Valid IDs for SIM Registration in the Philippines

Government IDs listed in RA 11934

1. Passport
2. Philippine Identification or National ID
3. SSS ID
4. GSIS e-Card
5. Driver’s license
6. NBI clearance
7. Police clearance
8. Firearms License to Own and Possess ID
9. PRC ID
10. Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID
11. OWWA ID
12. BIR ID
13. Voter’s ID
14. Senior citizen card
15. UMID
16. PWD card
17. Another valid government-issued ID with a photo

This is the statutory framework, not a promise that every carrier’s OCR or upload menu supports every document variant. Always choose from the live carrier list.

Accepted-ID guidance by carrier

Open the matching cornerstone: Globe, Smart, DITO or GOMO.

National ID, ePhilID and Digital National ID

The Philippine Statistics Authority says the National ID card, National ID in paper format/ePhilID and Digital National ID are all valid proof of identity and age, subject to authentication. The Digital National ID has no expiration and can be accessed through official government channels.

• Physical National ID: use a clear image of the PSA-issued card.
• Paper National ID/ePhilID: legally valid, but use the exact capture method the carrier supports.
• Digital National ID: present or download it from an official government route; the QR code can be authenticated through the National ID system.
• Do not print a Digital National ID onto PVC. PSA says unauthorized plastic-card printing is prohibited and such a card is not accepted as proof.

How to choose the best ID for the form

1. Start with the live menu

   Only select the document type that actually appears on the carrier’s current screen.

2. Use a current photo and readable details

   An unexpired document with a clear likeness and machine-readable text is less likely to need manual review.

3. Match the registration data

   Use the name order, spelling and date of birth shown on the ID. Correct OCR mistakes before submitting.

4. Use the original or official digital source

   A screenshot of an unofficial scan, photocopy of a photocopy or edited image can lose detail or fail validation.

5. Escalate a valid-document rejection

   Use the carrier’s store, official chat or help route. Do not repeatedly change truthful information just to make the form pass.

How to photograph an ID

• Clean the camera lens and use even light.
• Keep the complete document and every edge inside the frame.
• Avoid flash glare, shadows, blur and fingers covering text.
• Make the portrait, name, ID number and other required details readable.
• Do not apply filters, retouching or compression that destroys text.
• Use the front or back requested by the live form; do not upload extra personal documents unnecessarily.

Smart’s official photo guide specifically calls for a clear, high-resolution ID image within frame and a full-face selfie in good light. DITO’s current guide likewise identifies glare, shadows and unreadable images as causes of upload errors.

Why a valid ID may be rejected

See ID and selfie error fixes and general registration troubleshooting.

IDs for minors, foreigners and businesses

• Minor: the parent or guardian provides their own government-issued ID and consent. A school ID does not let a child bypass the guardian rule.
• Foreign tourist: the passport is central, with Philippine address proof and a return/onward ticket.
• Other foreign national: passport plus the applicable immigration, employment or school document.
• Business: the authorized representative provides identity evidence alongside the entity’s registration and authority documents.

Read minor requirements, foreign-national requirements and business requirements.

Never use a fake, borrowed or edited ID

RA 11934 penalizes false or fictitious information and fraudulent identification documents. Borrowing another person’s identity, editing an ID number or registering SIMs for resale also exposes both people to fraud and privacy risks. The National Privacy Commission advises users to follow the carrier’s identity-verification and ownership-transfer process.