In the Philippines, a police clearance is a document issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the local police department that certifies a person’s criminal record or lack thereof. It is often required for various purposes, including employment, travel, and other official transactions.
In addition to employment purposes, a police clearance may be required when applying for the annual civil service exam, firearm registration, credit card application, or various government-issued documents such as your birth certificate.
Similar to the NBI, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has established a nationwide database, referred to as the National Police Clearance System (NPCS). This centralized system consolidates criminal records from various towns and cities into a single unified database, simplifying the process of verifying criminal records. With this recent advancement, individuals no longer need to decide between obtaining a police clearance based on their workplace or residence, as their records can be readily accessed at any police station.
TYPES OF POLICE CLEARANCE
National Police Clearance (NPC) – This police clearance is akin to the NBI clearance in its scope, as it relies on a national database to confirm whether an individual has a record in both their local city or municipality and anywhere in the Philippines. However, obtaining this comprehensive police clearance necessitates an online appointment, and it is only available at a limited number of designated police stations.
Local Police Clearance (LPC) – This is the traditional police clearance that most of us are acquainted with, and many of us have likely applied for it numerous times prior to the introduction of the online appointment system. To obtain this clearance, you must visit your municipal hall in person with your Barangay Clearance and follow the conventional application process. Contrasted with the NPC, the Local Police Clearance (LPC) has a more restricted scope. It primarily checks for any criminal history within the applicant’s municipality, making it a standard requirement for individuals seeking employment within the same locality.
VALIDITY PERIOD OF POLICE CLEARANCE
The updated National Police Clearance is now issued as a single certificate with a validity of 6 months. It also includes a QR code, allowing you to easily verify its authenticity.
REQUIREMENTS
During your appointment, you should provide a minimum of two valid identification cards to the police station. These IDs are required for verification and must be originals (not photocopies), currently valid, and display your photograph, full name, and signature.
PNP recognizes the following valid IDs:
- AFP ID
- BFP ID
- GSIS UMID
- LTO Driver’s License
- PRC ID/License
- School ID
- IBP ID
- PCG ID
- BJMP ID
- Marina ID
- Pag-IBIG ID
- OFW ID
- Alien Certificate of Registration
- PSA Birth Certificate
- DFA Passport
- SSS ID/UMID
- BIR TIN ID
- PWD ID
- Voter’s ID
- Philhealth ID
- PNP ID
- Postal ID
- Senior Citizen ID
If you possess only one of the valid IDs listed above, you may bring it along with a certified true copy of your birth certificate from PSA (with the original official receipt attached).
If you’ve specified in your online registration form that you are a Person with Disability (PWD), kindly bring your PWD ID for verification during your appointment.
If you are a recent graduate seeking a free police clearance, please ensure to bring and present your First Time Job Seeker Barangay Certificate as well.
COST
If you are applying for the updated National Police Clearance through the NPCS website, the total fee is PHP 160, which comprises a PHP 150 police clearance fee and a PHP 10 transaction fee, payable via Landbank or Bancnet.
Fresh graduates seeking their first job are exempt from this fee, as long as they present a Barangay Certificate confirming their eligibility under the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act.
PROCEDURE
- Visit the NPCS website to complete your registration at NPCS | Home Page (pnpclearance.ph).
- Navigate to the NPCS homepage and select the “Register” option. A pop-up box will appear on your screen.
- Choose your preferred language (English, Filipino, or Cebuano). Check the boxes next to the Service Agreement, Privacy Policy, and other reminders to indicate your agreement. Lastly, click “I Agree” to proceed.
- To set up an account, fill out the “New Applicant Registration” form with your email address and password, along with your name, gender, and birth date. Check the box for “Terms and Conditions” and then select “Register”. A warning box will appear, prompting you to review your provided information before proceeding. If everything is correct, click “Save.” If not, click “Cancel.”
- Log in with the email address and password you entered during the registration process.
- Within your NPCS account, select “Edit Profile”.
- Complete all the mandatory sections in your Applicant Profile with the required information that may still be pending, such as Nationality, Birthplace, Civil Status, Address, Mobile/Telephone Number, Height, Weight, Complexion, Educational Attainment, and Family Background. Carefully review all the information you’ve supplied to check for any omissions or spelling errors. Any inaccuracies on the printed police clearance will be the responsibility of the applicant, not the PNP.
- For PWD applicants, select the checkbox that reads “Please check if you are a PWD” and input your PWD ID number.
- If you are a recent graduate seeking your first job, mark the option “Please check if you are a First Time Job Seeker” (RA 11261 – First Time Job Seeker Assistance Act). This action will exempt you from the police clearance fee since the law permits first-time jobseekers to obtain government-issued documents at no cost, provided they can present a Barangay Certificate confirming their eligibility.
- Once you have finished, click “Save Profile”.
- You need to choose this option to schedule an appointment with the nearest police station online. Pick your desired Police Station from the provided drop-down list. Select your preferred date and choose either the AM or PM schedule from the list of available options. Then, click “Next”.
- Opt for “LandBank of the Phils.” in the Payment Options section. This will display the police clearance fee of Php 150 that you are required to pay in order to confirm your appointment. However, for first-time jobseekers, the fee will be exempted at the police station on the day of your appointment. Proceed by clicking “Next”.
- Please review the provided Notes/Reminders and proceed to make the payment for the Police Clearance Fee.
- Head to your selected Police Station for the photo capture and biometrics process.
- Present the Official Receipt, along with two valid IDs and a copy of your payment Reference Number to the Clearance Police Non-Commissioned Officer (PNCO).
- You will be directed to the designated area where they will capture your photo, fingerprints, and digital signature.
- Following that, your application will undergo a verification process.
- Wait for the release of your Police Clearance.
IMAGE GALLERY
