HOW-TO

How to Get Your Digital National ID (eID)

Already registered with PhilSys? You can carry your National ID on your phone. Here is how to access the Digital National ID through the eGovPH app.

Step by step

1. Confirm you are registered with PhilSysThe Digital National ID is only for people already registered in the Philippine Identification System. If you have not registered yet, start with our guide on getting the National ID. The digital version reflects the record you already have with the PSA.
2. Download the eGovPH appInstall the official eGovPH app from your device's app store, or open the national-id.gov.ph portal in a browser. Make sure you are using the genuine government app or site, not a look-alike. Never enter your details into an app you found through an unsolicited link.
3. Create your eGovPH accountOpen the app and follow the prompts to create an account. You will provide identifying information that matches your PhilSys registration. Choose a strong password and keep your login private; do not share your OTP with anyone.
4. Pass the live selfie checkAccessing the Digital National ID requires a liveness check: a live selfie taken in the app to confirm it is really you. Follow the on-screen prompts in good lighting. This step protects your identity and links the digital ID securely to you.
5. Open your Digital National IDOnce verified, your Digital National ID becomes available in the app. It displays your PhilSys information and can be presented for transactions that accept it. You will need to be online to access it, so check your connection before you need to show it.
6. Use it responsiblyPresent your Digital National ID only to legitimate offices and businesses that accept it. Do not post screenshots of it publicly or send your PhilSys Number to unverified parties. If you are ever asked to share it over an unofficial channel, decline and verify first.

Your National ID, now on your phone

Carrying a physical card everywhere has obvious downsides: it can be left at home, damaged, or lost. The Digital National ID solves much of that. It is the official phone-based version of your PhilSys National ID, accessed through the government’s eGovPH app, and it lets you present valid identification without reaching for a plastic card. Importantly, it is not a new or separate ID. It mirrors the record you already created when you registered with the Philippine Identification System.

That distinction matters. If you are not yet in the system, the digital version has nothing to display. Our guide on how to get the National ID online covers first-time registration, and what PhilSys is and how to apply explains the wider system the digital ID plugs into.

What you need before you start

The requirements are refreshingly light. You need an existing PhilSys registration, a smartphone with an internet connection, and a few minutes to pass a security check. There is no fee. The two things people most often get wrong are downloading a look-alike app instead of the genuine eGovPH app, and entering their details after following a link from an unsolicited message. Go directly to your device’s official app store or type national-id.gov.ph yourself.

The Digital National ID is free. Anyone charging to ‘activate’ or ‘unlock’ it is not offering a government service.

There are two legitimate routes to the same result. The eGovPH app is the most common, since it keeps your ID a tap away alongside other government services. The national-id.gov.ph portal serves people who prefer a browser or who are setting things up on a computer. Either way you are accessing the exact same record, so pick whichever fits how you use your devices; there is no ‘better’ version, only the one that is more convenient for you.

The liveness check, explained

When you access the Digital National ID, the app asks for a live selfie. This is a liveness check, and it exists to make sure the person opening the ID is genuinely you rather than someone who has merely learned your details. Do it in good light, follow the on-screen prompts, and the app links your digital ID securely to your face at that moment. It is a small step that does a lot of the security heavy lifting.

Setting it up, step by step

• Confirm you are already registered with PhilSys.
• Install the official eGovPH app, or open national-id.gov.ph in a browser.
• Create your eGovPH account using details that match your registration.
• Complete the live selfie verification.
• Open your Digital National ID and keep your login private.

Using it wisely

The Digital National ID is an accepted form of the National ID, and acceptance continues to widen across government and financial services. Even so, some counters may still ask for the physical card or a printed ePhilID, so it helps to have access to both. Present your digital ID only to legitimate offices, and resist the urge to post screenshots of it online. Your PhilSys Number is sensitive; treat it the way you would a bank detail and never send it through an unverified channel.

A common worry is what happens if you change phones or reinstall the app. Because the Digital National ID draws from your central PhilSys record rather than living only on one device, you re-access it by signing back into eGovPH and repeating the liveness check. That is reassuring: losing or replacing a handset does not mean losing your ID, and it is another reason the live selfie step exists, since it re-confirms you on each new device.

Finally, remember you need to be online to open the digital ID, so check your connection before a transaction rather than at the counter. This article is general guidance and not legal advice. Features and acceptance evolve, so confirm the current process on philsys.gov.ph.

Gabay is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.