PHLPost says no existing valid ID needed for postal ID application

The Philippine Postal Corporation clarified that Filipinos do not need an existing valid government-issued identification card to apply for a Postal ID.

First-time applicants need only a birth certificate, a barangay certificate or another accepted proof of address, and a duly accomplished Postal ID application form.

Applicants who cannot present a barangay certificate may submit a recent electricity, water, internet, or other utility bill showing their name and current residential address.

The clarification addresses a misconception that could discourage Filipinos without government identification from applying for a Postal ID.

Removing that perceived barrier is particularly important for people who need identification to access government services, financial products, employment opportunities, and other essential transactions.

PHLPost said the birth certificate serves as proof of identity, while the barangay certificate or utility bill establishes the applicant’s address.

“The Postal ID has always been intended to make it easier for Filipinos to establish their identity, especially those applying for their first government-issued ID,” said Postmaster General and CEO Maximo C. Sta. Maria III. “By presenting a Birth Certificate and proof of address, eligible applicants can already begin the process of securing a trusted government-issued ID.”

PHLPost’s published application guidelines list a Philippine Statistics Authority-issued birth certificate among the documents accepted as proof of identity.

Applicants must personally appear at a Postal ID registration site to submit their requirements and have their photograph, fingerprints, and signature captured.

The Postal ID is intended to provide an accessible government-issued identification card for first-time ID holders, students, job seekers, senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and people in underserved communities.

PHLPost said the card is widely accepted in public- and private-sector transactions.

The Postal ID may be used for opening bank accounts, applying for a passport, claiming parcels, sending and receiving mail, and processing legal and financial transactions, subject to the receiving institution’s verification requirements.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed that the Postal ID is accepted as a primary document for passport applications.

PHLPost resumed issuing the Postal ID on Oct. 15, 2024, at capturing and registration sites across the country.

Postal IDs issued to Filipino citizens are valid for three years.