Recover Your NBI/Reference/Registration Number

1) NBI Reference Number – This is the Number you see after you create a transaction in the NBI online portal. It’s used to track your payment and appointment. This is what most people mean by NBI Reference Number Recovery.

2) Registration number – People often use this phrase to mean the same reference number (the Number tied to your online transaction). On some screens, it may be shown as a reference/registration number.

3) Payment reference (from GCash/bank/payment partner) – This is not always the same as the NBI reference number, but it can help support your request if you need assistance.

If your priority is renewal, the Number you usually need is the one shown in your NBI portal transaction history.

Most successful recoveries happen through one of these paths:

If you still have your email access, search your inbox for your NBI confirmation message or keywords like “NBI,” “clearance,” “reference,” or “appointment.” If you can still log in to your NBI account, go to your dashboard and open the “Transactions” section. Your past reference details are usually displayed there, and you can reprint your application form.If you saved or printed your form before, check your downloads folder or phone gallery. Many applicants accidentally solve the problem by finding the saved PDF.

When you complete an online application or create a transaction, many applicants receive an email confirmation. This is why email is often the easiest “Recover Number” route. Open your email and do a focused search. Try these searches one at a time: Search for: “NBI”, then narrow it to: “reference”, “appointment”, “clearance”, or “payment.”Also, check these folders because many confirmation emails land there: Spam/Junk, Promotions, Social, Updates, Archived, and Trash. If you have multiple email accounts, check the one you used when you registered on the portal. If you’re unsure which one it was, search all your emails for “NBI” and look for your name or your appointment details.

If you previously downloaded your application form or saved it as a PDF, your details and reference information are often visible there.

Check these places:

Your phone’s Downloads folder, your Files app (PDF section), your WhatsApp/Telegram “Documents” (if you sent it to yourself), your email attachments, and any cloud storage you use, such as Google Drive or iCloud.

Even if you do not have the full clearance document, an e-copy of the application form can still be enough to confirm your details and the transaction you created.

If you can still log in, this is the most reliable NBI Clearance number recovery online method.

Start by logging in to the official NBI clearance portal using the same email and password you used to register. Once you are inside your account, look for the Transactions section (usually on the left-side menu in the dashboard layout). Open it to view your application history. Your transaction list typically shows your reference information, payment status, and appointment details. Next, open the transaction by clicking Details, then look for the option to Print Application Form. When the application form opens, you can take a screenshot, save it as a PDF, or print it. This is the best moment to secure your Number so you won’t have to recover it again.

If you don’t see a transaction, make sure you are logged into the correct account (the same email used previously). Many “missing number” cases happen simply because the applicant logged into a different email account.

If you have already paid but lost your NBI reference number, your payment confirmation can help you prove the transaction when asking for assistance. Open your e-wallet or banking app and locate the payment receipt. Save a screenshot showing the date, amount, and reference from the payment partner. This payment reference may not be identical to your NBI reference, but it becomes a helpful supporting document if you contact NBI or need your branch to trace your record.

If you cannot access your account, don’t worry—this is still fixable. First, try a password reset using the “Forgot Password” option. Use the exact email you think you registered with. If you don’t receive the reset email, check Spam/Junk and try searching your inbox for “reset” and “NBI.” If you no longer have access to the email address you used (for example, you forgot the password to that email or the email was deactivated), the most practical solution is to contact NBI support and request guidance for retrieving your record. In some cases, creating a fresh account may be the simplest path—especially if you are planning a renewal and can complete a new transaction.

If your Number is still not showing after checking your email and your dashboard, it’s reasonable to contact NBI directly. Because contact details can change, treat the following as “known commonly published channels” and verify the latest list on the official NBI website contact pages whenever possible:

For NBI Clearance contact number inquiries, published channels commonly include trunkline numbers such as (02) 8523-8231 to 38, plus clearance inquiry lines such as (02) 8524-1277 and (02) 8522-8788. Some official listings also publish a mobile contact number for clearance concerns (for example, 0939-150-2880). For email support, the commonly published email for clearance concerns is nbiclearance@nbi.gov.ph. For mailed-clearance-specific concerns, many official and embassy guidance pages reference mailedclearance@nbi.gov.ph.

When you contact support, include only what is needed for verification: your full name, date of birth, and the email you used to register. If you have proof of payment, attach a screenshot. This improves your chances of a quick and accurate lookup.

This is a very common question, and the answer depends on what you lost. If you only lost the reference/registration number, but you can still access your portal account or email confirmation, you typically do not need an affidavit. You can recover and save the Number.

An Affidavit of Loss NBI Clearance is more commonly requested when you have lost the physical printed clearance (or you need to declare that an issued clearance document was lost formally). Some processes treat this as a “replacement” or “new application” situation to protect identity and prevent misuse.

If a branch or a consular office tells you an affidavit is required, here’s the positive news: it’s straightforward. You can request a standard affidavit of loss from a notary public. It usually includes your personal details, a short statement of how/when the document was lost, and your signature, then it’s notarized. To avoid extra trips, ask the staff first: “Do you need an affidavit of loss for the clearance document, or do I only need to recover the reference number?” That one question saves time and keeps your process clear.

Many applicants worry that they cannot proceed without the old reference number. In practice, you can still complete an application or renewal even if you cannot locate the previous Number.

If you can log in, you can create a new transaction and proceed with a new appointment. If you cannot log in and your old record cannot be retrieved easily, the branch can often locate your record using your personal details. The goal is to move forward, not to get stuck.

Please treat this as a fresh start: once your new transaction is created, save your application form as a PDF and keep it in a secure folder.

A few small habits can save you from repeating the recovery process. After you create a transaction, take a screenshot of the reference number and save it in a folder named “NBI.” Then, save your application form as a PDF and email it to yourself with a subject like “NBI Reference Number – [Your Name].” If you use cloud storage, upload the PDF there too.

If you’re helping a family member, create a separate folder per person. This keeps documents organized and makes renewals much easier.

Final Verdict

Losing your reference number is inconvenient—but it’s not a dead end. In most cases, you can recover your Number quickly by checking your email, your portal Transactions history, or your saved application form. If you still can’t locate it, contacting support with the right details is a smart next step. And once you recover it, save a PDF copy so future renewals feel simple and stress-free.