If you just received your NBI clearance and saw the bold-printed phrase “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND”, that is the good news. This page explains exactly what the phrase means, why NBI uses that specific wording, what other clean-result phrasings you might see, and how Canadian immigration and employers interpret it.
On this page
- What “no derogatory record” means
- Why NBI uses this specific phrasing
- Other clean-result phrases you may see
- Ano ang ibig sabihin ng “no derogatory record”? (Tagalog)
- What if my clearance does NOT say “no derogatory record”?
- How Canadian immigration interprets a clean clearance
- How long does a clean result stay valid?
- Frequently asked questions
What “no derogatory record” means on an NBI clearance
“NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” is the result the National Bureau of Investigation prints on a clean NBI clearance. It is the language NBI uses to say three specific things at once:
- Your name and personal details were searched against NBI’s central criminal-records database
- The search returned no criminal cases, no pending cases, and no adverse intelligence files linked to you
- The search also returned no “namesake” matches that required adjudication — i.e., no HIT was triggered during this application
In plain language: NBI looked for any reason to flag you, and found none. The phrase is printed in bold on the front of the clearance card, alongside your photo, name, birthdate, and the purpose of the application. It is the result the vast majority of applicants receive.
Bottom line: If your clearance says “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND,” it is a clean result. You can submit it to IRCC, an employer, or any Philippine institution that asked for it. No further adjudication is needed.
Why NBI uses this specific phrasing
The choice of words is deliberate. “Derogatory” is broader than “criminal.” A derogatory record at NBI includes:
- Active criminal cases (filed in court)
- Dismissed criminal cases (resolved but still on file)
- Cases under preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice or prosecutors
- Administrative or civil cases flagged to NBI by other agencies
- Adverse intelligence files (NBI investigative records that may not have led to a criminal charge)
By saying “no derogatory record” rather than “no criminal record,” NBI is certifying that none of the above types of record were found — a stronger statement than just “no convictions.” This is part of why the NBI clearance is accepted as a national-level background check by foreign governments and employers.
Other clean-result phrases you may see
NBI sometimes prints a slightly different phrase on a clean clearance, depending on the application type and the year it was issued. All of the following are clean results:
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” | Standard clean result on modern NBI clearance cards. |
| “No Record on File” | Sometimes printed on renewals — same meaning, just different wording. Equally clean. |
| “With No Derogatory Information” | Older phrasing used on pre-card clearance certificates. Equally clean. |
If your clearance shows any of these three phrases, you have a clean result. The exact wording does not change how foreign agencies interpret it — IRCC, USCIS, and Canadian employers treat all three as the equivalent of “no criminal record.”
Ano ang ibig sabihin ng “no derogatory record”? (Tagalog)
Ang “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” ay ang resulta na inilalagay ng NBI sa malinis mong clearance. Ibig sabihin, hinanap ng NBI ang pangalan mo sa kanilang database — pero walang nakitang masamang record. Wala kang nakaambang krimeng kaso. Wala kang dismissed na kaso na natitira sa file. At walang naka-flag na “namesake” na pumapasok sa proseso.
Sa madaling salita: malinis ang record mo. Pwede mo nang i-submit ang clearance sa employer, sa Philippine Consulate, sa IRCC (kung nag-aapply ka ng Canadian PR o citizenship), o sa kung sinumang humihingi nito. Hindi mo na kailangang dumaan sa karagdagang proseso.
Kung iba ang nakita mo sa clearance mo — halimbawa, may “HIT” o may “WITH RECORD” — ibig sabihin may nakitang flag ang sistema ng NBI. Hindi pa rin ito automatic na “kasong kriminal” — kadalasan ay namesake HIT lang (kapareho mo ng pangalan ang isang tao sa database). Pero may dagdag na proseso bago ma-release ang malinis na clearance.
What if my clearance does NOT say “no derogatory record”?
If the result section shows something other than a clean phrase — typically “HIT” or “WITH RECORD” — your application has been flagged for adjudication. This does not automatically mean you have a criminal record. The most common cause is a namesake match (another person with a similar name has a record on file), which is resolved through an Affidavit of Denial process.
For the full HIT resolution workflow — namesake vs. derogatory record, the steps, and what to do from Canada — see our NBI HIT guide.
How Canadian immigration interprets a clean NBI clearance
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) treats an NBI clearance with “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” as the Philippine equivalent of an RCMP certified criminal-record check returning a clean result. It satisfies the police-certificate requirement for applicants who lived in the Philippines for six months or more since age 18.
Two practical notes for IRCC submissions:
- Submit the original clearance, not just a photocopy. IRCC accepts certified scans uploaded to your online application, but the certified original (or a notarized copy) should be available if requested.
- Freshness rule applies. The clearance must be dated no more than six months before you submit your IRCC application, per IRCC’s standard police-certificate requirement. See our validity and expiration guide for the full breakdown.
How long does a clean result stay valid?
The “no derogatory record” result is tied to the specific NBI clearance certificate it appears on. NBI prints a one-year validity on each clearance. After that, the document itself is considered expired — regardless of how clean the result was — and a new clearance must be issued.
Foreign agencies often apply their own shorter “freshness” rules. IRCC requires the police certificate for your country of current residence to be issued within six months of application submission. Employers in regulated sectors typically want a certificate issued within three to six months. See NBI clearance validity and expiration for the full table.
Frequently asked questions
What does “no derogatory record” mean on an NBI clearance?
It means NBI’s search of its central criminal-records database returned no criminal cases, no pending cases, no adverse intelligence files, and no namesake matches linked to the applicant. It is the standard clean result printed on a successfully issued NBI clearance.
Is “no derogatory record” the same as “no criminal record”?
Functionally yes, but “no derogatory record” is broader. It covers convictions plus pending cases, dismissed cases on file, and adverse intelligence records — anything NBI maintains in its central database. For practical purposes (employers, immigration officers, embassies), a clearance with “no derogatory record” is treated as a clean criminal-record certificate.
Why does my NBI clearance say “No Record on File” instead of “no derogatory record”?
Both phrases mean the same thing: a clean result. “No Record on File” sometimes appears on renewals, while “NO DEROGATORY RECORD FOUND” is the standard wording on most modern clearance cards. Foreign agencies and Philippine institutions treat both as equivalent.
Ano ang ibig sabihin ng “no derogatory record” sa NBI clearance?
Ang ibig sabihin ay malinis ang record mo sa database ng NBI. Walang nakitang krimeng kaso, walang pending na kaso, at walang namesake na nag-trigger ng HIT. Pwede mong i-submit ang clearance sa employer, IRCC, embassy, o sino mang humihingi nito.
If my clearance is clean, do I still need to disclose anything?
That depends on the question being asked. A clean NBI clearance is evidence of no Philippine criminal record. It does not cover records in other countries, expunged or sealed records under foreign legal regimes, or non-criminal matters (administrative findings, civil judgments) — those need to be answered honestly on whatever form is asking. If you are completing an IRCC application, answer their specific questions truthfully even if your NBI clearance is clean.
Is “no derogatory record” enough for a Canadian PR application?
For the Philippine police-certificate component of an IRCC application, yes — a clean NBI clearance with “no derogatory record” satisfies the requirement. You still need separate police certificates for any other country where you lived for six consecutive months or longer since age 18, including the RCMP check for Canada if you have lived here that long.
My NBI clearance says “HIT” — what does that mean?
A HIT is the opposite of “no derogatory record.” It means NBI’s database found a match between your name (and certain personal details) and an existing record — most often a namesake match, less often a record linked to the applicant. A HIT is a flag for further review, not a verdict. See our NBI HIT guide for the resolution workflow.
Need an NBI clearance for Canada?
NBI Renewal Canada processes NBI clearances for Filipinos in Canada and the United States — renewals from $99 + HST, first-time applications from $149 + HST. We handle the Manila side end-to-end and courier the printed clearance (clean or HIT-resolved) to your address.