Identifying Marks in NBI – Importance, Benefits, and Examples

In the NBI context, identifying marks are unique features on your body that help distinguish you from other people with similar personal information.

These can be:

• Moles or beauty marks
• Dimples
• Birthmarks
• Scars (including surgical marks)
• Tattoos
• Other permanent or long-lasting marks

Identifying marks can be present from birth, appear after an injury, or be created intentionally (like a tattoo). NBI records these details together with your photo, signature, fingerprints, and other biometrics as part of your digital identity in their database.

The NBI’s main goal is to correctly match each person to the right record in their system. In the Philippines, many people share the same first name, middle name, and surname. Sometimes, two people can also look quite similar in photos.

Identifying marks help NBI:

• Confirm that the person in front of them is the same in the database.
• Distinguish people who have similar names, birthdays, or appearances.
• Support accurate background checks before approving NBI clearance online applications.

When your identifying marks are clearly recorded, it becomes easier for NBI staff to confirm your identity quickly and confidently, especially if your name is common or appears in multiple records.

Providing your identifying marks correctly gives advantages to both you and the NBI:

• More accurate identity matching
• NBI can clearly tell that you are different from another person with a similar name or facial features.
• Smoother processing during the NBI appointment
• When information is complete in your record, staff can validate your identity more efficiently during your NBI online appointment.
• Less confusion in the database
• Identifying marks makes it easier to organize records so each profile is unique and well-defined.
• Support for secure records
• Together with biometrics, identifying marks help make the NBI clearance process more secure and reliable for employers, agencies, and government offices that rely on NBI results.

In short, these small details help protect your good name and keep your identity clear in the system.

Before you start your NBI clearance online application or visit your appointment, it’s helpful to check your body and list your marks so you can fill in the form accurately.

Here are some easy steps:

1-Check visible areas first.

Look at your face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and feet. Notice any mole, birthmark, scar, dimple, tattoo, or special mark.

2- Use a mirror for hard-to-see areas.

Stand in front of a large mirror to check your neck, back, shoulders, and upper arms. You can also use a hand mirror for extra angles.

3- Ask a trusted family member

If you are comfortable, a close family member can help check areas that are difficult to see yourself, like your back or the back of your legs.

4- Note the exact location

Be specific: instead of “mole on face,” write “small brown mole on left cheek near the nose,” or “light scar on right forearm near the wrist.”

5- Observe size, shape, and color.

Simple descriptions like “small round brown mole” or “thin light scar” are very helpful.

When you fill out the NBI clearance application form, you’ll usually see a space labeled “Identifying marks” or something similar. The goal is to describe each mark briefly but clearly.

You can follow this simple pattern:

[Type of mark] + [size/shape/color] + [exact location]

Some examples:

• “Small brown mole on right chin”
• “Light scar on left eyebrow”
• “Black mole above left upper lip”
• “Butterfly tattoo on left side of neck”
• “Dimple on right cheek”

Birthmarks

• Light brown birthmark on the center of the chin
• Small reddish birthmark beside left nostril

Moles

• Dark mole under left eyebrow
• Black mole above the right upper lip

Scars

• Thin scar on left cheek
• Light scar on right forearm

Burn or surgical marks

• A burn mark on the left thumb that has a blonde color.
• Surgical scar on the lower abdomen

Tattoos

• Name tattoo on right forearm
• Star tattoo on the back of the neck

Dimples

• Dimple on left cheek
• Dimples on both cheeks

When you apply for NBI clearance online, NBI collects:

• Your personal information (name, birthday, address, etc.)
• Your photo and digital signature
• Your fingerprints and other biometrics
• Your identifying marks

All of this information is stored securely in the NBI database. The details are used to:

• Confirm that each clearance belongs to the correct person
• Distinguish people who share similar personal information
• Maintain a reliable record for future NBI clearance renewal or NBI online appointment bookings

These identifying marks are normally not printed on the NBI clearance certificate itself. Instead, they remain in the internal records for accurate identification and background checks.

Final Verdict

Identifying marks may seem like a small detail in your NBI clearance online application, but they play an important role in keeping your identity clear, unique, and well-documented. By taking a few minutes to check your body, listing your marks accurately, and describing them clearly in the NBI clearance application form, you help NBI process your application smoothly and confidently. Whether you are applying for your first NBI clearance, monitoring your NBI clearance validity, or preparing for NBI clearance renewal, providing correct identifying marks is a simple step that supports a faster, more secure, and more reliable NBI experience.