Here's how to get your PSA e-certificates online
You can now access your Philippine Statistics Authority certificates digitally!
The agency officially rolled out its PSA E-Certificate Service on Wednesday, Feb. 25, making civil registry documents more accessible.
The e-certificate, as explained through an introductory video, is a "fully digital, cryptographically secured and legally recognized version" of PSA documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) and Certificate of No Death (CENODEATH). It also possesses the same legal authority as the PSA-issued paper document.
National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the goal of the e-certificate is to deliver "secure, verifiable digital records, [providing] a solution that reduces paperwork, and minimizes document loss and tampering."
"We aim that PSA e-certificate service to redefine how civil registry documents are accessed, verified, and utilized, benefitting our citizens, our institutions, and the broader economy alike," he added.
Mapa said the e-certificate has features that enhance usability, convenience, and security. Among them is a cryptographic safeguard preventing forgery and tampering, a QR code that prevents fraud and ensures faster verification.
The digital format also eliminates delivery costs and manual scanning of the document, offers a high-resolution image quality, and minimizes waste, making it an eco-friendly alternative to the paper document.
Purpose of the e-certificate
The e-certificate's purpose is mainly faster submission of documents for institutions and accessibility for the public.
Institutions that are expected to benefit from this system are human resources offices, schools, government agencies, banks and insurance companies, to name a few. Among the early beneficiaries of the e-certificate system are the Armed Forces of the Philippines Pension and Gratuity Management Center and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
How to apply
Under the e-certificate system, applicants can easily request a digital copy of their PSA-issued documents through PSAHelpline.ph.
As demonstrated by PSA's IT partner Pilipinas Teleserv during the launch, one has to fill in the necessary details for their chosen certificate.
After clicking 'Submit,' you can choose among available payment options, which include digital wallets like GCash and Maya, and a QR code. As of writing, birth, marriage, and death certificates cost P290, while CENOMAR and CENODEATH are at P345 each.
The next step is to undergo verification. Choose a valid ID, and a camera option will open for you to take a self-portrait, also known as a liveness check. The system will then match your ID image with your real-time photo. Once authenticated, the PSA will process your request and will send you an email within the day for the actual copy of your e-certificate.
How to verify
To verify the validity of a PSA-issued e-certificate, visit the verification portal.
Then, enter the reference number and authorization code in the space provided to confirm its authenticity. The number and code can be found on the cover page of the E-Certificate.
Another way is by scanning the QR code located at the lower-right corner of the document.
