The NBI clearance fee is one of the first questions every applicant asks, and the answer has two parts. The base fee is PHP 130, and then an e-payment channel charge is added. That channel charge varies, so your total can differ slightly depending on how you pay. This guide explains the NBI clearance fee in plain language, so you know what to expect before checkout.
Independent guide — not affiliated with NBI. PhilGovGuide does not take payments. Pay only on the official portal, linked clearly at the end of this page, and always confirm the total shown there.
NBI clearance fee: the PHP 130 base fee explained
Think of the NBI clearance fee as a base amount plus a service charge for the payment channel. The PHP 130 is the clearance fee itself. The channel charge is what the e-payment provider adds for processing the payment, and it is not the same for every channel.
That is why two applicants can pay slightly different totals for the same clearance. Neither of them is wrong, and neither total is a scam on its own. The key is to check the total on the official portal before you confirm, and to keep the payment proof afterwards.
NBI clearance fee and payment options: how to pay
Payment is made through approved e-payment channels shown on the official portal during checkout. Choose a channel you already use and trust, and follow the instructions on the portal screen by screen. Do not pay through a social media page, a personal bank account, or a fixer who offers to pay for you.
- Choose your payment channel on the official portal only.
- Check the total, including the channel charge, before you confirm.
- Complete the payment in one session if you can.
- Save or screenshot your payment confirmation.
- Bring your reference number to the branch, with the payment proof if you have it.
Why the NBI clearance fee total varies by channel
Different payment channels have different processing costs, and those costs are passed on as a varying charge. The NBI clearance fee itself stays at PHP 130, but the final amount you pay is the base fee plus that channel charge. If a channel shows a total that looks very different from what you expected, stop and read the breakdown on the portal before you proceed.
Never treat a figure from another website, a forum post, or a delivery service as an official fee. Those figures may be old, may include a different service, or may simply be wrong. The only total that matters is the one the official portal shows for your booking.
NBI clearance fee: what to do if payment fails
If a payment fails, do not immediately pay again. Check first whether the amount was deducted, and whether your booking status changed on the official portal. A failed payment that still deducted money is different from a payment that never went through, and paying twice can create a mess that takes time to untangle.
Keep the payment reference, the time of the attempt, and any error message. Those details help if you need to ask the payment channel or the portal support for help. Do not share your OTP or password with anyone who contacts you about a failed payment, because that is a common scam pattern.
Is the NBI clearance fee refundable?
Refund rules depend on the payment channel and the stage of your booking, so do not assume a refund is automatic. Check the rules on the official portal before you pay, especially if you are unsure about your appointment date. If you think you may need to move your appointment, read our online appointment guide first, so you do not pay for a slot you cannot use.
NBI clearance fee for first-time jobseekers
First-time jobseekers may not need to pay the NBI clearance fee at all, if they qualify for a free clearance once under RA 11261 with a barangay certificate. Check our free clearance guide before you pay, because paying first and asking later is much harder to fix.
For the full order of steps, start with how to apply for NBI clearance, and check what IDs to bring so your paid appointment is not wasted.
NBI clearance fee: frequently asked questions
Is PHP 130 the total I will pay?
No. The NBI clearance fee base is PHP 130, plus a varying e-payment channel charge, so your total will be a little higher. Confirm the exact total on the official portal.
Can I pay at the branch in cash?
Payment is handled through the approved e-payment channels on the official portal, so do not assume cash at the branch will work. Follow the portal checkout for your booking.
Does a HIT cost extra?
No. HIT verification, which usually takes about 5 to 10 working days, has no extra fee. Anyone asking for extra money to clear a HIT faster should be treated as a scam
Payment channels compared: online and over-the-counter options
Online payment is quicker to confirm.
An online channel suits applicants who want to pay straight away and see confirmation on screen. An over-the-counter style channel suits applicants who prefer to pay in person, provided the portal lists that option for their booking. In both cases, check that the reference number on the payment proof matches the reference number on the booking, and keep the proof until after the branch visit.
Why the charge differs from one channel to another
A channel charge is not part of the PHP 130 base fee, and it is not the same for every route. An online provider may charge for processing the payment, while an over-the-counter outlet may charge for handling it, and the portal shows the charge for the channel you choose before you confirm. That is why the sensible question at checkout is not “what did someone else pay in total?”, but “what total does the portal show for my channel, right now?”. If the total looks different from what you expected, stop, read the breakdown on screen, and confirm it on clearance.nbi.gov.ph before paying.
Failed or Pending payment: a calm checklist
First, do not pay again straight away, because a second payment can create a second charge for the same booking. Next, check whether money left your account or wallet, and check the booking on the official portal to see whether it is marked paid, pending or unpaid. If money was taken but the booking still shows unpaid, keep the payment proof, the reference number, the time of the attempt and any error message, and follow the help route on the official portal rather than paying a stranger who offers to fix it. If nothing was taken, you can try again, or try a different channel listed on the portal, and re-check the total before you confirm.
What your receipt proves — and what it does not
A receipt proves that a payment was made for a particular reference number, through a particular channel, for a stated amount. Keep it, and check at once that the name and reference number on it match your booking, because a mismatch is much easier to raise before the branch visit. A receipt does not, on its own, prove your identity, book your appointment, or clear a HIT: the branch will still check your ID and biometrics, and a HIT still needs its own verification. Think of the receipt as proof of payment, not as the clearance itself.
Planning the total without a fixed total
Frame the cost as PHP 130 plus a varying channel charge, never as one fixed total, and budget a little above the base fee so a channel charge does not catch you out. In general guidance the fee is non-refundable, so confirm your appointment details before you pay, and confirm any refund question on the official portal if you are unsure.
Figures quoted by delivery-style or Quick Renewal services are not official NBI fees and must not be added to the official total unless the official portal itself shows them. For the next steps after payment, see our guides on renewing a clearance, visiting a branch, what a HIT means, and the free clearance for first-time jobseekers.
Before you pay the NBI clearance fee, read the total on screen, check the channel charge, and keep the proof. The NBI clearance fee itself is the PHP 130 base amount, so any extra on the total should be a channel charge you can see and check, not a hidden extra. If the NBI clearance fee total does not match what the portal shows, stop and confirm it on clearance.nbi.gov.ph before you confirm payment.
Official NBI portal link
Official NBI portal (external link, not PhilGovGuide): Official NBI Clearance portal — clearance.nbi.gov.ph. Use only that portal to pay, and confirm the total there before you confirm payment.
Last checked: November 3, 2026. Fees and channel charges can change, so confirm the total on the official portal before you pay.