The Police Clearance Certificate issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) — officially called the National Police Clearance — is a critical document that certifies that a person has no pending criminal cases, no derogatory records in police files, or that any existing records have been properly noted and resolved for purposes of issuance.

It is now fully biometric-based and centralized under the National Police Clearance System (NPCS), making it valid nationwide and eliminating the need for local police station clearances in most cases.

Legal Basis

The issuance of National Police Clearance is governed by:

Republic Act No. 6975 (Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990), as amended by RA 8551 and RA 9708
PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2019-036 (Guidelines on the National Police Clearance System)
PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2022-013 (Latest amendments on fees, procedures, and online registration)
NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 2017-003 (standardization of police clearances)

The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld in numerous decisions (e.g., G.R. No. 215038, 2017; G.R. No. 242695, 2021) that police clearance is a reasonable requirement for employment, licensing, and travel, and that denial due to pending cases or derogatory records is constitutionally valid.

Purpose of Police Clearance

The document is required for:

Local and overseas employment (mandatory under DOLE Department Order No. 146-15 and POEA rules)
Firearms License (RA 10591)
Business permits and mayor’s permits (in many LGUs)
Visa applications and immigration requirements abroad
PNP/PPSC entrance examinations
PRC licensure examinations (in some cases)
Court requirements (pre-trial, bail, probation)
Travel abroad (especially for first-time OFWs)
Adoption, guardianship, and foster care applications

Who May Apply

Any person 15 years old and above may apply.

15–17 years old: Requires written parental/guardian consent
18 and above: May apply independently
Resident foreigners: May apply using ACR I-Card or passport with valid visa
Dual citizens: May use either Philippine or foreign passport

Types of Police Clearance (2025)

National Police Clearance (NPCS) – biometric, online, valid nationwide
Local Police Clearance – issued by municipal/city police stations (still exists in some areas but rarely accepted for national purposes)
Barangay Clearance – separate document; no longer required for national police clearance but still required by many LGUs for business permits

Important: The National Police Clearance has completely replaced the old “police clearance from station” for almost all purposes since 2020.

Requirements (2025)

Basic Requirements

Valid government-issued ID (preferably with photo and signature)
Accepted IDs: Philippine National ID (PhilSys), passport, driver’s license, SSS/GSIS UMID, voter’s ID, PRC ID, senior citizen ID, PWD ID
Active email address
Mobile number
Recent 2×2 or passport-sized photo (only if applying via old walk-in in some areas; online system takes live photo)

For Minors (15–17 years old)

Birth certificate (PSA-authenticated)
Parental consent letter (notarized) or personal appearance of parent
Parent’s valid ID

For Authorized Representatives (OFWs or persons abroad)

Special Power of Attorney (SPA) executed abroad must be consularized by Philippine Embassy/Consulate or apostilled (Hague countries)
Copy of applicant’s valid ID
Representative’s valid ID

Step-by-Step Application Process (Current 2025 Procedure)

The entire process is now 100% online via the official portal: https://pnpclearance.ph

Step 1: Online Registration

Go to https://pnpclearance.ph
Click “Register”
Provide email address and create password
Verify email (check spam/junk folder if no email arrives)
Log in

Step 2: Fill Out Application Form

Personal information
Permanent and current address
Purpose of clearance
Upload clear scanned copy or photo of valid ID (front and back if needed)

Step 3: Schedule Appointment

Choose preferred date and police station/site (many SM malls, Robinsons, provincial capitols, and PNP regional offices now have NPCS kiosks)
Slots open 30–60 days in advance; book early especially in Metro Manila

Step 4: Payment

Total fee as of 2025: ₱160.00 (₱150 clearance fee + ₱10 system fee)

Payment options:

GCash
Maya
Credit/Debit card (Visa/Mastercard)
Over-the-counter: 7-Eleven, Bayad Center, LBC, Palawan Express, Dragonpay partners
Landbank/Link.Biz (for government transactions)

Payment must be made within 24 hours or slot will be forfeited.

Step 5: Attend Appointment (Biometrics Stage)

Bring:

Printed appointment QR code/reference number
Original valid ID
Payment receipt (if paid OTC)

At the site:

Biometrics capture (all 10 fingerprints, rolled and slapped)
Live photo capture (white background)
Digital signature

If no “hit,” the clearance is printed immediately (usually within 3–10 minutes).

Step 6: Receive Clearance

Printed on official security paper with QR code
Contains biometric data, photo, and PNP dry seal
Valid for six (6) months from date of issue

Processing Time

No hit: 5–15 minutes after biometrics
With hit (same name, possible match): 3–15 working days (you will be notified via email/SMS to report to concerned police unit for fingerprint comparison or clearance)

What Happens if There Is a “Hit”?

A “hit” means the system found a possible match with a person who has a criminal record or pending case.

Procedure:

Applicant is notified immediately or within 24 hours
Applicant must report to the PNP Crime Laboratory or the concerned police unit that filed the case
Manual fingerprint comparison is conducted
If confirmed NOT the same person → clearance issued with annotation “No Derogatory Record”
If confirmed same person with pending case → clearance will state “With Pending Case” or “With Derogatory Record”
If convicted but sentence already served → may still be issued with annotation

Note: Having a “hit” is not automatic denial. Many hits are resolved in favor of the applicant.

Special Cases

Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and Senior Citizens

Priority lane
Home service available in many areas (request through local PNP or LGU)
Free or discounted fees in some LGUs (but national fee still applies)

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipinos Abroad

May authorize representative with notarized/consularized SPA
Representative follows same online process
Some Philippine Embassies/Consulates offer fingerprinting service, then forward to PNP for processing (longer, 4–8 weeks)

Incarcerated Persons

May apply through jail warden; clearance issued with annotation of incarceration status

Validity and Renewal

Valid for six (6) months from date of issuance
No shortcut for renewal — must undergo full process again (including new biometrics)

Common Problems and Solutions (2025)

Problem	Solution
System says “Name already exists”	Use middle name or suffix (Jr/Sr); or contact helpdesk
No available slots in desired location	Check nearby provinces or malls; slots refresh daily at midnight
Payment failed but money deducted	Wait 24–48 hours; receipt will appear or money refunded
“Hit” but applicant has no record	Report immediately for manual comparison (bring NBI clearance as supporting document — helps speed up process)
Lost clearance	Re-apply; no duplicate issuance

Contact Information (2025)

PNP NPCS Helpdesk: 0928-753-5917 / 0917-861-2244
Email: npcs.helpdesk@pnp.gov.ph
Facebook: PNP National Police Clearance System (official page, blue check)

Key Takeaway

The National Police Clearance System has made the process fast, transparent, and corruption-free. As long as you have no pending criminal cases and prepare the requirements properly, you can obtain your police clearance in as little as 30 minutes from the time you arrive at your appointment.

Always use only the official website https://pnpclearance.ph and avoid fixers. The entire legitimate process costs only ₱160 and can be completed without paying anyone extra.