. 6, 2017 (Monday) at 2:20PM – Long queue at Robinson’s Ermita for NBI Clearance application

Once you are downstairs at Robinson’s basement, you’ll see that this area is “Lingkod Pinoy Center”. Some of the other government services you’ll find there are for SSS, Philhealth, and Pag-IBIG.

Ask a guard where you should fall in line after registering and paying online. The guard should ask you to enter the parking area and find the queue (there are seats!) for NBI Clearance. What you are actually going to fall in line for in that area is the NBI Clearance Center’s biometrics scanning.

A guard will call 2-3 rows at a time for another queue, closer to the biometrics scanning counter. At first, the progress was quick. Each batch of about 30 people were done in 10 minutes. But when it was nearly our turn, instead of 10 minutes waiting after the previous batch was called, we were called 40 minutes after! 🙁

When our batch was called to fall in another line, it was in this place:

Queue in NBI – Robinson’s Ermita branch for biometrics

There were no seats here, but the queue should be processed quickly because the NBI staffs at the counter — though a bit mean when dealing with some applicants, move very quickly. Maybe there was technical problem earlier, that’s why our batch took 40 minutes to be called instead of 10 minutes. There are 2 biometrics capture counter, but you fall in only 1 line. Whichever counter finishes with an applicant first will call on to the next one in line.

And oh, I hope you don’t get discouraged in choosing Robinson’s Ermita as your branch just because I said that the staffs were kind of mean. In my experience in getting an NBI Clearance (this was my 3rd time), the NBI staffs who attend to biometrics are always intimidating no matter which branch it is. I understand that it might be due to stress though. We can only imagine how many applicants they handle everyday.

Observe the people before you – do they present any ID to the staffs with their application forms? In our case, none of the people who went before us presented any ID — only application forms. If you see the same thing then hand over your application form to the NBI staff and simply prepare your valid ID for easy access, just in case the NBI staffs as for it.

The NBI staffs capture biometrics data such as finger prints (all fingers), signature, and photo — all in digital form! Hurray for using technology. 🙂

Step 4: Release of NBI Clearance

To the left of the 2 NBI biometrics counters is the “RELEASE” counter. Go straight there UNLESS the person who assisted you at biometrics counter said you need to come back at a later date to claim your NBI Clearance — this means you got a “hit”. A hit means your name matched another person with the same name and NBI needs more time to verify if you have a clear record with them.

“Hit” me baby one more time! Story of my adult life: I can never get my NBI Clearance in one visit to an NBI branch.

I applied for NBI Clearance on Feb. 6 (Monday) and can only claim it on Feb. 17 (Friday) — that’s a total of 11 days! The heck?

You see, I know someone with a very unique foreign-sounding name and yet he got a “hit” with NBI! We were thinking, what if getting a hit doesn’t really mean you have the same name as someone else, but the NBI staffs just don’t feel like releasing your NBI Clearance right away? Or what if it’s NBI’s way of reducing printout loads during busy days?

The things I liked about the current NBI Clearance process are these:
1. NBI Clearance application/renewal can be partially done online, reducing the time we need to spend falling in long lines in NBI branches
2. Availability of NBI Clearance payment via online banking such as BPI Express Online, BPI Mobile Banking, BDO Online Banking and more.
And of course, because I like complaining: Things I hate about the current NBI Clearance process as of February 2017:
1. NBI staffs that capture biometrics data are mean and intimidating, at least in the NBI branch at Robinson’s Place Ermita. I think that if they smiled more, it will be a win-win situation: applicants will feel more “at ease”, and the NBI staffs themselves will somehow feel good to because I think that smiling — even when a bit forced, can help one feel relaxed.
2. Unexpected long waiting time before biometrics data capture
February 8, 2017