In the Philippines, identification (ID) cards are used for verifying an individual’s identity for various purposes, such as banking, travel, government transactions, and employment. The Philippines identification system is divided into primary and secondary IDs, each serving different functions based on their reliability and acceptance
List of Valid Primary IDs in the Philippines
Primary IDs are government-issued IDs that are widely accepted across different institutions for their high level of credibility. These IDs are often used for major transactions like opening a bank account, voting, applying for jobs, or accessing government services.
Philippine Passport
- The passport is one of the most reliable forms of identification, issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). It serves not only as proof of identity but also as a travel document, valid for international travel.
PhilSys National ID (PhilID)
- Issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) simplifies access to services across government and private sectors.
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
- Issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), it serves both as proof of identity and professional competence.
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID
- Issued by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. The IBP ID serves as proof of membership for licensed attorneys
Driver’s License
- Issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), a driver’s license is not only necessary for legal driving but is also widely accepted as a primary ID.
Voter’s ID (or Voter’s Certification)
- Issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), this ID verifies voter registration and is accepted as a primary ID in many government and banking transactions.
- Note: COMELEC has stopped issuing the traditional voter’s ID as of 2017 but provides voter’s certifications instead.
Philippine Postal ID
- Issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost). It is a widely accepted government-issued ID and can be used as a valid identification document for various transactions such as banking, government services, and other general identification needs.
TIN ID (Tax Identification Number ID)
- Issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The TIN (Tax Identification Number) ID serves as proof of the individual’s TIN, which is required for tax-related transactions.
PWD ID (Persons with Disabilities)
- Issued by the local government units (LGUs) through their respective City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO/MSWDO). The issuance of this ID follows the guidelines set by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and the Department of Health (DOH).
Senior Citizen ID
- Issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA). This ID is provided to Filipino citizens who are 60 years old and above and serves as proof of entitlement to various benefits and privileges under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.
Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)
- The UMID card is issued by agencies like SSS (Social Security System), GSIS (Government Service Insurance System), and PhilHealth.
PhilHealth ID
- Issued by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), this ID is used to verify health insurance membership.
SSS ID
- Issued by the Social Security System (SSS) in the Philippines. It is available to active SSS members.
GSIS eCard
- Issued by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). It is a multi-purpose card used primarily by government employees and GSIS members.
List of Valid Secondary IDs in the Philippines
Secondary IDs are less authoritative than primary IDs but are still widely used for transactions that do not require stringent identity verification. They often supplement primary IDs when multiple forms of identification are necessary.
Secondary IDs or Supporting Documents :
- Company ID Issued by employers.
- School ID Issued by educational institutions.
- Barangay Clearance or ID Issued by the barangay where the individual resides.
- Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Issued by the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG).
- Police Clearance Issued by Philippine National Police.
- NBI Clearance Issued by National Bureau of Investigation.
- Seamans Book / Seafarer’s Identification & Record Book (SIRB) Issued by Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
- PSA Birth Certificate Issued by Philippine Statistics Authority.
- PSA Marriage Contract Issued by Philippine Statistics Authority.
- Transcript of Records Issued by Colleges or University.
- OWWA ID Issued by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
- Community Tax Certificate / CEDULA Issued by the local government unit (LGU), specifically at the City or Municipal Treasurer’s Office or at your Barangay Hall.
For Filipinos and residents, ensuring you have at least one primary ID and a couple of secondary IDs. The Primary IDs provide the most credibility and are accepted for most transactions like opening bank accounts, voting, traveling abroad and etc. Secondary IDs are also valuable, especially for local or supplementary transactions.
