Is PhilSys registration free?

Yes. Registration and issuance of the first National ID in any of the three formats is free of charge.

What is the difference between the PSN and the PCN?

The PhilSys Number (PSN) is your permanent confidential identity number that should be kept private, while the PhilSys Card Number (PCN) is the public number printed on the card and can be reissued if compromised.

🇵🇭 Philippines · National ID card

PhilSys

Philippine Identification System (National ID and ePhilID)

Also known as: PhilSys, PhilID, ePhilID, Philippine national ID, PhilSys Number, PSN

PhilSys is the foundational national digital ID of the Philippines, established by Republic Act No. 11055 (2018) and built on the open-source MOSIP platform. It assigns every citizen and resident alien a permanent PhilSys Number and is delivered as a physical card, a paper ePhilID, and a Digital National ID in the eGovPH app, all of equal validity.

What it does

Identity verification / KYCOnline authenticationBiometric authenticationMobile credential (in person)

Country:🇵🇭 Philippines

Type:National ID card

Status:Live

Launched:2020

Issuer:Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

Who can get it:All Filipino citizens and resident aliens in the Philippines

PhilSys Number (PSN) and PhilSys Card Number (PCN) format

PSN is 12 randomly generated digits; PCN is a 16-character alphanumeric code

•PSN: a permanent, randomly generated 12-digit number assigned on successful registration, treated as confidential
•PCN: a 16-character tokenised form of the PSN printed on the card for public-facing transactions
•The PSN itself is micro-printed on the back of the PhilID alongside a digitally signed QR code

Relying parties should verify the PCN and the signed QR code rather than storing the PSN, which the Philippine Statistics Authority treats as sensitive under RA 11055.

Format

CardPaper credentialMobile app

Identity attributes

PhilSys Number (PSN)PhilSys Card Number (PCN)Full nameSexDate of birthPlace of birthAddressPhotographFingerprintsIris scan

Authentication methods

BiometricQR codeOnline verification

Common use cases

Government service accessBanking and KYC / financial inclusionSIM registrationGeneral public and private transactions

Standards

MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform)Multi-modal biometrics (fingerprint, iris, face)

Coverage

Over 54 million physical cards delivered as of September 2025, toward universal coverage

Interoperability

Domestic

Privacy and trust

The PhilSys Number is confidential by design and not meant to be shared publicly, with the reissuable public PhilSys Card Number used for verification instead.

Identity verification providers

Independent identity verification vendors that support documents like this for KYC and onboarding. Exact document coverage varies by provider and region, so confirm support before relying on it.

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Official source

https://philsys.gov.ph/

PhilSys: frequently asked questions

Is PhilSys registration free?: Yes. Registration and issuance of the first National ID in any of the three formats is free of charge.
What is the difference between the PSN and the PCN?: The PhilSys Number (PSN) is your permanent confidential identity number that should be kept private, while the PhilSys Card Number (PCN) is the public number printed on the card and can be reissued if compromised.

Educational reference, not official guidance. Confirm current details with the issuing authority. all Philippines schemes · identity verification vendors