The Complete Guide to Postal ID Renewal 2024

If you live in the Philippines, you will need to apply for a government identification card to prove your identity. Since there are many government IDs in the Philippines, such as the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card, Land Transportation Office Driver’s License (LTO), Philippine National ID, Postal ID, and SSS UMID card, etc., Postal ID is the easiest government ID for every Filipino citizen and foreigner to apply for. If you already have a postal ID, you can access many social benefits. However, you must renew it before it expires. In this article, we will show you how to complete postal ID renewal.

Postal ID Validity

You need to know the validity of a postal ID if this is the first time you have received your postal ID. According to the Philippine government, the postal ID is valid for three years for Filipinos and foreign residents with a Special Retiree Resident Visa (SRRV). If you are a foreigner without SSRV in the Philippines, the validity of the postal ID is one year. When your postal ID card gets close to expiring, you need to renew it as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may face some problems in your life.

How Do I Know When My Postal ID Expires? 

The identity card contains the basic information of the holders, such as postal reference number (PRN), address, date of birth, nationality and signature. In addition, it contains other important information, such as the postal office issuing the postal ID card and the expiration date of the postal ID card. Therefore, you can check your card’s expiration and need to renew it before it expires.

When to Renew Your Postal ID?

If your postal ID expires or your postal card is lost or damaged, you can apply for a renewal or replacement at any post office in the Philippines. If you find incorrect information on your postal ID card and need to change the basic information on it, you can renew your postal ID card. No matter why you need to renew your postal ID, you must prepare all the necessary documents to support your postal card renewal. 

Postal ID Renewal Requirements

There are different requirements that you need to prepare when you want to renew your postal ID. And you must meet the postal ID renewal requirements based on various situations.

If your postal ID card expires:

• You must prepare two copies of the completed Postal ID application form.
• Original and photocopy of the Enhanced or Basic Postal ID Card (if applicable).

If your postal ID card is lost or damaged:

• You must prepare two copies of the completed Postal ID renewal application form.
• You must submit a notarized loss affidavit. To obtain this legal document, you can go to the nearest public notary to describe how you lost your card. Then the notary public can offer you a template for the affidavit of loss.

If you renew your postal ID card and you need to change in biometric data:

• You must prepare two copies of the completed Postal ID application form.
• Original and photocopy of the Enhanced or Basic Postal ID Card (if applicable).
• You must prepare the necessary documents to support the change of your card data, such as your birth certificate to correct your birth date, marriage certificate for married name, passport for civil status, or proof of billing for a change of address.

How to Renew a Postal ID 

After you have prepared all the necessary documents according to your needs, you can start renewing your postal ID card. You can follow the steps below and complete the postal ID renewal online.

• You must prepare all the necessary documents in advance.
• You can visit the Postal ID online registration portal and complete the online application.
• You need to select the appointment date and venue, so you can submit your supporting documents. After selection, you will receive a QR confirmation via email.
• On the scheduled day, you need to attend the appointment on time at the chosen venue. And you need to take all the necessary documents with you.
• You need to pay the fee on the postal ID card over the counter and the fee on the postal ID card is PHP 504.
• Wait for your postcard to be renewed and get your postal ID received.

Or you can download the application form online and submit the paper application form to the nearest post office with other supporting documents.

Postal ID Renewal Fee& Time 

According to the postal ID card rules, you must pay the renewal fee for the postal ID. The total fee for renewal of postal ID is P504. Includes P450 postal ID card and delivery fee and P54 for 12% VATAT. If you choose to renew a Rush postal ID card, the application fee for the Rush postal ID application fee is P650. After completing the renewal of the postal ID card, it may take you 15 days or so to obtain a new postal ID if you live in Metro Manila. If you live in cities and provinces outside Metro Manila, ID delivery takes about 20 business days. And if you live in remote provinces and islands in the Philippines, it can take 30 working days to get your new ID. Of course, if you choose to renew your postal ID in a hurry, you can pick up your postal ID the same day or the next working day at the selected post office. And you need to know Rush postal ID applications are only available from Monday to Friday, usually from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Therefore, you must apply for a postal ID renewal in due course.

Can I Get a Rush Postal ID Renewal?

Yes. If you want your postal ID immediately, you can apply for a Rush postal ID renewal. The steps are similar to the normal postal ID card application. 

• Complete the postal ID application form 
• Make an appointment to have your ID data captured
• Submit all payments to the selected post office in the Philippines. 
• Pay a higher fee of Php 650 if you choose Rush postal ID renewal.
• Pick your postal ID the same day or the next day.

And you can check some post offices that accommodate rush postal ID applications in Metro Manila, such as Manila Central Post Office (Liwasang Bonifacio, Ermita), Makati Central Post Office (Gil Puyat cor. Ayala Ave.), Quezon City Central Post Office (NIA Rd., Brgy. Pinyahan, Diliman) and Robinsons Otis Central Post Office (2/F Lingkod Pinoy, Philpost Robinsons Otis, Paz M. Guanzon St., Paco, Manila) and so on.

If you would like to know where you can apply for Express Postal ID, you can check the complete list of Express Postal ID processing locations in the Philippines on the Postal ID website.

Why do I need to renew my postal ID as soon as possible?

Postal ID is the easiest government ID card for Filipinos and foreigners to obtain. And it has no specific requirements for applicants, regardless of age, citizenship, and occupation. Even students can apply for a postal ID, which makes it one of the most popular valid IDs. However, if you are a foreigner, you must have at least 6 months of residencence in the Philippines. 

What can I do with a postal ID card?

When you hold a postal ID card, you can take advantage of it. For example:

• In the Philippines, postal ID is the most widely accepted identification document in postal transactions. Postmen can use ID to verify the identity and address of a recipient to ensure the correct delivery of letters and parcels. 
• It is an important proof of identity for Philippine government transactions when you apply for other government-issued IDs such as passports and NBI clearance.
• You can access SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG benefits, such as discounts, freebies, and other privileges.
• You can send or receive money from remittance centers.
• You can use the postal ID to open a bank account and apply for a credit card, personal loan, or other banking products.
• You can use the postal ID to verify your wallet account.

How to track my postal ID status?

If you want to know the process of your postal ID status, you can simply go to the PHLPost Tracking website and enter the tracking number given to you. Alternatively, you can contact the PHLPost Customer Service Hotline at (02)8288-7678 (available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Conclusion

All in all, it is easy to renew the postal ID card as you have prepared all the necessary documents. If you want to make some changes to your basic information on the postal ID card, you must submit supporting documents, otherwise your application may be rejected because of the missing documents. With a valid postal ID, you can access many benefits in the Philippines. So you should take care of it.