Do you need to apply for an NBI Clearance? Issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), this document is typically released to a person upon request. Basically, it certifies that the person is not involved in any ongoing criminal cases in the Philippines at the time of request.
Notably, the NBI Clearance has multiple uses. It can serve as a person’s proof of identity, just like any other valid ID. It may also be a requirement when applying for a job, going abroad, or making changes in legal documents. If you need to request for an NBI Clearance for any of these purposes, you can easily apply for it, even if you are currently living and working in Oman.
Guide to Applying for an NBI Clearance in Oman
Requests for NBI Clearance is one of the services facilitated by the Philippine Embassy in Muscat. Aside from this, the Embassy also conducts or facilitates passport renewals, issuance of Philippine visas, solemnization of marriage for Filipino couples, marriage licenses, birth certificates, overseas absentee voting, repatriation, and other services for the Filipino community in Oman.
As mentioned earlier, the NBI Clearance is an important document that you may need for various purposes. It could be a requirement for one of your job applications, or perhaps you are planning to immigrate to another country, and you need to submit an NBI Clearance. Fortunately, you can request for this document, even if you are based outside the Philippines.
Of course, applying for an NBI Clearance depends on whether you are a first-time applicant or a renewing applicant. We will be discussing the requirements and procedures for both cases…
A. Requirements and Procedure for First-Time Applicants
If you are a first-time applicant who is living and working abroad, you can apply for an NBI Clearance by following these steps:
- Request for an NBI Fingerprint Card form from the Philippine Embassy and fill it up. If you are a married woman, please write your name in this order: maiden surname (father’s surname), husband’s surname, first or given name, and maternal surname (mother’s family name).
- Attach a colored, 2” x 2” recent photo (taken within the last three months). The photo should have a clear view of your face, with a white background. It should also be clear and not blurry. Keep in mind that sleeveless attire is not allowed.
- At the Embassy, your fingerprints will be taken and placed on the Fingerprint Card form.
- The Embassy will authenticate your Fingerprint Card form. For this service, there is a fee of OMR 10 for regular processing (3 working days), or OMR 14 for expedited processing. For expedited processing, if you file your application before 12:00 noon, your form will be released in the afternoon of the same day. On the other hand, if you file your application from between 1:00 to 3:00 pm., your form will be released in the morning of the following day.
- Send the authenticated Fingerprint Card form to the NBI Office for the issuance of your clearance (more on this below).
How to Send Your Form to the NBI Office
You can send your authenticated Fingerprint Card form to the NBI Office in two ways: by mail, or through a representative in the Philippines.
If you plan to send your form by mail, simply enclose Money Order amounting to PHP 200 or bank draft — payable to the NBI Director in Manila Philippines. Accredited banks include: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank), Philippine National Bank (PNB), Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Co. (HSBC), and ANZ Bank New Zealand.
On the envelope, write the following name and address, then send your document to:
Mr. Francisco Donozo
Attn: Identification and Records Division – Mailed Clearance Section
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
Taft Avenue, Ermita 1000 Manila
Philippines
If you prefer the other option, simply mail the form to your representative in the Philippines, together with an authenticated signed letter or Special Power of Attorney (SPA), which authorizes him/her to transact on your behalf. For further assistance, your representative can proceed to the Electronic Data Processing Division (EDPD) at the NBI Office in Manila.
REMINDER: After receiving your NBI Clearance Certificate (whether directly from the NBI or through your representative in the Philippines), don’t forget to examine it. There should be an embossed NBI Dry Seal on the lower left part of the document. Moreover, be sure to affix your thumbprint on the space provided, before submitting the document to any agency or establishment.
B. Requirements for Renewing Applicants
If you are a renewing applicant who is living and working abroad, here are the requirements that you need to prepare when requesting for an NBI Clearance:
- Original NBI Clearance, with updated information for address and purpose of clearance. If there are no changes to be made, just write “Same Data.”
- Photocopy of Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate, if there are changes in name, date of birth, or place of birth. Attach this to a duly-accomplished Fingerprint Card form.
- One (1) colored, 2” x 2” recent photo, taken within the last three months. Again, remember that sleeveless attire is not allowed. Your photo should have a clear view of your face, on a white background. It should also be clear and not blurred.
- Photocopy of Passport, with date stamped proving your presence abroad.
Once you have prepared all the requirements, send these to the NBI Office in the Philippines, following the same instructions mentioned earlier (whether by mail or through a representative).
NOTE: The above process for renewing NBI Clearance applies to those issued from 1998 onwards only. If your original document was issued before 1998 — or if you have lost your personal copy — then you will need to follow the same instructions as first-time applicants.
DISCLAIMER: The above guide is presented for general information-sharing purposes only. To learn more about how to apply for an NBI Clearance in Oman, please visit the official website of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Oman. Likewise, you can also contact the NBI Office directly by calling (+632) 523 8231 local 5523, sending an email to edpd@nbi.gov.ph, or by visiting the official website of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
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