Adulting 101: How to get your first valid ID without a valid ID

Stuck in a loop? Well, this is just another thing that years of formal education don’t teach us: how to get past the trouble of needing a valid ID before being eligible to apply for a valid ID. But don't worry because we gotchu! Let's help you find the loophole to get you started with your collection of government IDs and realize the beginning of your #adulting journey.

Postal ID

If your national ID (PhilID) is taking too long to arrive, one of the easiest and quickest valid government IDs to get is the postal ID. You can go to your nearest ID capture station, prepare P500, and present the requirements for the application (don't worry, none of them include a valid government ID!).

First, you have to fill out two copies of the application form provided by the Philippine Postal Corporation. If you don't have the means to print it, the form is also available at capture stations and post offices nationwide, which you can answer upon arrival.

Then, don’t forget to bring two things: your proof of identity and address. A birth certificate, a driver’s license, or a passport will be enough proof of identity. Meanwhile, you can provide a barangay certificate, a certified true copy of lease, or a utility bill as your proof of address.

Once you have the following, search for the nearest capture station in your area. You may look it up through the Capture Stations Locator provided by the PH Postal ID website. After that, you can go to the capture station and present the required documents. You will be photographed and scanned for fingerprints.

A month later… TA-DAH! You now have a valid government ID! Adulting is more fun with more valid IDs, right? If you want more, then keep on reading!

PhilID

The Philippine Identification (PhilID), also known as the National ID, currently has the most beginner-friendly application process. Aside from the fact that it is free, it only requires a birth certificate as a primary document and a school ID as a secondary document.

Barangay officials usually distribute stubs that serve as your slot reservation for a specific day and time, along with your ID capture station. However, according to SM Malls, they are also accepting walk-in registrants, but the priority will still go towards those who have appointments or stubs.

Contrary to claims on social media saying that the national ID is "for display only," the national ID can actually be used nationwide in government and private transactions. According to the Republic Act (RA) 1105 or the Philippine Identification System Act which was signed into law last August 6, 2018, failure to acknowledge the PhilID is punishable with a fine worth P500,000.

However, since millions of Filipinos are lining up for a national ID, and you may be in a rush to get one, don’t worry! We gotchu (again)!

NBI Clearance

This one is important especially for those who just finished high school or college and are ready to take their adulting journey to the next level. If you’re someone who needs to prove your identity to your employers as a first-time job-seeker, this one’s for you.

Some companies require their applicants to submit a clearance form from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) just to make sure they are free of criminal records. It can also serve as a valid proof of identity for other transactions.

The convenient thing about this application process is that you can do it online by simply providing your birth certificate as proof of identity. Learn more about this process by visiting the online registration website. Ideally, the NBI clearance should be delivered to you within five to seven business days.

Can you see it now? That’s your adult life waving right at you.

Starting adult life may be overwhelming, but getting a valid government ID is a lot less complicated than you think. Remember, the most basic requirement is your birth certificate authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), so hold on to it.

Take it one step at a time. Start from one ID so that someday, when you apply for a government ID and they ask you for a valid government ID before you can apply for a valid ID that requires a valid ID to get a valid ID, you can smile with your chin held up high, proudly saying:

“The cycle ends right here with me.”