FBI Background Check in Manila: SRRV, NBI Clearance and Philippine Apostille Explained

In Manila, "a police clearance" can mean at least three different documents. There is the NBI Clearance, which is the Philippine record. There is the FBI Identity History Summary, which is the U.S. record. And there is the home-country police clearance that the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) asks retirees to supply. People often start with the wrong one, then lose weeks finding out.

This guide sorts them out for people living in and around Metro Manila, explains how Philippine apostille works, and covers the practical side of getting a clean fingerprint card in a very large and busy city.

The Short Answer

• The NBI Clearance is not an FBI check. It shows Philippine records and is issued by the NBI, which takes your fingerprints and photo itself at your appointment
• The FBI check needs a separate fingerprint card. The FBI requires a current card, and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not take fingerprints, according to the U.S. State Department
• The Philippines has accepted apostilles since 14 May 2019. The DFA says foreign public documents from Apostille countries need not be authenticated at a Philippine embassy or consulate
• A U.S. record is apostilled in the United States. Philippine DFA offices apostille Philippine documents for use abroad, not foreign documents for use in the Philippines
• The SRRV has its own rules. The PRA lists a police clearance from your country of origin or residence among its requirements, and the details are set by the PRA

Which Document Do You Need?

Always confirm with the office asking for the document, because requirements vary by purpose and can change.

Three Common Manila Situations

You are retiring in the Philippines

The PRA's SRRV page lists documents for principal applicants, including a police clearance from your country of origin or residence issued within six months before submission. It also says documents issued outside the Philippines must be in English or translated, and either apostilled or authenticated by a Philippine embassy or consular office. Spouses and adult children may need their own clearances, and NBI clearance applies to principal applicants who have stayed in the Philippines more than 90 days before submitting.

You work in Metro Manila and a U.S. office wants your record

A U.S. employer, school, or licensing body may ask for an FBI record. The sequence is the same as elsewhere: fingerprint card, FBI request, then apostille if the receiving office asks for one. Our FD-258 guide explains which card applies.

You are leaving the Philippines

A foreign office may ask for an NBI Clearance. That is a Philippine process, run by the NBI. According to a published Wise guide, the NBI takes your photo and fingerprints at the appointment, the clearance is valid for one year, and it may need an apostille depending on the destination. Printwise Global does not issue NBI clearances.

How Philippine Apostille Works

The DFA is the competent authority for apostilles in the Philippines, and its Office of Consular Affairs implements the Convention. According to a DFA page on apostille certificates:

• Philippine documents for use abroad. The Apostille applies to the same types of documents the DFA used to authenticate, and documents for use in the Philippines cannot be submitted for apostillisation
• Where. DFA authenticating units operate in Metro Manila at DFA-Aseana, NCR-South (Alabang), NCR-Northeast (Ali Mall), NCR-East (SM Megamall), and NCR-West (SM Manila), plus regional offices including Cebu
• Fees and time. The page lists Php 100 for regular processing, released after four working days, and Php 200 for expedited processing, released the next business day. Confirm current amounts with the DFA
• What it proves. An apostille certifies the origin of a document, not its content
• Exceptions. The page notes that a few countries, including Austria, Finland, Germany, and Greece, were excluded for now, so documents for them may still need embassy legalisation. Check the current position before you rely on this

For how apostille differs from attestation and legalisation in general, see apostille vs attestation vs legalisation.

Getting Fingerprinted in Metro Manila

The U.S. State Department says U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services, so the U.S. Embassy in Manila cannot do it for you. You need a provider who can take a clean ink card.

Printwise Global offers fingerprinting by appointment where we cover your location, including mobile appointments where available. Metro Manila is large, and travel between its cities can take a long time, so the exact address matters. Tell us whether you are in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas, Quezon City, Alabang, or the City of Manila, and we will confirm availability and any travel charge.

A Practical Plan for Manila

1. 1Ask the requesting office which record, how recent, and whether it needs an apostille or translation
2. 2Check whether an NBI clearance is also needed. It runs on a separate track with its own appointment
3. 3Book fingerprinting for the FBI card with a full address and travel time in mind
4. 4Send the card with a trackable courier and keep the tracking number. Unsure who can send it? See Can Someone Submit My Fingerprint Card for Me?
5. 5Order the U.S. apostille if the office asks for one, and allow time for the six-month clock if the PRA applies
6. 6Translate only if asked. The PRA allows English documents, so an English FBI record may not need translation

How Printwise Global Helps in Manila

We confirm the card your request needs, offer fingerprinting by appointment where we cover your address, review the card before it is sent, and explain the apostille and translation steps that may follow. Our pricing is competitive and transparent, with our fee shown separately from government and third-party costs. See also our Philippines page.