Refinancing your home loan can unlock significant savings — especially if you're currently paying 7% or more when rates as low as 5.99% p.a. are available through Nook. But before you can enjoy lower monthly repayments, you'll need to gather the right paperwork. Philippine banks and lenders have specific document requirements, and submitting an incomplete application is one of the most common reasons for delays or rejections.
This guide walks you through every document you'll likely need — whether you're employed, self-employed, or a business owner — so you can approach refinancing with confidence. Nook's service is 100% free for borrowers, and our team can help you compile and submit your documents to multiple lenders at once, saving you time and stress.
Almost every Philippine bank — including BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Security Bank, and RCBC — will require the following core documents regardless of your employment type:
- Duly accomplished loan application form (provided by the lender)
- Two valid government-issued IDs (with photo and signature)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable, issued by PSA)
- Birth certificate (sometimes required for age verification)
- Proof of billing address (utility bill or bank statement not older than 3 months)
- Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) — BIR Form 2316 or Form 1701
- Proof of income (payslips, bank statements, or audited financial statements)
- Property documents (title, tax declaration, and appraisal)
Think of these as your foundation. Additional documents will be required depending on your employment status and the specific lender you're applying with.
If you're a salaried employee — whether working locally or overseas — banks will want to verify your income stability. Here's what you'll typically need:
- Certificate of Employment (COE) — dated within the last 3 months, stating your position, employment status, and monthly salary
- Latest 1–3 months' payslips
- BIR Form 2316 (Certificate of Compensation Payment/Tax Withheld) — your employer files this on your behalf
- Latest ITR (BIR Form 1700 or 1701) — stamped received by the BIR
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months showing salary credits
For OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers), additional documents are often required, such as your POEA-verified employment contract, proof of remittances, and sometimes an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
Tip: Banks look for consistent salary credits in your bank statements. Make sure your payroll account reflects regular deposits matching your declared monthly income.
Self-employed applicants and business owners typically face a slightly more involved document checklist because banks need to assess the health and longevity of your business. Expect to provide:
- DTI Registration (for sole proprietors) or SEC Registration (for corporations or partnerships)
- Business Mayor's Permit / Business License — current year
- Audited Financial Statements (AFS) for the past 2–3 years, signed by a CPA
- BIR Form 1701 (Annual ITR) for the past 2 years, stamped received by the BIR
- Latest 6 months' bank statements (personal and/or business)
- Articles of Incorporation or Partnership (if applicable)
- List of trade references or major clients (some banks may request this)
Banks generally want to see that your business has been operating for at least 2 years. If your financials show healthy revenue and consistent income, you'll have a strong application even without a fixed payslip.
Since your home is the collateral for the refinanced loan, the bank will conduct a thorough review of the property. These are the property documents you'll need to prepare:
- Original Owner's Duplicate Certificate of Title (TCT or CCT) — Transfer Certificate of Title for house and lot, Condominium Certificate of Title for condo units
- Latest Real Property Tax (RPT) Receipt — also called amilyar, should be fully paid and current
- Tax Declaration — for both land and improvements (building/house), obtained from your local Assessor's Office
- Lot Plan / Location Map / Vicinity Map — sometimes required for house and lot properties
- Building plans or floor plans (if available)
- Deed of Absolute Sale or Deed of Assignment (if the property was recently transferred to you)
The bank will also arrange a property appraisal at your expense. This appraisal determines the current market value of your home, which in turn affects how much the bank is willing to lend. Most banks lend up to 70–80% of the appraised value. If you're refinancing a condo in BGC or a similar high-value area, see our complete guide to refinancing a condo loan in BGC for property-specific tips.
Yes. The new lender needs to understand the current state of your loan before approving the refinance. You'll typically need to provide:
- Latest Statement of Account (SOA) from your current bank — showing your outstanding balance, interest rate, and monthly amortization
- Loan redemption value / payoff quote — a formal document from your current lender stating the exact amount needed to fully settle your loan
- Mortgage Release or Cancellation of Mortgage — proof that the existing mortgage can be transferred (this is usually coordinated between the two banks)
- Amortization schedule (if available)
- Payment history or passbook — some banks may ask for evidence that you've been paying on time
A clean payment history — with no missed or late payments — significantly strengthens your refinancing application. If your loan is with Pag-IBIG and you're considering moving to a private bank, the process has some unique steps; read our guide on Pag-IBIG home loan refinancing to private banks for more detail.
Philippine banks generally require two valid government-issued IDs. The following are widely accepted:
- Philippine Passport
- Driver's License (LTO)
- SSS / GSIS ID (or the new Unified Multi-Purpose ID)
- PhilHealth ID
- Voter's ID or Voter's Certification
- PRC License (for licensed professionals)
- TIN Card (usually accepted as a secondary ID only)
- Postal ID (new format)
- National ID (PhilSys)
- UMID Card
Ideally, bring one primary photo-bearing ID (such as a passport or driver's license) and one supporting ID. All IDs must be valid (not expired) and clearly show your full name, signature, and photo. Photocopies must be clear and may need to be certified as true copies depending on the bank's requirements.
Yes — refinancing through Pag-IBIG (HDMF) has some unique requirements compared to private banks. In addition to standard personal and income documents, Pag-IBIG typically requires:
- Updated Pag-IBIG Membership ID (MID) number — you must be an active member with at least 24 monthly contributions
- Pag-IBIG Member's Data Form (MDF)
- Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Application Form
- Proof of Pag-IBIG contributions (contribution history printout)
- Original Transfer Certificate of Title or CCT in the borrower's name
- Current Statement of Account from the existing lender
- Signed Authorization Letter to release information from current lender
The process of moving a loan from Pag-IBIG to a private bank — or vice versa — involves additional coordination steps. Nook handles this entire process on your behalf at no cost. You can also read more in our dedicated guide on Pag-IBIG home loan refinancing to private banks.
For most borrowers, gathering all the required documents takes anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks. Here's a rough breakdown of what can take the most time:
- PSA documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate) — 3–10 business days if ordered online via PSA Serbilis, or same-day at select PSA outlets
- BIR-stamped ITR — if you need a fresh certified copy, allow 3–5 business days at your RDO
- Certificate of Employment — usually 3–5 business days depending on your HR department
- Tax Declaration update from the Assessor's Office — 1–5 business days depending on the municipality
- Loan redemption quote from your existing bank — typically 3–7 business days after written request
- Property appraisal — usually arranged by the new lender and takes 5–10 business days
Tip: Start gathering documents in parallel, not sequentially. Request your COE and PSA documents at the same time. Nook provides borrowers with a personalised document checklist and timeline to help keep things moving efficiently.
It depends on which documents are missing and the lender's specific policies. Here's a general guide:
- Expired IDs: Banks will typically not accept expired IDs. Renew them before applying.
- Missing ITR: If you're a first-time filer or your employer handles your taxes without giving you a copy, you can request a certified copy from your BIR Revenue District Office (RDO). Some banks accept a BIR Form 2316 in lieu of an ITR for purely compensation earners.
- Old Tax Declaration: If your Tax Declaration is outdated, you'll need to update it at your local Assessor's Office. This is often required as part of the appraisal process anyway.
- Incomplete property documents: Missing building plans or old lot plans can sometimes be sourced from the subdivision developer or the Registry of Deeds.
- Credit issues: If your concern is about your credit history rather than documents, see our guide on how to refinance a home loan with bad credit in the Philippines.
Nook works with multiple lenders and can advise which banks are more flexible on certain requirements, helping you find the best fit for your situation even if your paperwork is less than perfect.
Nook is the Philippines' first digital mortgage broker, and part of what we do is take the document headache off your plate — completely free of charge to you as the borrower. Here's how we help:
- Personalised document checklist: Based on your employment type, property, and current lender, we generate a specific list of what you need — no guesswork.
- Document review: Our team reviews your documents before submission to catch any issues early, reducing the risk of rejection or delay.
- Multi-bank submission: Instead of applying to one bank at a time and resubmitting documents each time, Nook submits your application to multiple lenders simultaneously using a single document set.
- Bank liaison: We handle follow-ups and communication with lenders so you don't have to chase anyone for updates.
- Rate comparison: We present offers from BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Security Bank, RCBC, UnionBank, Chinabank, and more — so you can compare apples to apples and choose the best rate, currently as low as 5.99% p.a.
Getting started is simple. Fill in a short form on Nook's website, and a mortgage specialist will reach out to guide you through the entire process — from document preparation to loan disbursement.