The police clearance certificate is a necessary document for Philippine citizens, it is used for various personal and professional purposes such as job applications, government ID cards, bank transactions, travel, and visa applications.
Table of Contents
Toggle
The process is smooth and seamless, and with the availability of online services in 2025, it will become easier to get this certificate but yet people face few challenges to get it.
In this detailed article, we will explore what this National police clearance is all about, its registration process, its requirements, and how to get it seamlessly.
This guide would highlight the whole process to avoid any problems you are facing in getting the National Police Clearance.
A National Police Clearance is a certificate document issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to verify the individual’s criminal record on a national level.
It primarily verifies that you have no criminal record based on the database of Police National clearance. It provides a comprehensive record check to ensure that an individual has not commess faster, smoother, and hassle-free.
Regardless of the online proceeds of any offense in any corner of the country.
This document is equally important in providing proof of good conduct wherever it is required. The good thing is that the Philippines government offers an online system to process the NPC application, making physical appearance at the police station is still required to capture the biometric data.
In ancient days, the process of Police Clearance certificate application was done by walk-ins only. With the advancement of technology, the application can be done via the official website of Philippines police clearance.
Applying for a certificate online is now more convenient and stress-free, through this you just need to visit once to the nearest police station for fingerprint and photo capturing after submitting the application. This will take just 10-15 mins and save the hassle of waiting in long lines.
You may need police clearance document for;
The process to apply for a National Police Clearance certificate is now more convenient and hassle-free. Follow the below step-by-step guide to apply for it in 2025:
Visit the official website of National Police Clearance to access the portal for National Clearance Certificate.
New users need to create an account on the official website of the National Police Clearance, Click on “Register” and create an account by providing your personal information, email address, and a secure password. Once done, you will receive an email confirmation to activate your account.
Once you’re logged in, complete your profile details to ensure that you have provided all the correct information to process your application.
Select your preferred date, time, and police station to schedule an appointment.
Click on “Application of clearance” and select the police station where you want to appear for your clearance process.
After you have scheduled your appointment, go to the Payment options to pay the processing fee through various payment channels. Upon the successful transfer of payment, a reference number will be generated.
On your appointment day, go to the chosen police station with your valid government ID, reference number, and payment receipt. Your fingerprint along with biometric information will be collected with the signature verification.
To access the NPCS, visit the NPCS website to log in, and enter the email address and password you used at the time of registration. Once you are logged in into your account, you can start your application.
When you have signed in you see the details of your account on the portal below is an ‘EDIT Profile’ button, click the button if you want to change any information and click ‘’save’’ after making all necessary changes.
When you are signed in to your account, other details will be displayed on your screen. You can edit your profile and make necessary changes if required. Make sure to save the information you have provided.
There are mainly four kinds of police clearance issued by the Philippine National Police(PNP).
This clearance confirms that an individual has no criminal or offense records nationwide based on PNP. This clearance is required for the following purposes:
This clearance is issued by the local government unit and only covers the criminal records of an individual in a specific regional area. This clearance certifies that an individual does not have any offense or negative records in a specific local unit. It is generally faster and easier to obtain as compared to NPC. It is sufficient for opening a local bank account or applying for a barangay clearance.
It is the document issued by the local government of a barangay, indicating a clear criminal record of individuals within that area (A Barangay is a smallest administrative division of philippines).It used for local transactions or job applications, but is not accepted at national level.
This is a document issued by National Police Clearance of Investigation that declares that the applicant has no criminal record or negative activity in the country when applying. In order to check background many government offices and travel agencies need this for job applicants, travelling and many more.
Note: All clearances are valid for six months only from the date of issuance.
In Order To book an appointment online for your Clearance certificate, follow the steps;
After you have done your registration in your account and booked your appointment, you will be redirected to pay the processing fee. Click on the button “Pay”. On this page you will see your reference number in red color, save it for later, you may need it when visiting the police station for your fingerprint and photo. Below are the available payment methods on the NPCS website.
Make sure you have submitted the fees before two working days of banks of the booked appointment date, if you fail in a transaction you can pay by cash through 7-Eleven. If your transaction is somehow not cleared, your appointment will be canceled and you will need to book a new one through the portal again.
If you have completed payment successfully, save and print the receipt.
To apply for National Police Clearance, you need the below documents
There are no specific qualifications required to obtain the NPC in the Philippines. If you need a clearance certificate for any legitimate purpose, you can apply for it.
The below individuals can apply for this clearance
Those residents who require clearance for background checks, travel visas, work permits, and licenses, can apply for it
Foreigners who are residing in the Philippines, and need the clearance certificate for work permits and visa renewals, can apply for it.
Students usually need PNP clearance for exchange programs, scholarships, school trips, and special programs.
Some applicants like jobians, immigrants or business owners may need this for license or permits.
You need to provide fingerprint and photo capture electronically at the police station, where you need below documents to submit
Once all the procedures are completed, the police will process your application. You will receive your Police Clearance Certificate within a few days.
But there are two conditions as below
If your record is clean you will get your document just after biometric verification in your meeting.
If your record has any kind of ‘’HIT’’ it will need further documentation and may need more time to process.
The clearance fee for processing the Clearance is normally ₱150, but there can be additional charges depending on the selected payment methods.
In addition to the base fee, certain payment channels, such as convenience stores or internet portals, may impose a service fee. This can vary between ₱10 and ₱30.
The processing time for NPC is relatively quick but it depends upon two factors as discussed below
If you have applied through an online application via the NPCS website, it takes around 10 minutes, and afterward you have to appear at the chosen police station for your biometric and other procedures.
If you are applying via walk-in in your preferred police station, it would take around 30 minutes to 01 hour.
Below are the key features of the National Police Clearance in the Philippines,
The clearance verifies the criminal record of an individual across all Philippine law enforcement authorities
It is issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and used for various purposes.
The clearance usually has a 3-month to 1-year validity period depending on the requesting entity.
It exposes any criminal records and cases, an individual might be carrying against him/ her,
You have access to the online portal or you can apply through a designated police station.
The application for clearance takes some hours to process, and sometimes it might take several days to get the clearance, but it is quick and convenient.
Normally the base fee for the PNP is ₱150 but some third party members charge ₱10 – ₱30 for their services.
All the fields where criminal background is needed to be checked, PNP is required for verification of the applicant. It is commonly required for gun license, job applications, Visa/ Passport, big transactions or maybe for bank account opening etc.
Follow the below steps to apply for NPC online
To apply for NPC you need following documents;
To apply for PNP you must have any of two IDs mentioned below;
In order to get your NPC renewed, as it get expired in six months you need to follow the steps;
Go to the website and login to your account.
Set a new appointment for you as mentioned above.
Pay the renewal fee of NPC, the same as for new application by previous methods
Visit the nearest police station to attend the meeting.
You need to provide your biometrics again to ensure your clean record.
Get your renewed document, as you have an up-to-date certificate to show your record.
Local Police Clearance covers only your criminal and negative records within the jurisdiction of the police station. It involves visiting the nearest police station. Follow the below step by step guide to get (LPC)
The police clearance certificate is a necessary document for Philippine citizens, it is used for various personal and professional purposes such as job applications, government ID cards, bank transactions, travel, and visa applications.
The process is smooth and seamless, and with the availability of online services in 2025, it will become easier to get this certificate but yet people face few challenges to get it.
In this detailed article, we will explore what this National police clearance is all about, its registration process, its requirements, and how to get it seamlessly.
This guide would highlight the whole process to avoid any problems you are facing in getting the National Police Clearance.
All clearances are valid for SIX months only.
Clearance type | Scope of Coverage | Uses |
---|---|---|
National Police Clearance (NPC) | Provides a nationwide check of your criminal and offense records based on the Philippine National Police (PNP) database. | required for more official purposes such as job applications outside your area, government-issued ID applications (e.g., passport), NBI clearance requests, firearm registration, or bank transactions nationwide. |
Local Police Clearance (LPC) | Covers only your criminal and negative records within the jurisdiction of the police station | used for local purposes like applying for a barangay clearance, opening a local bank account, or employment within the same area. |
Barangay Clearance (BC) | Declare the criminal records and negative activities within Barangy state. | Used for local jobs, permits or big transactions. |
National Beuro Investigation (NBI) | Conducts a comprehensive nationwide background check using data from various law enforcement agencies, including the PNP and other national databases. | It is often required for employment, travel, and official government transactions. |
The hotline for the Philippine national police is 911.
You can contact the Philippine National Police Clearance System [NPCS] online if you have any questions or issues about the application procedure for a national police clearance. For technical support, they might also offer a separate help area.
For Filipino citizens, the police clearance certificate is a required document that can be used for several personal and professional activities, including applying for jobs, applying for government ID cards, using banks, applying for trips, and applying for visas.
Even if online services are available to obtain this degree in 2025, the process is still easy, although there are a few obstacles that people must overcome. The procedures mentioned above will help you effectively obtain your clearance for 2025. The NPC guarantees a comprehensive check of your national criminal record, whether you require it for work, travel, or legal reasons. The procedure is now more accessible to all parties, it is now more convenient for online registration and payment options.
This clearance confirms that an individual has no criminal or offense records nationwide based on PNP. On the other hand, Local Police Clearance (LPC) exclusively looks into criminal histories inside the borders of a certain city.
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast
Yes, you can apply for the National Police Clearance online through the National Police Clearance System (NPCS).
Those who are living abroad can get their police clearance from the NBI by contacting the Philippine embassy/consulate near you. Prepare the application form, ID photocopy, passport photo, fingerprint card (from the embassy), fee, and purpose letter. Submit documents and fees.
Not all jobs in the Philippines require NPC, but many employers, especially in the government, and financial institutions require a National Police Clearance as part of their hiring process.
Walk-in for local clearance might be possible, check your station first.
National clearance requires an online appointment.
Below are the available payment methods on the NPCS website.
No, the National Police Clearance cannot be renewed online. You have to undergo the process again for the renewal.
Yes, you can reschedule or cancel your NPC clearance’s appointment through the online portal or by contacting the relevant authority.