Wouldn’t it be great if you can use only one ID for all your transactions? With the Philippine national ID, you don’t have to present multiple identification cards just to open a bank account or apply for government benefits. The national ID is a universal identity card that is recognized and accepted by all government agencies and private entities – and every Filipino is entitled to one.
The Philippines has long envisioned a singular, all-encompassing national identification system for all Filipino citizens and foreign residents. It was only in 2018, with the passage of Republic Act 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act, that this vision was realized. With the establishment of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), Filipinos can already enjoy the benefits and privileges of a national ID and they can even apply for one online.
Although not intended to replace existing government-issued identity cards such as the Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID), the Philippine national ID is designed to be the universal form of identification for all Filipino citizens and Philippine residents.
With a national ID card, you only have to present one ID for all your physical and online transactions with the government and the private sector. You can use your national ID to open bank accounts, claim social security benefits, apply for a passport, avail of personal loans, and many more. You can use it to prove your identity when the need arises.
A centralized nationwide database like PhilSys allows the government, as well as private entities such as banks, to easily and conveniently verify the identity of persons, thereby reducing instances of fraud and identity theft. Unlike most commonly used IDs, the national ID card comes with fool-proof security features that make it nearly impossible to forge or falsify.
While registration to PhilSys is not compulsory or mandatory as stated in RA 11055, it’s strongly recommended that you take the time to register so that you can fully avail of social welfare and public services from the government. It only takes a few minutes to register for the Philippine national ID online. Minors and children can also register to PhilSys; the parent or legal guardian may register their children or wards on their behalf.
If you’re interested to know how to register to PhilSys online and what steps to take to get your own national ID card, we have come up with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide that will help you navigate the entire process. You can use any computer, laptop or smartphone to register, and do make sure that you have a strong Internet or mobile data connection in order to avoid unnecessary delays and errors.
One thing to keep in mind is that the national ID online registration is only the first step of the registration process, where your personal information is collected and submitted to PhilSys. The second step involves going to the designated registration center on the day of appointment for the validation of information and the capture of biometrics data. However, your national ID card will be delivered straight to your doorstep, so you only have to leave the house once during the whole process.
The Philippine Identification Card (PhilID) is a physical ID card, issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), that serves as a valid proof of identity and is used for both public (government) and private transactions. The ID is non-transferable and has no expiration date, except for resident aliens wherein the ID is valid for one year and may be renewed annually. Filipino citizens can renew their ID only when updating their demographic or biometric information.
The Philippine national ID card contains basic information about the cardholder including:
The PhilID card also includes the PhilSys Card Number (PCN). The PCN is the public, tokenized version of the PhilSys Number (PSN), which is a unique and permanent 12-digit identification number assigned to every citizen and resident alien registered to PhilSys. The PSN is considered confidential and should not be revealed or shared with others (aside from the PSA and when allowed by law), while the PCN is the public version of the PSN that will be used for physical and online transactions.
The PhilID card is also imprinted with the registrant’s photograph at the front and the micro-printed PSN and digitally-signed QR code at the back.
The national ID is free, except for renewals which will incur a small fee that will be determined by the PSA.
The Philippine national ID, as a universal identification card, confers several benefits that make life easier for many Filipinos.
Bureaucratic red tape is a serious problem that hampers the delivery of essential government services to the public. Have you ever wondered why it takes several days or even weeks for your application for social welfare benefits, for example, to get approved? That is because the government often processes applications manually, which takes significant time and manpower especially if they have to process thousands of applications everyday.
The Philippine national ID aims to address this problem through a centralized and unified database connecting all government departments and agencies. Through the PhilSys registry, government agencies can quickly access an individual’s personal data and verify his identity using a single platform. This significantly reduces red tape and expedites the release of financial aid, social security benefits and other public services.
It’s not only the government that can benefit from a national ID system. Businesses such as banks and lending firms can use the PhilSys registry to verify the identity of their customers. Instead of implementing their own KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures, companies can depend on the national ID system to provide accurate identification and verification of customers.
Because companies can verify their customers quicker through PhilSys, many transactions will be completed faster. For example, banks can fast-track the approval of loans since they can rely on data from the PhilSys registry to perform KYC on their clients.
Individuals, on the other hand, can complete their personal and business transactions faster as they know how reliable and trustworthy the Philippine national ID is. Having a national ID will get you approved faster on many online platforms such as PayPal, GCash, PayMaya, Upwork, Binance and other services that require a valid ID.
Fraud and identity theft are some of the biggest threats to the digital economy. The PhilID card combats fraud using the latest digital security features, such as a smart chip, the secret PhilSys Number (PSN), QR code and digitalized fingerprints. These features make it almost impossible for cybercriminals to forge or falsify the national ID.
Furthermore, the Philippine national ID is backed by a highly secure and accessible nationwide database that allows relying parties to quickly verify a person’s real identity, which will deter potential scammers from committing identity theft.
PhilSys is the foundational digital ID system for the future. The Philippine national ID is designed for the digital age where cashless and paperless transactions are the norm.
Since the national ID is backed by a nationwide database and online verification system, government, corporate and private institutions can use it with a high degree of trust and confidence. Businesses and individuals can confidently transact both online and in the real world, safe in the knowledge that they are dealing with the right persons.
After completing the national ID online registration and on the day of your scheduled appointment, you must bring an original copy of any of the following primary supporting documents:
If you don’t have a primary document, you can bring an original copy of any of the following secondary supporting documents:
These secondary identification documents can be accepted as long as they have a front-facing photograph, full name, permanent address, date of birth, and signature or thumbmark:
The first step of PhilSys registration is the collection and submission of demographic data and the scheduling of appointment. This can either be done in person through house-to-house collection, or online through the PhilSys website.
If you have already completed the Step 1 registration via house-to-house collection, you no longer have to register online.
Using the web browser on your computer or smartphone, open the Philippine national ID online registration website at https://register.philsys.gov.ph.
Read the instructions and click the PROCEED button to go to the next step.
Enter your mobile number or email address, and then check or solve the captcha (“I’m not a robot”). Click SEND OTP to proceed.
Take note that there is no option to change your mobile number or email address once you’ve submitted your online application, so make sure that you don’t lose access to them.
A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to your provided mobile number or email address. If you have not received the OTP after 5 minutes, click RESEND.
Enter the OTP and then click VERIFY.
After filling out your information, click NEXT at the bottom of the form.
Now it’s time to review your provided information to make sure they are true, complete and correct to the best of your knowledge. To change something, click the “modify” link or the BACK button.
If everything is correct, check the box for “I have duly reviewed the entries in this preview page…” and click SAVE & EXIT.
An alert dialog will inform you that you have successfully submitted your demographic information.
If you want to register another person (such as your minor child), click YES. Otherwise click NO (FINISH).
Congratulations! You have successfully submitted your application for the Philippine national ID. You will receive a text message and/or an email confirming your submitted application.
To view and modify your application, as well as to create a new application or delete an existing one, just visit the PhilSys online registration website and login to your account using the mobile number or email address that you used for the registration. You will see your pending applications and their status after logging in.
(Editor’s Note: Appointment scheduling will soon be opened and we will update this article when that happens.)
On the date of your appointment, proceed to the designated PhilSys registration center for the validation of demographic information and the capture of biometric information (fingerprint, iris scan and front-facing photograph). Don’t forget to bring the original copy of your supporting documents as these will be used to validate the demographic information collected in Step 1.
Present your appointment reference number (ARN) and/or QR code when it’s your turn for the appointment.
A list of PhilSys registration centers can be found on this page.
Sit back and relax as you wait for your PhilID card and PhilSys Number (PSN) to be delivered to your address. Show your transaction slip or any valid ID to the courier.
After you’ve received your Philippine national ID, be sure to keep your PSN secret and don’t disclose or share it with anyone. You can can use the PhilSys Card Number (PCN) that is printed on your ID card instead as it’s the public version of the PSN.
The Philippine national ID is definitely a must-have for every Filipino citizen. With a universal ID like PhilID, it’s no longer necessary to apply for an ID with the various government agencies like SSS, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth and others. Your national ID is honored and accepted by all branches of government, making it easier for you to transact with the government and avail of public services and benefits.
And because the national ID is offered free of charge, even the poorest of Filipinos can have one. This enables the underprivileged – many of whom are lacking valid identification – to open bank accounts, obtain e-wallets, apply for loans, start businesses, and generally contribute to the economic and financial well-being of the country.
To know more about PhilSys and the Philippine national ID, visit the PhilSys website. If you have any questions and concerns about PhilSys and PhilID, you may email [email protected] or call the PhilSys hotline 1388.
Need help with this topic? Join our online forum and have your questions answered by our friendly tech experts! Post your tech-related questions and participate in the discussions. Registration is free! Click here to join now.
