As a young adult in the Philippines, you must have a valid government-issued identity document. Having one grants you access to a variety of services and activities, from processing documents, applying for a job, opening a bank account, getting a loan, and even voting. We will provide you a list of the most generally recognized IDs in the Philippines as primary and secondary.
Here is a list of valid identification documents in the Philippines:
Primary IDs
| ID Type | Validity | Government Agency |
| Philippine Passport | 10 years | DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) |
| UMID (Unified Multi-Purpose ID) | Lifetime | Single ID Card of all SSS, GSIS, Philhealth and PAG-IBIG Members |
| SSS Card | Lifetime | SSS (Social Security System) |
| GSIS Card | Lifetime | GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) |
| PRC ID | 3 years | PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) |
| Driver’s License | Student Permit for 1 year Non-Professional for 3 years Professional for 5 years or 10 years | LTO (Land Transportation Office) |
| National ID | Lifetime | PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) |
| Voter’s ID | Lifetime | COMELEC (Commission on Election) |
| Senior Citizen ID | Lifetime | Office for Senior Citizens Affairs |
Secondary IDs
| ID Type | Validity | Government Agency |
| NBI Clearance | 1 year | NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) |
| Police Clearance | 6 months | PNP (Philippine National Police) |
| Barangay Certification | 6 months | Barangay Hall |
| Community Tax Certificate (Cedula) | 1 year | Barangay Hall |
| TIN ID | Lifetime | BIR (Tax Identification Number ID) |
| PhilHealth ID | Lifetime | Philhealth |
| Voter’s ID | Lifetime | COMELEC |
| Postal ID | 3 years | PHLPost (Philippine Postal Corporation) |
| Solo Parent ID | Lifetime | DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) |
| PWD ID Card | 5 years | PDAO (Persons with Disability Office) |
| Seaman’s Book | 10 years | MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) |
| Seafarer’s ID | 5 years | MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) |
| OFW ID | Lifetime | POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Association) |
| OWWA ID | 2 years | OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) |
| Student ID | Depends | Schools |
| Company ID | Depends | Private companies |
Whether you’re looking for a convenient all-in-one ID or a more specialized one for a specific purpose, there’s a valid ID out there for everyone. Select the one that best meets your need and be ready to take the first step towards it. Take your time conducting research, gathering essential paperwork, and making the application process as stress-free as possible.