Having a valid government-issued ID is a must wherever you may be in the world, including in the Philippines. Not only is it used as a way to legally identify yourself, but it’s also a requirement in important transactions and other legal obligations.

However, it can be difficult to get your first valid ID, as the process often requires a lot of paperwork and can be expensive.

One alternative ID that is popular in the Philippines is the Postal ID.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the entire process of acquiring a Philippine Postal ID from start to finish!

 

What is the Philippine Postal ID?

The Postal ID, also officially called the PhilPost ID, is an ID issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation.

It’s a legal primary identification that you can use to verify postal transactions, open bank accounts, and serve as a general identification card for various purposes.

It’s one of the easiest legal government IDs that you can get in the country and is considered by many to be the gateway to other legal identifications. This is due to one simple reason: unlike other government-issued IDs, the requirements to get a Philippine Postal ID are relatively easy to attain. Because of this, even students, unemployed individuals, and expats can get a postal ID.

Before we discuss the Postal ID in more detail, let’s first learn about its issuing body, the Philippine Postal Corporation.

 

Introducing PhilPost

The Philippine Postal Corporation, also known as PhilPost, is the national postal service of the government. It has a long history, dating back to 250 years ago when the country was still occupied by Spain.

The first office was established in Manila and managed a Manila-wide postal system as well as international transactions.

Today, the Philippine Postal Corporation now spans at least 1,355 post offices in the country and employs some 8000+ individuals to run it. It also offers a wide variety of postal services, such as the following.

·       Letter Post. These are letters and parcels weighing no more than two kilos. These types of mail can be M-bags of small packers, and cabs classified by the PhilPost as an ordinary, priority, and registered depending on the preference of the customer.

·       Express Post. One of the most popular mailing services, the express post is the Postal Office’s expedited mail services. This mails customers’ letters and parcels in the least possible time.

·       Parcel Post. Lets customers mail various goods and non-perishable food to any domestic or international location. Parcels can be classified as air parcels, surface parcels, or insured parcels.

·       Corporate Direct Mail. Lets businesses advertise by sending brochures, books, pamphlets, etc., to various locations.

·       Collect-on-Delivery Service. Lets recipients pay for a bought item upon receipt.

More than that, PhilPost also offers other, lesser-known services, such as fax mail, address check, corporate proof of delivery, international reply, and more.

As you can see, PhilPost provides a variety of cost-effective and efficient services that Filipinos can take advantage of depending on their needs.

 

The PhilPost ID

The Postal ID is the Philippine Postal Corporation’s primary document for identification.

After all, it’s in the best interest of the country’s official mailing agency to ensure that the sender and the recipient of the parcels are who they say they are.

The best way to provide that reassurance is through the presence of an official and easily-accessible identification system.

The PhilPost ID is a secure government identification that the mailing agency can use to identify individuals. It has special security features that ensure its integrity, such as the following.

·       On-site capture of digital biological signatures capture (fingerprint, photo, signature).

·       Centralized database system and ID printing process to ensure authenticity.

·       Encrypted QR code for easy ID verification.

·       Physical security features (ghost image, UV ink, hologram).

·       Automated uniqueness check using the Automated Fingerprint Identification System or AFIS.

Aside from the benefit of legitimate identification, there are also other concrete benefits that a PhilPost ID holder can enjoy, which we will discuss further in the article.

 

How to Apply for a Postal ID

The Postal ID is a useful, versatile piece of identification. However, before you can enjoy these benefits, you would need to have a Postal ID first.

In this section, we’ll guide you through the requirements and process of acquiring a PhilPost ID.

 

Who Can Apply for a Postal ID?

As mentioned above, the Philippine Postal ID is one of the easiest government identification cards to acquire, making it very popular as the first ID for students and young professionals.

Anyone can apply for a postal ID, regardless of age or occupation. As long as you have the requirements for its processing, you can get this ID from Philpost.

Even non-Filipino citizens can acquire a Postal ID if they’ve been staying in the country for six months.

Filipinos who are living abroad are also eligible to apply, as long as they are staying within the country during the time of application.

 

What Are the Requirements for Applying?

There are only several documentary requirements that you have to prepare to get a Postal ID.

Different categories of people have different requirements that they need to prepare, and in this section, we’re going to discuss what those requirements are for each category.

 

For Regular Filipino Residents

·       Two copies of the fully filled-out PhilPost ID application form.

·       Proof of identity, which could be any of these primary documents:

·       NSO birth certificate or local civil registry certificate

·       SSS or GSIS Card

·       Passport

·       SSS

Alternatively, those who can’t provide any of the previously-mentioned documents can also choose to submit two secondary documents. You can view the full list of acceptable secondary documents on the PhilPost ID website, but here are the most common ones.

·       School or university ID

·       Company ID

·       PhilHealth ID

·       Pag-IBIG ID

·       NBI Clearance

·       Police Clearance

·       TIN ID

·       Proof of Address:

·       Barangay certificate of residency that was issued within the last three (3) months

·       Certified true copy of lease

·       Certified true copy of land titles released by the LRA

·       Bank statements

·       Credit card statements

·       Utility bills

 

For Foreign Residents Residing Within the PH for More Than 6 Months

·       Two (2) copies of the fully filled-out PhilPost ID application form

·       Proof of identity, which includes the following:

·       Passport, valid for at least six months before ID application

·       Any one of the following supporting documents

·       ACRI Card, or Alien Certificate of Registration Identity

·       LSVVE, or Long Stay Visitor Visa Extension

·       TRV, or temporary resident visa, etc.

·       Proof of Address, which can be any of these:

·       Barangay certificate of residency issued in the last three (3) months

·       Statement of account or certification from the hotel or temporary residence issued within three months before the application

·       Bank statements

·       Credit card statements

·       Utility bills

 

What Are the Steps in Getting a PhilPost ID?

You only need to do three things to apply for a PhilPost ID: submit an application, capture your information, and wait for your ID to be delivered.

Let’s go through these three steps one by one.

 

Step 1: Submitting Your Application

The very first significant step that you will have to accomplish when getting a PhilPost ID is to submit your application form along with all of the requirements necessary. To do this, follow this rough guide.

1.    Prepare your proof of identity and proof of address. If you’re not using a primary government-issued identification, such as a passport or a driver’s license, you must submit two secondary forms of proof of identity. This includes your birth certificate, a TIN ID, police clearance, and barangay clearance.

2.    Next, go to your nearest Post Office and get two copies of a PhilPost ID application form, and accomplish all the necessary fields. 

Note that you can do this step right alongside, or even before, preparing your other documents. However, make sure that your copy of the application form is updated.

You will first have to go to a Post Office to get an up-to-date copy of the application form, and if you don’t have your complete requirements, you’re just going to double your trip. You can download the application form from their website, but make sure it’s up to date and like what your Office uses.

3.    Once you have your duly-filled application forms and other requirements, simply approach the booth/counter to take ID application requests and submit your requirements.

Once you’ve done this, you’re ready to move to the next step.

 

Step 2: Personal Data Capture

It only takes a few minutes for the PhilPost staff to confirm your requirements as valid. After they’re done with the confirmation, you’ll be directed to the ID data capture booth.

Personal biometric information such as fingerprints and face pictures are gathered at this stage, along with your signature. These will appear on your ID as additional security features to prevent fraud.

 

Step 3: Wait For Your Postal ID.

Once everything is done in the data capture booth, all you have to do is wait for your ID. The postal ID has a centralized manufacturing process, so your application will be routed to the central office ID manufacturing, where it will make its way to you.

Depending on your place of residence, there are different estimated waiting times for your PhilPost ID.

·       10 to 15 working days. For applications within Metro Manila, you’ll have to wait approximately this long for your ID to arrive.

·       4 to 5 weeks. For remote barangays and island provinces, your ID will take a little longer to arrive.

Once your ID arrives, you can now use it for whatever purpose you have in mind.

 

Do I Have to Pay to Get a Postal ID?

The PhilPost ID is one of the most accessible IDs to get, even if you’re still unemployed, a student, or a foreign national. However, it’s not free.

You will have to pay several fees to get a postal ID. In this section, we’re going to list down as much as we can to give you an idea of how much you need to prepare to get this ID.

·       Postal ID application fee. The application fee costs 504 PHP for everything, including delivery and VAT.

·       Rush application fee. You can also choose to expedite your ID, in which case it will cost a bit extra at 650 PHP.

·       Secondary documents processing fee. More than the fees you have to pay for having the ID made, you will also need to pay for processing the secondary documents needed for identification and residence. These certifications range from 50 to 100 PHP, but will not exceed 150 PHP each.

 

Benefits of Having a Philippine Postal ID

Now, you know everything you need to know to get your Postal ID in the most convenient way possible. But is it worth all the hassle? Just what exactly is the PhilPost ID used for anyway?

In the following sections, we will list the advantages of having a Philippine Postal ID.

 

Can Be Used as a Valid ID

One of the main benefits that applicants are seeking in the PhilPost ID is that it’s an easily-accessible means of primary identification from the government.

Other primary identification, such as passports and driver’s license, are far more difficult to attain and requires a long wait. Thus, it makes sense that people flock to getting a Postal ID because it’s an incredibly convenient way to get a valid ID.

With valid identification from the government, users can use this ID to do a wide variety of important and official things, such as the following.

·       Opening a bank account

·       Opening a trading account

·       Opening government services accounts (example, Phil Health, SSS/GSIS, etc.)

·       Verifying your identity for digital wallets

·       Opening and verifying identities on shopping platforms and more

 

Proof of Identity for Packages

One of the primary reasons the PhilPost has an identification system is to ensure that people are who they say they are when sending and accepting parcels or mail.

With the new PhilPost ID, there are fewer chances of somebody committing identity fraud. The card has plenty of security features, such as a special ink that glows when shined with ultraviolet light, ghost images, holographic effects when viewed from different angles, and more.

Not only is it useful for the PhilPost agency, but it’s also critical for the entire government system to have a reliable yet easily accessible means of ensuring one’s identity.

 

Postal ID Privilege Program

Another benefit you can gain from getting a postal ID is the Postal ID Privilege Program.

This benefits program is designed for use by Postal ID card holders. It functions like a typical discount card – owning a Postal ID will entitle you to discounts when you buy or use a service from an allied merchant.

Dozens of participating merchants will grant you a discount privilege if you present your Postal ID upon checkout within the following industries.

·       Food and beverage

·       Beauty, health, and wellness

·       Home and living

·       Travel and leisure

·       Fitness and recreation

·       Petroleum and fuel

·       Pharmaceuticals

·       Clothing

·       Computer and photo services

Various stores accept your Postal ID as a means to get discounts. Stores like restaurants, spas, clinics, eye doctors, boutiques, and more will be glad to receive more business from you.

 

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Postal ID in the Philippines

If you want a reliable and accessible valid government identification in the Philippines, you can’t do any better than getting a PhilPost ID. Also called the postal ID, this identification is easy to apply for, easy to process, and doesn’t have steep fees.

This article discusses everything you need to know about getting a postal ID in the Philippines, from start to finish. Now, you should be well prepared to get this handy piece of identification!

 

FAQ

What are the requirements for getting postal ID Philippines?

There are only three requirements to get a postal ID in the Philippines. Your postal ID application, proof of identity, and proof of residency. There are multiple types of proof you can present, so be sure to check this guide for what’s acceptable and not.

 

How much is the Postal ID in the Philippines?

 

The regular fee for having a Postal ID made in the country is 504 PHP. However, you can also expedite the process and have your ID delivered to you sooner, although you will have to pay a corresponding fee of 650 PHP.

 

What is the easiest valid ID to get?

The Postal ID is the easiest valid ID to acquire in the country. It only has three documentary requirements, three steps to process, and a small fee. You now have a valid government identification you can use, plus all of the privilege that comes with the Postal ID Privilege Program.

 

Is Postal ID a valid ID PH?

A Postal ID is considered a valid ID in the Philippines. It’s widely accepted to be a legitimate identification by organizations such as banks, other government agencies, and financial platforms such as GCash. Some don’t recognize its validity as primary identification but do accept it as a secondary ID.