Your DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration

What the certificate does and does not do

DTI says a business name registration merely gives the business a legal identity. To operate, you need a business or mayor's permit. The registration is valid for five years from the date of registration.^[1]

Expect to show the certificate when you apply for your barangay clearance, your mayor's permit and your BIR registration, so print copies early.

DTI's BMBE system lists the Certificate of Business Name Registration as a requirement for a BMBE Certificate of Authority.^[3]

How you receive it

After you pay, BNRS sends the official receipt and the CBNR to the email address you used in your registration. DTI notes they may land in your inbox or in the junk or spam folder. If you did not get an email with a verification code, check spam first; if it is not there, you may not have given an active email address, and you can write to bnrshelpdesk@dtiphmail.dti.gov.ph for help.^[1,2]

Lost your copy? Download it again

These are the steps in DTI's Registration Guide and FAQ. Since the certificate is a digital file, a lost printout is usually fixed by downloading and printing it again, as long as you still have the Reference Code and access to that email.^[1,2]

If you lost the Reference Code, search your email for the BNRS messages first. Keep the code, the PDF and the receipt together in one folder from now on.

1. Open Transaction InquiryOn bnrs.dti.gov.ph go to Transaction Inquiry under Business Name Services and agree to the terms.
2. Enter your Reference CodeBNRS sends a verification code to the email address in your registration.
3. Open the Transaction SummaryUse the verification code to get in.
4. DownloadYour certificate is under Downloadable Contents.

Getting a certified true copy

Some offices or banks may ask for a certified true copy. DTI issues this at selected DTI offices. You submit the Other BN-Related Application Form (Annex D), present a valid ID from DTI's list (Annex A) and pay the fee in DTI's fee schedule (Annex E). Call your DTI regional or provincial office first to ask which DTI office or Negosyo Center near you offers the service.^[1]

Separate from that, BNRS has an online Request Certification service for certifications related to a registered name. You fill in your details, search by business name or owner, pay within seven calendar days, and the certification is emailed to you.^[2]

Fixing a mistake on the certificate

Only typographical errors made in a new registration can be corrected by email: send your name, business name, the correction and a government ID to the BNRS help desk. Changes to your residence address, business address, or your name and civil status, for example after marriage, are made at a selected DTI office.^[1]

The certificate cannot be transferred to a new owner. DTI requires the old registration to be cancelled and a new one filed under the new owner.^[1]

Questions people ask

Do I have to display the DTI certificate in my store?

The BNRS FAQ does not set a display rule for the certificate. Your city may require permits to be posted, so ask your BPLO which documents must be on display.

Is the DTI certificate the same as a business permit?

No. DTI says the registration only gives the business a legal identity. You need a business or mayor's permit to operate.

How long is the certificate valid?

Five years from the date of registration. Renewal opens 180 days before it expires.

Can I get a new certificate with a different scope?

Yes. A scope change is treated as a new application, with a new certificate and a new validity period, and is done at a selected DTI office or at renewal.