What documents are free?
Section 4 of RA 11261 waives the fees for these documents, once:
| Document | Issued by |
|---|---|
| Police clearance | PNP |
| NBI clearance | NBI |
| Barangay clearance | Your barangay |
| Medical certificate from a public hospital (lab tests excluded) | Public hospitals |
| Birth certificate | PSA |
| Marriage certificate | PSA |
| Transcript of records from state colleges and universities | SUCs |
| Tax Identification Number (TIN), see TIN ID guide | BIR |
| UMID card | SSS / GSIS |
| Other government documents required by employers | Various agencies |
Not covered (Section 8): professional licensure examinations, passport and authentication fees, the Civil Service Examination and driver's licenses.
Who qualifies?
You qualify if you are a Filipino seeking employment for the first time and your barangay certifies it. According to the law's implementing rules:
- You must have been a resident of the barangay for at least six months.
- You sign an oath of undertaking (RA 11261 Form 2) in front of a barangay official, confirming you're a first-time job seeker.
- The benefit is valid for one year from the date the barangay certification is issued.
- It can be used only once per document.
How to get the certificate
Go to your barangay hall
Ask for the First Time Jobseeker certification under RA 11261.
Prove your residency
Bring a valid ID and proof that you've lived in the barangay for at least six months.
Sign the oath of undertaking
It's done in front of a barangay official.
Get the certification
It's issued free. Keep the original safe and make photocopies.
Use it within one year
Present it at each agency for your free documents.
- 1BarangayBarangay clearance, or the first-time job seeker certificate (RA 11261)
- 2Valid IDsGovernment-issued, original, not expired
- 3NBI + PoliceThe two main clearances. Free once for first-time job seekers
- 4Court / prosecutorOnly if the office asks: RTC, MTC or prosecutor's clearance
- 5DFA apostilleOnly for documents used abroad
Your employer's checklist decides which of these you need. Tap a step for its guide.
Official forms and documents (DOLE)
The DOLE Bureau of Local Employment, which heads the inter-agency committee enforcing RA 11261, publishes the official forms:
More on the oath: oath of undertaking guide. The full law, the IRR and the 2024 Joint Operational Guidelines are on our downloads page.
Employers should accept certified true copies
DOLE Labor Advisory No. 07, Series of 2020 encourages private establishments to require only certified true copies of pre-employment documents from first-time job seekers. Since each free document can be claimed only once, this lets you keep your free original and apply to several employers.
Using it for the NBI and police clearance
Each agency has its own process:
- NBI: apply through the NBI's first-time job seeker portal and bring the barangay certificate and oath of undertaking. See the NBI guide.
- Police: tick the first-time job seeker box in your NPCS profile and bring the certification with one valid ID. See the police guide.
Only once. Each free document can be claimed once. Falsifying a certification is punishable under the Revised Penal Code (RA 11261, Section 11).
Frequently asked questions
Where can I ask DOLE about RA 11261?
The DOLE Bureau of Local Employment handles RA 11261 questions at ftjaa@ble.dole.gov.ph or (02) 8528-0087 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). The DOLE hotline is 1349.
Is the MARINA certificate covered?
DOLE lists MARINA's Certificate of Proficiency among the FTJAA member agency services. Check with MARINA for its process.
Is there an age limit?
The law focuses on whether you're seeking a job for the first time, as certified by your barangay. Ask your barangay if you're unsure whether you qualify.
Can I use it for a job abroad?
RA 11261 covers first-time job seekers, including those seeking overseas employment. Passport and authentication (apostille) fees are not covered.
I lost my barangay certification. Can I get another?
Ask your barangay. The benefit is still limited to one use per document and one year from the original issue date.