Have you been employed offer after recently graduating from the university? Are you getting a new job after resigning from the previous one? If yes, the employers might require you to show a police clearance. Then, here comes the question. What is police clearance? Am I eligible for it? How to get police clearance? What should I prepare for the police clearance application? How much is police clearance? In this passage, we will find the answers and explore other concerning issues.
What Is Police Clearance?
In the Philippines, an individual’s history from different towns and cities is merged and can be tracked through the National Police Clearance System (NPCS) introduced by the Philippine National Police (PNP). The police clearance is official proof of no criminal or derogatory records based on this database. It is usually required in job applications, government-issued ID applications, NBI clearance requests, firearm registration, or bank transactions. The clearance is usually valid for 6 months, after which you have to re-apply for a new one.
Who Can Apply for Police Clearance?
Anyone who lives in the Philippines is eligible to get the document despite his/her nationality, but they must:
- Have resided in the country for at least 12 months.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Need the clearance in the next 6 months.
- Have valid certified identity documents.
Police Clearance Requirements 2024
Individuals must satisfy the following requirements for police clearance online registration and application.
- A Completed Police Clearance Application Form
It is available on the PNP’s official portal or at a local police station.
- Identity Verification
Applicants must present at least two valid and authentic identifications that show their complete name, signature, and photograph. Here is a list of acceptable IDs. If none of them are available, you can present Barangay Residency Certification.
- Postal ID
- Passport
- Voter’s ID
- Driver’s License
- SSS ID/SSS UMID
- GSIS UMID
- PhilHealth ID
- TIN ID
- PRC ID
- PWD ID
- Senior citizen ID
- AFP ID
- BFP ID
- School ID with the registration form
- IBP ID
- PCG ID
- BJMP ID
- Marina ID
- PAG-IBIG ID
- OFW ID
- Alien Certificate of Registration
- Birth certificate
- PNP ID
- LTOPF ID
- Philippine Identification (Phil ID or national ID)
- PRC license
- Proof of payment or Payment Confirmation;
The police clearance fee should be paid online. After that, you will keep a payment receipt and present it on the day of the appointment.
- In-person Attendance
The applicant must appear in person at the police station after booking a police clearance online appointment to submit biometrics and a photograph.
How to Apply for a Local Police Clearance?
The Local Police Clearance (LPC) focuses on investing your criminal history in your municipality which is available in any police station. Police clearance requirements for walk-in requests are the same as online applications. Here is what you should do.
👉 Step 1: Prepare documents
Besides the police clearance requirements stated before, you should also have two pieces of two 2×2 head-and-shoulder photos that comply with official guidelines, an original and photocopy of barangay clearance, and an original community tax certificate (CTC).
👀 If you need to make 2×2 pictures online, click here.
👉 Step 2: Visit a local police station
After getting everything ready, go to the local police station during office hours (usually from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm between Monday and Friday). Request a police clearance application form at the inquiry desk and fill it out with a black pen.
👉 Step 3: Submit documents and application form
After completing the form, submit all documents to the officer who will review your application and capture your biometrics as well as your photograph.
👉 Step 4: Pay and collect police clearance
Fulfill payment at the local treasurer’s office. The application might vary from municipality to municipality, which is listed in the How Much Is Police Clearance section. After all these are done, wait for about 30 minutes to an hour to collect the certificate.
How to Apply for a National Police Clearance Online
The National Police Clearance (NPC) conducts a detailed investigation to check whether an applicant has a criminal history around the country. The Philippines National Police (PNP) has launched a convenient system for Filipinos to obtain this document. In this case, an online registration and appointment is required. Here is a step-by-step on police clearance online application.
Register/Login on the National Police Clearance System
Visit the PNP pnp police clearance online. If you already have an account, click on the “LOGIN” button. If not, click “REGISTER” to create an account.
A pop-up window of the Terms and Conditions will display, including the Agreement, Privacy Policy, NPCS account/profile, payment and cancellation of transaction, validity, and certified IDs. You have to check all the boxes to continue.
New applicants must enter email, password, name, qualifier, gender, and date of birth. After registration, please sign in with your email and password.
Set up Profile
You will directed to a “My Profile” page to complete your data. All fields with a red asterisk must be filled, such as civil status, nationality, birthplace, contact address, height, weight, blood type, complexion, religion, occupation, education, etc. If you are a PWD or first-time job seeker, check the relative box. Don’t forget to click the “Save Profile” at the end. Please note that the information will be printed on the police clearance ID. Any missing data or mistakes will invalidate the certificate and you will take the responsibility instead of the PNP.
Make a Police Clearance Appointment
Go back to the Sign-in page and click the “Clearance Application” button to schedule a booking.
Select the purpose (General, LTOPF application, or SOSIA) and a preferred police station from the drop-down list. Available appointments and remaining slots are displayed. Select AM/PM on the desired date in the calendar and you will see the scheduled time. Make sure you will be available at the given period and click on “Next”.
Choose the payment method and the system will display the total application fee. Move on and click on the “Save Appointment” button.
Complete Police Clearance Online Payment
After saving the appointment, click on the “Click here to pay” button and complete payment at the Landbank ePayment Portal. Select a suitable payment method and payment partner. Over-the-counter payment is not available at the police station, so please make sure it is fulfilled at least 2 banking days before attending the appointment, otherwise, your transaction will be canceled.
Collect the National Police Clearance
On the date of the appointment, visit the chosen police station with one valid ID, proof of payment, and the reference number of the police clearance appointment. The officer will take your fingerprints, photograph, and electronic signature. Afterwards, wait for your name to be called for application verification or NPC released. Unlike NBI clearance, even if you got a HIT (most likely resulting from namesakes), it can be solved within minutes as long as no active arrest warrant or crime happens to you. In this case, you can always receive your certificate on the same day of appointment, which takes about 15 minutes to an hour.
How Much Is Police Clearance?
The application fee for this document is PHP 150. However, depending on the payment method you choose, you might have to pay extra service fees. For example, paying through Landbank or Bancnet on the NPCS portal costs a transaction fee of PHP 10. When paying at the 7-Eleven, it costs PHP 30. According to the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, First-time job seekers are exempted from payment as long as they show a Barangay Certificate, but the benefit works only once for each eligible applicant.
How to Pay for Police Clearance
It is allowed to pay the clearance fees online or offline and they feature different service fees. You have to select desired payment methods and payment partners on the LBP ePayment Portal. To fulfill payment, you have to log in to your NPCS Account and go To “Transaction History”.
Continue according to the following instructions.
How To Pay Police Clearance Via Gcash?
- Click on the “Click here to pay” button next to the pending application.
- Note down the reference number consisting of numbers as well as letters and marked in red in the “Details” Column.
- Select “Cash Payment“ and click on “Submit”.
- View the transaction details and payment summary. If there is nothing wrong, check the box to agree to the terms and conditions, and “Submit”.
- Choose Gcash under the “Mobile” section as your preferred payment method.
- Click on “Proceed” and you will be directed to the Gcash e-payment portal.
- Enter Gcash account and fulfill the payment. Keep the transaction details and payment summary. If you haven’t got a GCash account, please register one on the GCash website or GCash app on your mobile phone with your mobile number.
How to Pay Police Clearance via 711?
- Click on the “Click here to pay” button next to the pending application. Please note that the reference number displayed on this page is designed for mobile payment via LandBank and verification at the police station, not for 7-Eleven payment.
- Select “Cash Payment“ and click on “Submit”.
- View the transaction details and payment summary. Check the box to agree to the terms and conditions, and “Submit”.
- Choose 7-Eleven icon under “Over the Counter” section as your preferred payment method.
- Click on “Proceed” and you will see the payment results.
- Note down the reference number and expiry date. Make sure to finish payment before the due date.
- Go to the 7-Eleven convenience store and pay the bills at the CLiQQ kiosk. However, some kiosks do not support police clearance transactions. It is suggested to generate a bar code before visiting. Please continue reading.
- Download the CLiQQ mobile app on your phone and create an account or log in.
- Click on the “Pay bills” section.
- Choose “Government” for billers and then “MYEGPH”.
- Enter Your reference number (the 10 alphanumeric characters after choosing 711 for payment methods), mobile number, and total amount (PHP 180).
- Click “Confirm” and you will see a bar code.
- Go to the nearest 711 store and show the bar code on the CLiQQ app to the clerk to fulfill the payment.
How to Pay Police Clearance via Landbank?
- Click on the “Click here to pay” button next to the pending application.
- Note down the reference number.
- Select “LANDBANK/OF Bank ATM Card“ or “LANDBANK Prepaid Card“ for payment method and click on “Submit”.
- View the transaction details and payment summary. Check the box to agree to the terms and conditions, and “Submit”.
- You will be taken to the LBP ePayment Portal where you can pay with LANDBANK, GCash, or BancNet. The following process is similar to paying via Gcash.
Police Clearance Validity
The clearance is valid for 6 months which is calculated from the date of issuance instead of application. An expired clearance will not be accepted as a valid proof of good standing. Therefore, it must be used within the required time frame. That is why we don’t suggest you apply for it more than 6 months ahead of it is required. PNP offers an online service to verify its authenticity through the QR code on it.
Police Clearance Renewal
A police clearance is not renewable after it expires. As you are allowed to get a new clearance without personal appearance within three years of the last appearance, you can consider the re-application as a renewal. In terms of how to renew police clearance online, please do as follows.
- Update your profile in the NPCS applicant account.
- Upload a 2×2 biometric photo with a white background.
- Upload a selfie holding a valid government-issued ID
Is Police Clearance a Valid ID?
Yes, but it is only honored as a valid ID in some cases, such as applying for government-issued identity documents, NBI clearance, credit card, registering business, registering firearms, or taking a civil service exam. Make sure it must be used within validity.
However, it is not acceptable for a Philippines passport application or renewal and COMELEC voter’s registration.
NBI VS Police Clearance
As the National Police Clearance System (NPCS) was introduced in 2018, more and more people are getting confused about these two proofs of good standing in the Philippines. Although they do have something similar, they are not the same thing. Here is a detailed comparison between these two documents.
| Comparison | NBI Clearance | Police Clearance | |
| Similarities | Investigation scope | Nationwide (except LPC) | |
| Usage | Job application Business registration Visa application Government-issued ID applications Bank transactions | ||
| Requirements | Provide Valid government-issued ID Attend appointments in person Submit biometrics and photograph | ||
| Differences | Issuing authority | National Bureau of Investigation | Philippines national police |
| Validity | 1 year | 6 month | |
| Renewal | Allowed | Not allowed | |
| Number of application | Hold only one certificate at a specific time of the year | Have up to three certificates | |
| Processing time for a “HIT” | 2-10 days | Within minutes | |
📚 Further Reading: NBI Clearance Application and Renewal in 2024
Bonus Tips: Police Clearance Dress Code
To make you look good in the biometric photo and leave a good impression on the officer, you should dress properly when visiting the police station. You don’t need to look like a model or a business elite. Just be decent and neatly dressed. Here are some dos and don’ts about what you should wear.
- Do wear dark colors in contrast with the light-colored background.
- Do wear clothes with a collar or with a round neckline, such as T-shirts, polo shirts, shirts, and blouses.
- Don’t wear vests, off-shoulder tops, or attire with spaghetti straps.
- Don’t wear sleeveless tops.
- Don’t wear shiny or oversized earrings, necklaces, piercings, or accessories.
- Do wear miniskirts.
FAQ
👉 What are the police clearance requirements for students?
A: There is no special requirement for students. If you are a fresh graduate, you can present a Barangay Certificate to enjoy a fee waiver for first-time job seekers.
👉 Can I get police clearance in the Philippines while abroad?
A: No. If you are a Filipino and required to show a police clearance from your country of nationality, it is usually equivalent to Philippine NBI clearance which can be applied at the local Philippines embassy or consulate.
👉 Where to get police clearance？
A: The LPC could be obtained at the local police station near you. The NPC might be available in larger branches. Just pick the nearest one at the police clearance online appointment.
Wrap Up
After reading this passage, you must have found the answer to what clearance is and how to get how to get police clearance online or offline. As an essential document to prove an individual has never been involved in criminal affairs, is widely required for employment and identity verification. When it comes to how to get police clearance, an LPC allows you to walk into a nearby police station while a national NPC needs police clearance online registration and appointment. All these are done on the electronic national police clearance system. No matter which one you choose, make sure to prepare all supporting documents, so you can receive the document on the same day of application or appointment.
Dolores Xiao