Philippine IDs How to Get a PWD ID: Requirements, Certificate of Disability and Benefits
Updated October 29, 2026 · 8 min read
Only from your LGU
A genuine PWD ID is issued by your city or municipality and recorded in the national registry. IDs bought online or from fixers are fake, and using one to claim discounts is penalized under RA 10754.
Report sellers of fake PWD IDs to NCDA at council@ncda.gov.ph. Source: NCDA Administrative Order No. 001, s. 2021.
- Fee
- Freefirst issuance
- Where
- PDAO or C/MSWDOof your city or municipality
- Validity
- 5 yearsrenew from 1 month before
- Main benefit
- 20% off + no VATon covered goods and services
The PWD ID is the standard national ID for persons with disabilities in the Philippines. It proves your entitlement to the 20% discount, VAT exemption and other privileges under the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, as amended by RA 9442 and RA 10754.
Who qualifies
Filipinos with a permanent disability in any of these categories, under NCDA rules:
- Deaf or hard of hearing; speech and language impairment
- Visual disability
- Orthopedic or physical disability
- Intellectual, learning, mental or psychosocial disability
- Cancer and rare diseases
Requirements
- Application form (PWDID-AF), from your PDAO or social welfare office, DOH or NCDA.
- Two recent 1×1 photos, with your name and signature or thumb mark on the back.
- One valid government ID. Minors may use a school ID, or a copy of the birth certificate if they have no ID.
- Proof of residence: voter’s ID or certification, barangay certificate, or a utility bill showing your exact name and address.
- Certificate of disability, when required (see below).
- For a guardian or representative: proof of guardianship, or a notarized authorization letter.
When you need a certificate of disability
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| Type of disability | Certificate |
|---|---|
| Apparent (e.g. totally blind, missing limb, visible limp) | No physician certificate needed. The issuing officer assesses you and issues it; the health office confirms if there is doubt. |
| Non-apparent (e.g. psychosocial, learning, intellectual, hearing) | Certificate from a specialist or appropriate physician at a city, municipal or regional health office, or a recognized private medical institution. |
| Cancer or rare disease | Medical certificate or certificate of disability from an oncologist, surgeon or physician with the relevant expertise. |
How to apply
- Get the form and the certificate
Pick up the PWDID-AF and, if your disability is not apparent, see the appropriate physician for the certificate of disability.
- Submit to your PDAO
Bring everything to the Persons with Disability Affairs Office, or the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office if your LGU has no PDAO.
- Assessment and encoding
The office verifies your documents and encodes you in the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities (PRPWD), which assigns your PWD ID number. If you cannot travel because of your disability, ask whether a representative can file for you and how the office will assess you.
- Claim the ID
The card is signed by the mayor. Check the details before you leave. Processing time varies by LGU, from the same day to a few weeks.
Renewal and replacement
- Renew from one month before the expiry date, or after it expires. Submit the PWDID-AF with the renewal box checked and your old card, or two photos if you no longer have it.
- Lost card: add an affidavit of loss. A minimal replacement fee may apply.
- Not in the registry? If your old ID was never encoded in the PRPWD, you are processed as a new applicant.
What the PWD ID gets you
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| Benefit | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 20% discount and VAT exemption | Medicines, medical and dental services, transport fares, hotels and restaurants, recreation and admission fees, and other services covered by RA 10754 |
| 5% on basic necessities | Groceries and prime commodities on purchases of up to ₱2,500 a week (up to ₱125 off), since March 2024 |
| Priority service | Express lanes and courtesy lanes, including DFA passport applications |
| Other privileges | Educational assistance and other programs; ask your PDAO about local benefits |
Example: A child with a learning disability
Let’s say your 10-year-old has a diagnosed learning disability. Because it is not apparent, get a certificate from the appropriate specialist or a government health office first. Then bring it, the child’s school ID, two photos, your barangay certificate and proof that you are the parent to your PDAO. The card is free and valid for five years.
See also: Senior Citizen ID, Solo Parent ID, and the full list of valid IDs.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a PWD ID?
The first card is free under NCDA Administrative Order 001-2021. Replacing a lost or damaged card may carry a minimal fee set by your LGU.
Do I need a doctor’s certificate?
Only for a non-apparent disability, such as psychosocial, learning or intellectual disability, cancer or a rare disease. For an apparent disability, such as blindness or a missing limb, the issuing officer can assess you and issue the certificate.
How long is the PWD ID valid?
Five years. You can renew from one month before it expires, or after it expires, using the same application form with the renewal box checked.
Who issues the PWD ID: DSWD or NCDA?
Neither, directly. Your city or municipality issues it through its Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) or social welfare office, signed by the mayor. NCDA sets the rules and DOH keeps the national registry.
How do I check if a PWD ID is genuine?
Search the holder’s name in the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities at pwd.doh.gov.ph, or ask the PDAO that issued it.
Can I use the PWD ID as a valid ID?
For many transactions. BSP lists IDs from the National Council on Disability Affairs among valid IDs for financial transactions, but DFA does not list the PWD ID for passports. PWDs may use the DFA courtesy lane.
Official sources and further reading
These are the NCDA rules and reports checked for this guide. Your LGU may add its own procedures.
- NCDA Administrative Order No. 001, s. 2021: Issuance of PWD ID cards
- DSWD: Verifying PWD IDs and reporting fake ones
- Quezon City PDAO Citizen’s Charter (2025), an example of an LGU process
- Philippine News Agency: Higher senior and PWD discount on basic goods (March 2024)
- DFA: Courtesy lane for PWDs
Independent guide: PhilippineIDs.com is not affiliated with NCDA, DSWD or any Philippine government agency. Information reviewed on October 29, 2026.
