National ID Requirements Philippines 2026: What to Bring
The requirements for a Philippine National ID are not the same for everyone. What a first-time adult applicant needs is different from what a parent brings for a minor, or what a senior citizen can use. And if you are going for the Digital National ID through the eGovPH app, the requirements are completely different again. This guide walks you through everything you need for your PhilSys ID, whether you are an adult, a student, a senior, or applying on behalf of a child.
Basic National ID Requirements for Adults
For Filipino adults aged 18 and above, PhilSys has categorized supporting documents into two classes, primary and secondary. Bringing a primary document makes the whole process faster and less stressful. The official list is published at philsys.gov.ph/supporting-documents.
Primary Documents (Present One)
If you have any of the following, you only need to bring one.
Document | Notes |
|---|---|
PSA Birth Certificate + one government-issued photo ID | The photo ID must show your name and your signature or thumbmark |
Philippine Passport | Valid or recently expired |
UMID Card (SSS or GSIS) | Unified Multi-Purpose ID |
Driver’s License or Student Driver’s Permit | Issued by LTO |
Secondary Documents (If You Have No Primary Document)
If you do not have a primary document, the PSA accepts several types of secondary documents instead. The list below includes all officially accepted secondary documents. Check the full list carefully to see if you have any document that qualifies.
Document | Issuing Authority |
|---|---|
PSA Certificate of Live Birth (NSO, with Birth Reference Number) | PSA |
LCRO-issued Certificate of Live Birth | Local Civil Registry Office |
PSA Report of Birth | PSA |
PSA Certificate of Foundling | PSA |
IBP Identification Card | Integrated Bar of the Philippines |
PRC ID | Professional Regulation Commission |
Seaman’s Book (Seafarer’s Record Book) | MARINA |
OWWA ID | Overseas Workers Welfare Administration |
Senior Citizen ID | Office for Senior Citizens Affairs / LGU |
SSS ID | Social Security System |
4Ps ID | Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program |
License to Own or Possess Firearms (LTOPF) | PNP |
NBI Clearance | National Bureau of Investigation |
Police Clearance/ID | Philippine National Police |
Solo Parent’s ID | LGU / DSWD |
PWD ID | NCDA or regional/LGU counterpart |
Voter’s ID | COMELEC |
Postal ID | PHLPost |
TIN ID | Bureau of Internal Revenue |
PhilHealth ID | Philippine Health Insurance Corporation |
SRRV | Philippine Retirement Authority |
National ID from other countries | Foreign government |
Residence ID from other countries | Foreign government |
Professional ID | MARINA |
Eligibility Card | Civil Service Commission |
Dependent’s ID | AFP or PNP |
Retiree’s ID | PNP, AFP, or PCG |
Conductor’s License | LTO |
PVAO Pensioner’s ID (veteran or dependent) | Philippine Veterans Affairs Office |
Seafarer’s Identity Document | MARINA |
Tribal Certificate/ID | Tribal Affairs Office |
Certificate of Confirmation (ICC/IP membership) | NCIP or Tribal Leader |
Certificate of Tribal Membership | National Commission on Muslim Filipinos |
A second tier of documents is also accepted, as long as each one shows a front-facing photo, your signature or thumbmark, your full name, your permanent address, and your date of birth:
Pag-IBIG ID is not on PSA’s official supporting-documents list, so don’t rely on it alone. You can check the complete, current list yourself at philsys.gov.ph/supporting-documents.
Important: Always bring originals. Carry a photocopy of each document as a backup, but do not expect a photocopy alone to be accepted for verification.
National ID Requirements for Students
Students in high school and college can register without any issues. A School ID on its own is considered as a secondary document. While applying for National Id bring your PSA Birth Certificate and student id.
What students can bring:
National ID Requirements for Minors (Below 18 Years Old)
Children from age 1 can already be registered. A parent or legal guardian handles the application and must be physically present on the day.
What to bring for a minor:
Biometric collection depends on the child’s age:
Age | What Is Captured |
|---|---|
Below 5 years | Demographic information and front-facing photo only |
5 to 17 years | Full biometrics: photo, fingerprints, iris scan |
Age 15 | PSA requires biometric recapture at this age for anyone registered younger |
PSA has not published a separate mandatory biometric update at age 18. The confirmed recapture point for minors is age 15.
National ID Requirements for Senior Citizens
If you are a senior citizen, then document requirements are same for you as any other adult. The difference is that you do not have to wait in the regular queue. Priority lanes are available at national registration centers nationwide. Acceptable supporting papers for seniors:
Dress Code Requirement for National ID Registration
Your photo gets captured during national id registration, so PSA has the dress code you must follow. You should wear:
Requirements for a Lost or Damaged Card
If your card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for national id replacement at any PSA office. Here is what you need to prepare:
If only the photo has peeled off your card, the replacement is free of charge.
For physically damaged cards, bring the damaged card with you. Your PhilSys Number stays the same. Only the card itself is replaced.
Updating Your Record After a Change of Status
If your civil status changes, or you recently got married, you will need to update your PhilSys record.
What to bring:
Head to your nearest PSA office or registration center to process the update. Address changes and other demographic corrections can be done through the same channel.
Requirements for the Digital National ID
The Digital National ID is the official electronic version of your PhilSys ID. It is accessible through the eGovPH app and carries the exact same legal validity as the physical card under Republic Act 11055. Banks, government offices, airlines, and private institutions are required to accept it.
One thing to get right before you start: the Digital National ID is not a separate way to register. It’s only available to people who have already completed PhilSys registration, including the in-person biometric step at a registration center.
If you have not registered yet, downloading the app and uploading an ID will not get you a National ID. What you can do through the app is access and view your Digital National ID once your registration has already been processed by PSA.
What you need
Once you’re registered, here’s what you need to access your Digital National ID through the app:
Document required: one valid ID for upload
During identity verification in the app, you will be asked to upload one valid ID. Select your ID type from the dropdown menu in the app, then scan or photograph it clearly.
Check your information carefully before submitting. Errors can cause your account to be rejected and you will need to reapply.
What to Do If You Have No Birth Certificate
Some applicants find that the PSA has no birth record for them because their birth was never officially registered. If this happens to you, the PSA has an official process for late birth registration. You can follow the required steps instead of trying to figure things out at the registration counter
Step 1: Confirm You Have No Record
Step 2: File for Late (Delayed) Registration at Your LCRO
If no record exists anywhere, you need to complete late registration of birth at the LCRO of the city or municipality where the birth took place. This is a standard, well-established process, not something unusual or difficult to access. Under PSA’s PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP), this late registration is free of charge. You will typically need:
If you no longer live in the city or municipality where you were born, ask about out-of-town late registration, which follows a similar process with a Barangay Certification added to confirm your date and place of birth.
Step 3: Use Your New Birth Certificate for PhilSys Registration
A Note on Timing
Late registration is a separate process from PhilSys registration itself, and it has to be completed first. Don’t expect to walk into a PhilSys Registration Center with no birth certificate and resolve everything in a single visit.
Conclusion
By now you know what Philippine National ID requirements actually involve. The documents you need depend on your age, your situation, and the type of application you are making. A first-time adult applicant needs a primary document, or a combination from PSA’s full secondary list if they don’t have one.
A parent registering a child needs the child’s PSA Birth Certificate and must show up in person. A senior citizen has flexible options and does not have to queue. Someone replacing a lost card needs a notarized affidavit, and should confirm the current fee at the office rather than assume one.
The Digital National ID is not a shortcut around registration. It’s only available once you’ve already completed registration in person, and from there you can access it through the eGovPH app with a live selfie and one valid ID. You now have everything you need to walk in prepared.
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