Police Clearance: Requirements & Online Clearance Certification
A police clearance certificate is a document that verifies an individual’s background check and criminal history. Having this document is acknowledgment of the good moral conduct of the individual. It is a crucial document that is required for employment, travel, legal matters, and certain banking transactions. The PNP (Philippine National Police) and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) are the two different authorities that issue the clearance certificates at the national level. Both the certificates serve as character certificates of the individual. Other than the above-mentioned certificates, there are also some other types of clearance certificates like “BC,” “LPC,” and “PCC-OE.”
There is another category called “Clearance Certification.” This also verifies the clean criminal record of the applicant. However, unlike normal police clearance where the physical appearance is required for biometrics for first time, the clearance certification is issued to applicants who cannot physically attend the police station for biometric verification.
In this blog, we will cover the introduction, scope, and application process to get all types of clearances in general and clearance certification in particular. The last few sections of this guide cover the differences between different types of clearances, their purposes, and who should apply for a particular clearance type in the Philippines.
Clearance Certification
Clearance certification is entirely different from the regular police clearance certificate. This is a different category of clearance document also issued by the NPCS. This is intended for persons who are unable to physically attend the police station for biometric verification. For example, the Filipinos working abroad overseas in other countries will require a clearance certification. NPCS provides the overseas with a facility to apply online through the PNP official website by logging in to the account after registering the account.
Who is eligible for clearance certification?
Clearance certification is different from a normal police clearance, and only the following categories of persons are eligible to apply for clearance certification:
- Overseas Filipino citizen – working or residing in another country
- Bedridden – Permanently on the bed due to medical conditions
- Petitioner – Applying for Probation
- Deceased
Requirements for Clearance certification
The applicants require different types of documents to upload while applying for the clearance certification. This is recommended to make these documents readily available and make soft copies of documents in an acceptable size and good resolution. The following are the requirements for each type of applicant:
Requirements for Overseas Filipino Citizens
- Selfie picture holding a valid government-issued ID
- Passport bio page with Name and expiry date clearly visible
- Passport pages with Entry/Exit NBI stamp
- Proof of being abroad, such as an Employment ID card, Resident Card, Visa Copy, etc.
- Valid government-issued ID mentioning Philippine address
Requirements for Bedridden
- Selfie picture holding a valid government-issued ID or a newspaper of the current date
- Medical Certificate or Barangay Health Certificate
- Barangay residency certificate or a valid document with address
Requirements for Petitioner (Applying for Probation or Bail)
- Selfie picture holding a valid government-issued ID or a newspaper of the current date
- Certificate Under Custody
- Barangay residency certificate or a valid document with address
Requirements for the Deceased
- Selfie picture of the representative holding a valid government-issued ID
- Proof of relationship
- Death Certificate
- Valid government-issued ID of the deceased
Online Process for Clearance Certification
The persons eligible to apply for clearance certification can apply online for this document. There is no requirement of physical appearance at any stage. The clearance certification can be applied online by two methods:
- Through official PNP clearance website
- Using NPCS Mobile App
The official PNP clearance website is recommended if you are applying using your laptop or a desktop computer. However, the NPCS mobile app is recommended for applicants applying by using their smart Android phones. Whatever way you opt for, the process will be the same. You will follow the same steps and see the same option, whether you use the website or the mobile app. Just sit down and relax, the next sections explain the whole step-by-step procedure to apply for the clearance certification.
Account Registration
The account registration on the PNP official portal is already explained in the previous blog. You can learn about account registration. For Android users with NPCS mobile app, the registration process is the same. The only difference is that the app users don’t need to land on the website; they will get all the same options on their mobile app.
Login & Profile Completion
Log in to the PNP official portal or NPCS mobile App with a registered account and complete the profile. The method of profile completion and editing is already explained in the related blog. Click to learn about the profile completion & login.
Note: In case you forget of your password, you can recover your account by following the password recovery method
Clearance Certification Application
After the profile is completed, the screen will be shown as in the below image. Select the “Clearance Certification” button.
Category Selection
A new screen will open with multiple options. You should select the relevant category. In the case of overseas Filipinos working abroad, select the first option as highlighted in the below image. Click on apply.
Application Purpose and Current Address
Mention the purpose and the current address. Click next to move to the next step of the process.
Advice: This data will appear in the printout of the certification. So, make sure to cross-verify that the purpose and address data are entered correctly. There should be no typing mistakes.
Upload Documents
You need to upload the following:
- A selfie holding a govt. -issued ID in the hand
- Passport’s bio page with name and expiry date
- Pages of the passport with Entry/Exit stamps of the Bureau of immigration
- Proof of being abroad. The following documents can be uploaded as proof:
- VISA
- Company ID
- Resident ID
- ID indicating Philippines address
Note: PDF is the only acceptable format to upload documents. All documents should be in the PDF format.
Click “next” to move to the next step.
Payment Preparation
In the payment section, click Land Bank of Phils.; it will prepare an invoice of 150 PHP as shown in the below example image, then click next.
Save Appointment
In this step following type of image will appear for you. Read the instructions and click the “save appointment” button.
Pay Online
- Choose the desired mode of payment and make the payment online.
- Go to the TRANSACTION HISTORY PAGE and verify the transaction status. Pay online by clicking the “Click here to Pay” button and choose the desired mode of payment.
- Go to the TRANSACTION HISTORY PAGE and verify the transaction status.
Download Certificate
- Verification officer will process your application. Wait for the verification completion.
- After your application processing and completion of verification, you can download your certificate by clicking the download certificate button.
Validity: The validity period is six months.
Fees: The regular clearance fee is ₱150, and ₱10-30 can be service charges.
Clearance Types in the Philippines
Clearance certification and its application process have been discussed above in detail. There are following some other common types of clearances that applicants can apply for as per their requirements:
- National Police Clearance Certificate (NPC)
- Local Police Clearance Certificate (LPC)
- Barangay Clearance Certificate (BC)
- Police Clearance Certificate for overseas employment (PCC-OE)
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance
We will cover each clearance one by one and learn how to apply for the certificate.
National Police Clearance Certificate (NPC) | PNP Clearance Certificate
It is national-level clearance required for immigration, national employment, and other purposes.
Requirements for NPC
- 2x Legitimate IDs issued by Govt. (National ID, Voter ID, Driving License, National Health ID, and Any other Govt.-issued ID)
- Completed Online Application
- Application Payment receipt & Reference number
- Biometric fingerprints & photo captured at Police station
How to Apply for NPC Online?
To see a detailed tutorial on the application process, you can visit our dedicated article on online applications.
Following are the basic steps in the online application procedure:
- Complete online registration on the official PNP website
- Login on the portal after account registration
- Complete the profile with personal details
- Choose “National Police Clearance” in the application options
- Schedule appointment at selected police station for verification
- Pay the fee online from available payment options
- Visit the police station on the appointment date with documents
- Fingerprints scanned and picture taken
- Collect police clearance certificate after processing completion
- “No Hit,” i.e., a clean criminal record; you are expected to get the certificate on the same day as your appointment
- If there’s a “hit” with a possible previous criminal record, then you might have detailed verification and need to provide additional supporting documents.
| Validity: | The validity period is six months. |
| Fees: | The clearance fee is ₱150, and ₱10-30 can be service charges. |
(LPC) Local Police Clearance certificate
This clearance document is valid for a specific city or municipality. It is required for local employment, property rental purposes, and local businesses’ requirements. LPC is applied at the local police station associated with the area of your residency. This certificate covers criminal record and background check within a specific locality.
Purpose of LPC
- Local Business Permit
- Bank Account
- Local Employment
- Other Requirements
Requirements for LPC
- Residency Proof
- Biometrics Fingerprint Prints Capture
- Fee Payment
- Govt.-Issued ID (Preferably more than one)
- Application Form
Procedure to Apply for LPC
- Visit the Local Police Station
- Submit required documents
- Have finger prints verification
- Provide application payment receipt
- Collect certificate
| LPC Validity | 6 Months from issuance date (varies) |
| Issuing Authority | Local Police Station |
| Processing Time | 1-3 working days |
(BC) Barangay Clearance
This document is issued by the barangay/village local authorities where the applicant resides. It certifies that you have good moral character and conduct within the local community and society.
Purpose of BC
- Employment
- Identification verification
- Residency Verification
- Local Business Permits
- Other domestic purposes
Requirements for Barangay Certificate
- Residency Proof (e.g. utility bill, agreement of lease, etc.)
- Fee Payment
- Govt. Issued ID
- Filled Application Form
Procedure to Apply for BC
- Visit the Barangay Hall
- Submit required documents
- Pay clearance fee
- Collect certificate
| BC Validity | 6 Months to 1 year from the issuance date |
| Issuing Authority | Barangay Council |
| Processing Time | 1-3 working days |
| Fees | ₱ 50 to ₱ 200 (varies) |
(PCC-OE) Police Clearance Certificate for overseas employment
PCC-OE is issued to overseas Filipinos who seek employment in foreign countries. This certificate is used by foreign employers for verification of your criminal record and the status of clearance. A number of foreign countries demand this certificate, including:
- Japan
- Taiwan
- Singapore
- UAE
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Hong Kong
Required Documents for PCC-OE
- Overseas Employment Proof (Job Contract, offer letter, POEA certificate, etc.)
- Passport
- 2x Legitimate IDs issued by Govt. (National ID, Voter ID, Driving License, National Health ID, and Any other Govt.-issued ID)
- Completed Application Form
- Barangay Residential Certificate (if applicable)
How to Apply for PCC-OE Online?
- Complete online registration on official PNP website
- Login on the portal after account registration
- Complete the profile with personal details
- Choose “clearance certification” option in the application options
- Then select the desired category
- Update the details and upload required documents
- Pay the fee online from available payment options
- After processing of the application, your certificate will be ready
| Validity: | The validity period is six months. |
| Fees: | The regular clearance fee is ₱150, and ₱10-30 can be service charges. |
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance
NBI is the issuing authority for clearance documents. This is also valid for six months. It verifies an individual’s moral conduct and background check in the NBI’s central record. It can also be applied online through the NBI official website.
Purpose
- Job Applications
- International Travel
- Govt. Clearance
- Other legal purposes
Requirements
- Online Application
- Fee Payment
- NBI Branch visit
- Birth certificate (NSO/PSA)
- Govt.-Issued IDs
- Application Reference number
Procedure to Apply Online
- Online registration on official NBI web portal
- Login & Profile Completion
- Online clearance Application for NBI
- Pay clearance fee
- Schedule appointment at NBI branch
- NBI office visit on the appointment date with documents
- Fingerprints scanned and a picture taken
- Collect clearance certificate after processing completion
| NBI Clearance certificate Validity | 6 Months to 1 year from issuance date |
| Issuing Authority | National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) |
| Processing Time | 1-3 working days |
| Fees | ₱ 130 ₱ 155 (based on purpose) |
Comparison between Clearance certificates
All types of clearance certificates verify an individual’s background check and confirm that he/she has no criminal record within the scope of the certificate-issuing authority. However, the scope, purpose, and application process of all the clearances may vary.
The following infographics will help you to have a clear understanding of the comparative analysis of all types of clearances:
| Clearance | PNP/NPC | LPC | BC | PCC-OE | NBI |
| Issuing Authority | PNP – Philippine National Police | Local Police Station | Local Barangay Village Council | National Police (PNP). | NBI – National Bureau of Investigation |
| Scope | All Philippines | Within Jurisdiction of Local Police Station | Within Barangay/Village Municipality | International: Foreign Countries | All Philippines |
| Usage | Employment, Business Permits, admissions, certain transactions, and Other legal matters | Local jobs, business, rental and other legal issues | Jobs, businesses, and other legal matters within the barangay | Foreign Employment, International Travel & business, visa applications, and others | Certain job applications & business permits, seaman, and legal or strategic matters requiring govt. clearance. |
| Validity | 6 months | 6 months | 6 – 12 to months | 6 months | 6 months to 1 year |
| Fee (₱) | 150 (regular), 300 (priority—same-day processing) | Varies | 50-200 (Barangay dependent) | 300 | 130-155 (varies), 130 (Manual), 165 (online), 230 (express processing), 330 (same day processing) |
| Apply | NPCS official web portal / Walk-In Police station | Visit Local Police Station of your city/municipality | Visit Local Barangay Hall for rural areas residents | Philippine Embassy/Conciliate or NPCS Web portal / PNP stations if staying in Philippines | NBI official web portal/ Walk-In NBI offices |
FAQs
Conclusion
A National Police clearance certificate is a very useful document for most Filipinos, which is required for employment, travel, business permits, certain banking transactions, and other legal matters.
A police clearance certificate is issued by the Philippine National Police, for which they have introduced a very convenient online system called “NPCS.” In this system, PNP has launched an official web portal, which is linked with the central database of police to check the criminal history and background checks for individuals. Clearance verification can be done through the same portal.
You can process online applications on the NPCS portal. However, there are technical issues related to the application process, account registration, payment processing, and scheduling appointments. All these issues have been addressed in this article, and we have explained the whole procedure step by step. Our guidelines will help you throughout the application process.